Vernon Miles | ALXnow

Morning Notes

Published October 28, 2021 at 5:00AM

Torpedo Factory artist starts petition to save art spaces — “Some of these plans include reduce the number of individual artist studios in the building by up to 40%, as well as sweeping aside ALL artist studios on the first floor and replacing it with cheap money-making venues such as restaurants.” [Change.org]

Parental group protests outside National School Board association headquarters — “In Alexandria, Virginia Wednesday Moms For America protested the request by the NSBA to have the FBI investigate parents at some school districts in front of the NSBA headquarters.” [WJLA]

News

Landmark-area development doubles residential space while scaling back on retail eliminating office

By Vernon Miles

Published October 27, 2021 at 1:30PM | Updated October 28, 2021 at 1:07AM

Landmark Overlook would transform the corner of South Wilkes Street and Stephenson Avenue into a mixed use property with hotels or office buildings, two-level stacked condominium units, apartments and retail. (Image via City of Alexandria)

A new sprawling West End development near Landmark Mall is headed to the Planning Commission, but with a bigger emphasis on housing than before.

Landmark Overlook is a proposed development at 5901 Stevenson Avenue across from Landmark Mall, where significant redevelopment is being planned in upcoming years.

News

Coronavirus partially to blame for uptick in airplane noise over Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published October 27, 2021 at 11:00AM

At Gravelly Point, a man in a folding chair reads a book as planes land outside Reagan National Airport (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

As it turns out, the uptick in airplane noise over Alexandria is one of the many little side-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At an update to the City Council last night, Steve Thayer, the city’s representative on the Reagan National Airport Community Working Group, said that there have been a few recent changes that may be causing locals to hear more planes overhead. On paper, airplanes leaving National Airport are not supposed to turn away from a path down the center of the Potomac until they hit a point south of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published October 27, 2021 at 5:00AM

Biden visits Pentagon City for McAuliffe campaign — “On a gusty, very brisk fall evening, President Joe Biden once again visited Arlington to campaign for Terry McAuliffe.” [ARLnow]

Beyond the bricks and boards: a glimpse inside 802 N. Washington Street — “If you’ve driven by the three story brick house at 802 N. Washington, you may [have] noticed that it has moved in recent months — a few times. The house, built in 1890, is being saved and incorporated into the construction of a new five-story hotel.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

News

Torpedo Factory plans could include cafe, maker-space, and ‘gloryholes’

By Vernon Miles

Published October 26, 2021 at 2:45PM

The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

The city is looking at options to move things around in the Torpedo Factory and insert some surprises into activity holes on the ground floor.

In a Torpedo Factory Art Center Implementation Strategy Update meeting, Diane Ruggiero, deputy director of recreation, parks and cultural activities, outlined options being reviewed that could lead to some radical changes for the Torpedo Factory.

News

Nashville-style chicken restaurant coming to Duke Street

By Vernon Miles

Published October 26, 2021 at 1:15PM

Chicken sandwich at Hangry Joe's Chicken (photo via Hangry Joe's Chicken/Facebook)

A small chain devoted to spicy Nashville-style chicken called Hangry Joe’s Chicken is making a big expansion, opening in the Alexandria Commons shopping center and other locations throughout the region in the next few months.

The restaurant management said in a message that the Alexandria location aims to open in the former Subway in Alexandria Commons early next year.

News

Wegmans in Carlyle now hiring as the store heads toward opening next year

By Vernon Miles

Published October 26, 2021 at 9:50AM

Rendering of Reese, an apartment building in the Carlyle Crossing development, courtesy Stonebridge

Wegmans, the commercial centerpieces of the Carlyle Crossing development at 2495 Mandeville Lane, is starting a hiring spree as it inching closer toward a spring 2022 opening.

The 1.7 million-square-foot Carlyle Crossing development will be a mix of residential units and commercial space, with ground-floor restaurants along with Wegmans grocery store. The Wegmans is the first grocery store for the developing area near the Eisenhower Metro station.

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published October 26, 2021 at 6:00AM

Alexandria residents along Telegraph Road demand action from state — “Residents who travel along a busy roadway in Northern Virginia are demanding answers from the state’s department of transportation.” [Fox5]

COVID-19 booster shots readily available in Alexandria and Fairfax County — “Thanks to all the work done setting up the infrastructure to provide initial vaccines to residents, it’s pretty easy to get a booster shot in both Alexandria and Fairfax County, as long as you qualify.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

News

Seminary Hill affordable housing development headed to city review

By Vernon Miles

Published October 25, 2021 at 3:45PM

Proposed AHDC development off Seminary Road (photo via AHDC)

The Alexandria Housing Development Corporation is planning to head to city review by the end of the year for a new project that will add 31 affordable housing units to the Seminary Hill neighborhood at 4547, 4555, and 4575 Seminary Road.

“The Applicant, the Alexandria Housing Development Corporation (AHDC) is seeking to consolidate three lots into one and build a condominium project that includes 31 affordable for-sale townhouse-condo units that target average median incomes (AMI) at or below 80% and 8 rental and for-sale multi-family units,” AHDC said in an application.

News

Old Town art gallery and apartments to convert into small hotel

By Vernon Miles

Published October 25, 2021 at 10:00AM

105 N. Alfred Street (photo via Google Maps)

A historic Old Town home that had most recently been an art gallery could undergo a conversion into a small hotel.

Bruce and Thelma MacGregor, owners of 105 North Alfred, are requesting a special use permit to turn a current commercial and apartment building into a hotel. The home was originally built in 1790, and the permit notes that the property was recently used as an art gallery with eight apartment units on the floors above.

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published October 25, 2021 at 5:00AM

A fall wreath on a door in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Second Alexandria early voting site opens for November election — “An additional in-person early voting site for Virginia’s general election in November opened in the City of Alexandria on Friday and will remain open through Oct. 30.” [Patch]

Nominate Alexandria schools staff for teacher and principal of the year awards — “It’s that time of year again. Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is once more participating in The Washington Post’s Principal of the Year and Teacher of the Year Awards.” [Zebra]