Vernon Miles | ALXnow

Pandemic Proves Windfall for Winter Storm Response in Alexandria

Published February 2, 2021 at 4:45PM

Old Town, Alexandria in February 2021. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Several days of snowy weather have been a mild headache for Alexandria’s emergency management team, but all things considered: staff says things are going pretty well.

“Things are going good” said Jeff Duval, deputy director of Transportation and Environmental Services. “We’ve had a few days of challenging weather. The storms has been persistent, they’ve come and gone with multiple bands.”

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City Working to Close $41 Million Budget Gap While Schools Request $5 Million Increase

By Vernon Miles

Published February 2, 2021 at 11:30AM

Alexandria City Hall (staff photo by James Cullum)

The annual showdown between the City Council and School Board over funding could be exacerbated this year by the lingering fiscal impact of coronavirus.

At the tail end of a joint work session between the two bodies last week, City Manager Mark Jinks outlined the dire fiscal situation as the city heads into its budget season.

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Tall Ship Providence Scales Back Waterfront Exhibit Plans

By Vernon Miles

Published February 2, 2021 at 10:30AM

A barge, new pier and cottages are still joining the Tall Ship Providence as part of the historical exhibit, but the pandemic has forced the ship operates to reduce the scope of their nautical ambitions.

The Tall Ship Providence Foundation is seeking city permission at a Planning Commission meeting on March 2 to amend earlier amendments to improve the planned design and layout of pier, cottages and barge. The Maritime Center section of the Tall Ship Providence was originally approved last March.

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ACPS: Community is Generally Opposed to Affordable Housing at T.C. Expansion

By Vernon Miles

Published February 1, 2021 at 4:45PM

ACPS has acknowledged that community feedback has generally opposed putting affordable housing at a new school development.

In a recent joint Alexandria City Public Schools and City Council meeting, ACPS Director of Capital Programs Erika Gulick said that feedback from Alexandria residents indicated that locals were not comfortable with housing, including affordable housing, being co-located at some school developments.

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‘Unexpected Bridge Work’ Closes a Block of King Street in Old Town

By Vernon Miles

Published February 1, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated February 1, 2021 at 4:22PM

The bridge at King Street near the King Street-Old Town Metro Station is shut down to traffic until further notice. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Some unscheduled bridge repair has led to a section of King Street near the eponymous Metro station being temporarily closed.

“Unexpected bridge repair work has closed King St. between Callahan Dr. and Commonwealth Ave,” police said in a tweet. “It’s unknown how long repairs will last. Follow detours and traffic direction in the area.”

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Stream Restoration in Alexandria Attracts a Deluge of Controversy

By Vernon Miles

Published February 1, 2021 at 1:30PM

Taylor Run (Photo via City of Alexandria)

A project meant to restore Taylor Run, a stream near T.C. Williams High School, has attracted considerable controversy as local environmental activists say the city’s plans will provide minimal benefit and could end up harming the local forest.

The city’s plan is to replace the existing stream with a “natural channel design” that would make it shallower and step-pools and log riffles would be designed to curb erosion. The city’s stated goals are to stabilize the stream corridor and natural environment against erosion, and protect public infrastructure while meeting Chesapeake Bay cleanup goals.

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Revamped ‘ESP’ on King Street Ditches Old Ownership and Controversies

By Vernon Miles

Published January 29, 2021 at 2:45PM | Updated January 29, 2021 at 4:43PM

Killer ESP at 1012 King Street has closed and will reopen as a new concept next month (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Erik Muendel wants the new ESP Tea and Coffee to be what the old Killer E.S.P. should have been.

The coffee shop at 1012 King Street was a beloved, hip hangout spot in Old Town featuring sorbet, pie and espresso, that latter from which the bistro derived its name. Behind the scenes, however, its controversial owner Rob Shelton clashed with staff who alleged inappropriate behavior toward women and minors working at the shop. The conflict culminated with the entire staff quitting in early 2020 followed by the replacement staff quitting just months later.

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New West End Residential Development Headed to Planning Commission

By Vernon Miles

Published January 29, 2021 at 10:30AM | Updated January 29, 2021 at 10:54AM

Newport Village project (image via City of Alexandria)

The Newport Village development is hoping to demolish two garden-style apartment buildings at the intersection of W. Braddock Road and N. Beauregard Street near Northern Virginia Community College and replace them with a 383-unit residential development.

The developer is asking for a rezoning permit that would nearly double the allowed building height at the site from 45 feet to 92 feet, which staff expressed support for — citing the 120-foot maximum height approved for the Array at West Alex development on King Street.

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Police: Death Investigated Last Week Currently ‘Not Suspicious’

By Vernon Miles

Published January 28, 2021 at 3:30PM

There are few details released so far on the man’s body discovered in Holmes Run last week near Cameron Station, but police said the death does not appear suspicious and foul play is not currently suspected.

“[The incident] does not appear to be suspicious,” said Alexandria Police Department Senior Public Information Officer Amanda Paga.

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Poll: What Do You Think of the Proposed Heritage Development in Old Town

By Vernon Miles

Published January 28, 2021 at 11:30AM

From Board of Architectural Review meetings to local civic activist groups, proposed housing development The Heritage has courted some public controversy along its way to city review next month.

The proposal is to replace a series of 1970s-era homes at the southern end of Old Town with a three seven-story tall structures with a total of 750 new units.

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Victory Center’s Condominium Redevelopment Headed to Planning Commission

By Vernon Miles

Published January 27, 2021 at 4:30PM | Updated January 28, 2021 at 11:13AM

Proposed townhouse near the Victory Center (image via City of Alexandria)

(Updated 1/28) The Victory Center on Eisenhower has long stood over a vast, mostly empty parking lot at 4901 Eisenhower Avenue, but a proposal headed to city review in March could replace the eastern portion of that lot with 139 new townhouse condominiums.

The condominium project by Winchester Homes will pack the townhome units, some of them back-to-back, into a section of the Victory Center lot. The developer purchased the property last April and the property was subdivided by the city last year. Retail is anticipated for the southwestern portion of the lot.