Vernon Miles | ALXnow

Bishop Ireton High School Reopens With Hybrid In-Person Model

Published August 26, 2020 at 3:45PM

Classroom at Bishop Ireton High School (photo via Bishop Ireton/Facebook)

Even as Alexandria City Public Schools is preparing for an online start to the school year at T.C. Williams High School, nearby private school started in-person classes again today (Wednesday).

Bishop Ireton High School (201 Cambridge Road) is a private Catholic high school that is reopening today with a mix of in-person classes and online participation.

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New Restaurant Concept Opens Next Month in Old Town Hotel

By Vernon Miles

Published August 26, 2020 at 1:30PM

Old Town hotel The Alexandrian (480 King Street) is planning to kick off a new restaurant concept in the building’s central courtyard.

The new restaurant, King & Rye, features a menu centered around southern cuisine and whiskey.

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Poll: How Comfortable Are You Shopping and Dining?

By Vernon Miles

Published August 26, 2020 at 10:30AM

Walking on King Street in Old Town, Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria is in the slow grind of recovering from the coronavirus pandemic. Cases are still trickling in with the occasional local outbreak, like the one at Kidane Mehret Church last week.

It’s also been a slow recovery for businesses, who face lower levels of consumer spending and have been struggling to adapt. The unemployment rate is gradually improving but is still significantly higher than it was pre-pandemic.

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Alexandria’s Summer Employment Program Wraps Up Unusual Year

By Vernon Miles

Published August 25, 2020 at 5:00PM

Despite the odds, Alexandria’s Workforce Development Center’s Youth Employment Services has finished up another year with higher-than-usual participation.

It was a tough summer to run a workforce development program. Alongside the global pandemic, Alexandria faced record-high unemployment and a slow recovery for local businesses. But center Director Daniel Mekibib said the program put together options for in-person employment and virtual participation in job training.

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Alexandria State Senator Introduces Bill Requiring Landlords to Offer Payment Plans

By Vernon Miles

Published August 25, 2020 at 2:30PM

While a moratorium on evictions is temporarily back in place, state Sen. Adam Ebbin (D) has proposed legislation that could give residents more of a chance to avoid them in the long term.

“This bill is a win-win and will stem the potential tide of evictions in Virginia,” Ebbin said on social media, “and has consensus support from tenants and landlords alike.”

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City Updates Zoning Ordinance to Allow Density Boost for Schools

By Vernon Miles

Published August 25, 2020 at 10:30AM | Updated August 25, 2020 at 10:54AM

(Updated 10:50 p.m.) When the City of Alexandria builds new schools, a new ordinance change (Item 9) could mean they’re a little larger than they used to be.

A new ordinance proposed for the Tuesday (September 1) Planning Commission meeting would “streamline and modernize the zoning regulations,” according to a staff report.

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King Street Metro Improvement Project Pushed Back to Spring 2021

By Vernon Miles

Published August 24, 2020 at 2:30PM | Updated August 24, 2020 at 10:50PM

Waiting for the bus at redirected loops at the ongoing King Street-Old Town Metro Access Improvements project. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

The new bus loop — a centerpiece of the King Street-Old Town Metro Access Improvement Project — was scheduled to open in March, but the city now says completion is still four to six months away.

“While delays have continued, we can provide an updated estimate for completion of the phase 1 bus loop,” Lydia Durand, a management analyst with the Department of Project Implementation, told ALXnow. “At this time, we anticipate an approximately four-six month time frame for reopening the bus loop. This accounts for construction of the bus loop, restoration of utilities, intersection signalization, and integration into the DASH, WMATA and City traffic operations systems.”

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Proposed Regulatory Changes Cut Back Red Tape for Alexandria Businesses

By Vernon Miles

Published August 24, 2020 at 12:00PM

The city is proposing a series of changes that could cut through the red tape for some local businesses needing to adapt quickly to survive the slow recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

At the upcoming Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, September 1, the Department of Planning & Zoning will propose changes to reduce the number of Special Use Permit (SUP) approvals that require public hearings or administrative reviews. The goal is to increase the the number of commercial uses that could in a shorter time frame.

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Alexandria Needs Help Running the November Election

By Vernon Miles

Published August 21, 2020 at 3:30PM

The City of Alexandria is looking locals to help run the upcoming election in November.

“There are 30 precincts in the City of Alexandria, each requiring a minimum of 5 election officers,” the city said on its website. “These officers are needed to maintain a high level of service throughout Election Day… More than 200 election officers are needed to conduct each election (and as many as 500 for the Presidential Election). Alexandria enjoys an excellent reputation for conducting honest and efficient elections. The City needs your help to maintain this tradition.”

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Alexandria’s ‘Spice Girls’ Rats Looking for a New Venue

By Vernon Miles

Published August 21, 2020 at 10:20AM | Updated August 21, 2020 at 10:42AM

The Alexandria Animal Welfare League has been overrun but a veritable vermintide as it seeks to find a new home for five spicy rats.

“Anise, Basil, Nutmeg, Paprika and Saffron may sound spicy, but these ladies are the sweetest rats in town,” said Gina Hardter, spokesperson for the AWLA.

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City Requests $1.7 Million in HUD Funding For a Suite of Local Affordable Housing Programs

By Vernon Miles

Published August 20, 2020 at 3:45PM

Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

The city is requesting a $1.73 million in funding from Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to finance a wide series of programs aimed at improving the city’s affordable housing.

A release from the City of Alexandria said the funding would go to improvements under the Rental Accessibility Modification Program (RAMP). RAMP provides accessibility modifications to rental units occupied by low and moderate income tenants at no cost to the tenant or landlord.