Vernon Miles | ALXnow

Planned Improvements for Duke Street and Del Ray Communities Pushed Back by COVID-19

Published June 29, 2020 at 4:45PM | Updated June 29, 2020 at 5:02PM

As Alexandria starts to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the city’s long term planning priorities are shifting to meet needs exposed by the health crisis.

In a presentation to the Planning Commission last week, city staff said some projects that were in the planning stage will be pushed back, including:

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Over 6,000 Alexandrians Remain Unemployed in Aftermath of Shutdown

By Vernon Miles

Published June 29, 2020 at 3:30PM | Updated June 29, 2020 at 5:09PM

Updated 5 p.m. — Original percentage of the estimated population was in error

In late March, around 225 Alexandrians filed continued unemplyment with the state. Three months later, as June winds to a close, 6,306 Alexandrians — or 4% of the city’s estimated population — are still unemployed, according to the Virginia Employment Commission.

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Alexandria Police Department Dismisses Officer for Unjustified Use of Force

By Vernon Miles

Published June 26, 2020 at 4:05PM

An Alexandria police officer has been dismissed and is facing criminal review after allegedly using unjustified force against an unarmed man.

“A white male officer reported using weaponless force against a white male subject’s leg, in order to take him to the ground,” the City of Alexandria said in a press release. “The subsequent investigation determined that the use of force was unjustified because no force was necessary.”

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Alexandria Virtual Summer School Scheduled to Start Early Next Month

By Vernon Miles

Published June 26, 2020 at 2:00PM

Students learning at home during the COVID-19 shutdown (Photo via ACPS/Facebook)

A summer learning program all Alexandria City Public Schools students will be expected to attend is scheduled to start on July 6 and will continue throughout that month.

According to ACPS, summer learning will be offered Monday through Thursday from July 6 to July 31. Pre-K through 8th-grade classes are scheduled to run from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. while high school classes are scheduled to run from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Class sizes are expected to be around 25-30 students together in a Zoom call.

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Coronavirus Testing in Alexandria to Shift Toward Targeting Hotspots

By Vernon Miles

Published June 26, 2020 at 11:30AM

After extensive drive-thru and walk-up testing at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Alexandria is preparing to shift the focus toward taking testing to the city’s heavily impacted communities.

Mayor Justin Wilson said in the last of his weekly town hall meetings yesterday (Thursday) that he spoke to the Virginia Secretary of Health’s office about shifting the focus of testing.

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City Leadership Says More Can be Done to Open Access to Summer Camps

By Vernon Miles

Published June 25, 2020 at 5:15PM

The city is rationing out spots in summer camp programs reopening soon, but even some in the city’s leadership are unclear on why space will be so limited while the city has a preponderance of unused space and resources.

“Summer camp programs are starting,” said Jim Spengler, director of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities in a recent joint meeting between the City Council and the School Board. “They are aimed at essential workers and will expand beyond essential workers based on enrollment.”

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Poll: Should T.C. Williams High School be Renamed?

By Vernon Miles

Published June 25, 2020 at 11:30AM

The School Board will be taking up the question of renaming T.C. Williams High School this fall, but whether the school should be renamed is still undecided.

The school was built on land taken by eminent domain from a nearby black community and then was named in honor of Superintendent Thomas Chambliss Williams. Williams was an ardent segregationist who fought not only to keep the black and white students divided, but fired a school employee who tried to get her children sent to an integrated school.

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Large Residential Development in Braddock Goes to Planning Commission Tomorrow

By Vernon Miles

Published June 24, 2020 at 3:30PM

Concept rendering of 701 N. Henry Street project (photo via City of Alexandria)

After securing an endorsement at the Board of Architectural Review last month, the plan to turn 701 N. Henry Street into a 94 unit residential complex is headed to the Planning Commission tomorrow (Thursday).

The project will replace Alexandria Lighting and Supply with 94 unit residential building, 87 of which would be market-rate housing and 7 committed as affordable units.

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Expecting Parents Turn to Old Town Midwife Service Amid Pandemic

By Vernon Miles

Published June 24, 2020 at 11:50AM

When the pandemic hit in March, many mothers late into their pregnancies who were preparing to give birth in a hospital were left with difficult decisions.

For BirthCare & Women’s Health, a midwife service in Old Town, that meant a new wave of parents looking for alternatives.

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Alexandria Preps for Phase 3 Reopening on July 1

By Vernon Miles

Published June 23, 2020 at 5:30PM

Gov. Ralph Northam announced today that Virginia will move into Phase 3 next Wednesday, July 1, and for Alexandria that means looser restrictions on retail, restaurant and entertainment venues.

The move puts Alexandria and Northern Virginia back on the same timeline as the rest of the state, which Mayor Justin Wilson attributed to the efforts at social distancing and proper hygiene of local residents.

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Developers Take Another Crack at Converting North Old Town Office to Housing

By Vernon Miles

Published June 23, 2020 at 11:30AM

After years of inaction, a new applicant is hoping to take a crack at converting the vacant Waterfront Center office building in Old Town at 801 N. Fairfax Street into a residential development.

“Interest in converting the nearly 50-year-old office building dates back to at least 2015, when the property owner for both office buildings approached the City about converting the 801 N. Fairfax Street building to residential,” said the applicant, A & A Limited Partnership. “The property owner demonstrated that floor area ratio (FAR), setbacks, parking and open space requirements could be satisfied in a ‘by-right’ conversion from office to multifamily residential.”