Author: Vernon Miles

Vernon Miles is the ALXnow cofounder and editor. He's covered Alexandria since 2014 and has been with Local News Now since 2018. When he's not reporting, he can usually be found playing video games or Dungeons and Dragons with friends.

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Sign ordinance update tackling longstanding sign complaints from Alexandria businesses

By Vernon Miles
Sur La Table is reopening at 326 King Street. (staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s not uncommon to hear business owners in Alexandria lament that local sign ordinances can be onerous and unwieldy, but an update to an ordinance could be a sign that things are changing.

Eight years after the last update to the sign ordinance, the City of Alexandria is taking another crack at it.

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Alexandria gathering public feedback on bike lane plans for Carlyle road

By Vernon Miles
Holland Lane project (image via City of Alexandria)

Holland Lane isn’t one of the longest or most-used streets in Alexandria, but it’s a major connection between the Old Town and Carlyle neighborhoods that may be getting a slight overhaul soon.

The City of Alexandria is currently gathering community feedback on plans that include, among other things, a bike lane on Holland Lane.

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Powerball ticket worth $1 million sold in Mount Vernon

By Vernon Miles
If you have a friend who buys Powerball at this Safeway at 8646 Richmond Highway, the next round at the bar is on them (photo via Google Maps)

Someone who bought a Powerball ticket at a Safeway south of Alexandria has won the lottery.

Virginia Lottery said a winning Powerball ticket was bought at 8646 Richmond Highway “in Alexandria” — which is a pretty charitable description for a grocery store closer to Fort Belvoir than Fort Ward. The ticket didn’t take in the $1 billion jackpot but will cash in for $1 million — or whatever is left after taxes.

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Mayor: Stormwater Utility Fee expected to increase to fuel more capacity projects

By Vernon Miles
Flooding near the Braddock Road Metro on Thursday, September 16, 2021. (Courtesy Kerrin Nishimura)

Property owners in Alexandria may notice that the Stormwater Utility Fee is likely going up again in the 2024 budget.

The City Manager’s proposed budget increases the utility rate from $308.7 to $324.10.  Mayor Justin Wilson said in a newsletter that the new annual fee structure is broken down for local residential property owners as:

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Alexandria adding protection to four bike lanes, including Seminary Road and King Street

By Vernon Miles
Protected bike lane in Clarendon (image via City of Alexandria)

The City of Alexandria announced last week that four existing bike lanes will be getting new protection, including physical barriers, this summer.

Alexandria Transportation & Environmental Services announced the change last week — but it turned into a pretty busy news week after that.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles
Ted Leonsis, president of Monumental Sports, announces the development of a new arena for the Washington Wizards and Capitals in Potomac Yard in Alexandria, Dec. 13, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

This week marks the biggest news week in Alexandria since, well, the Potomac Yard arena was announced.

The City of Alexandria announced that, after a series of setbacks in the Virginia legislature, it was finally taking the arena plans out behind the shed and putting it out of its misery.

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Hard Times on King Street could temporarily close to undergo extensive internal renovations

By Vernon Miles

Beloved Old Town chili-spot Hard Times Cafe at 1404 King Street could be temporarily closing to undergo extensive interior renovations.

Hard Times Cafe filed an application for partial demolition and encapsulation at the restaurant. That permit is scheduled for review at the Board of Architectural Review meeting on Wednesday, April 17.

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Trampoline park Sky Zone jumping into Alexandria but unclear about where it will land

By Vernon Miles
Indoor play space at Sky Zone (photo via Sky Zone/Facebook)

Sky Zone, an indoor playspace featuring trampolines, climbing walls, zip lines and more announced plans to expand into Alexandria, but the specific location is still to be determined.

Alexandria is one of three new locations planned for the region, along with one in Arlington and another in Frederick, Maryland.

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JBG Smith blames Tysons casino conspiracy for derailing Potomac Yard deal

By Vernon Miles
Matt Kelly, CEO of JBG Smith, speaks at the announcement of a new arena for the Washington Wizards and Capitals in Potomac Yard in Alexandria, Dec. 13, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

While there’s no shortage of finger-pointing in the aftermath of the collapsed Potomac Yard arena deal, one that flew a little under the radar in the news yesterday was developer JBG Smith laying the blame squarely on a conspiracy involving the Fairfax casino project.

The statement from JBG Smith was noted by the Washington Business Journal as being unusually blunt.

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