News | ALXnow - Part 1009

Sustainable Dry Goods and Grocer Mason & Greens Opening this Spring in Old Town

Published January 27, 2020 at 2:15PM

Looking for a grocer to suit your dry goods needs in Old Town? Mason & Greens will be opening its doors at 913 King Street this spring, but there’s a couple of catches — the store won’t accept cash and in the interest of sustainability you’ll have to bring your own bags and jars.

“We are living in a time where we can no longer kick the can down the road about taking care of our planet,” notes the Mason & Greens website. “Mason & Greens brings the community of Alexandria and its surrounding areas the ability to shop sans plastic. Sans disposable bags. Sans unnecessary waste. And knowing that your buying power is going to support companies who care about reducing waste we can start to combat the frivolous throw-away culture that has crept in all around us.

Open House This Evening to Offer First Look at Arlandria/Del Ray Plan

By Vernon Miles

Published January 27, 2020 at 11:55AM

Historic Del Ray (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The City of Alexandria is hosting an open house this evening to help gather community input for plans to shape Arlandria and Del Ray.

The open house is scheduled to be held from 5-8 p.m. at Casa Chirilagua (4109 Mt. Vernon Avenue). The event will be an opportunity for people to share their thoughts before the start of the formal planning process later this year, according to the city website.

City Council Unanimously Upholds North Ridge-Adjacent Presbyterian Church Expansion

By Vernon Miles

Published January 27, 2020 at 10:45AM

Proposed Alexandria Presbyterian Church (photo via City of Alexandria)

Opponents of the Alexandria Presbyterian Church’s expansion went into Saturday’s public hearing knowing it was an uphill fight, and ultimately the City Council unanimously struck down the appeal.

The City Council voted unanimously to uphold the Planning Commission’s ruling in November that Alexandria Presbyterian Church could expand by-right from a 3,400 square foot building that can’t hold its congregation to a 22,794 square foot gothic-inspired church.

African American History Taking Center Stage in Alexandria in 2020

By James Cullum

Published January 27, 2020 at 9:35AM

Franklin and Armfield exhibit in the Freedom House museum (photo via Historic Alexandria/Facebook)

African American history is an integral part of Alexandria, and the port city will take an expanded look at the topic this year, according to the city’s tourism bureau.

Audrey Davis, executive director of the Alexandria Black History Museum, said that all African American interpretations will be expanded throughout multiple sites.

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published January 27, 2020 at 8:00AM

Running on the Potomac Yard trail. (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

MOMs Shopping Center Set for Redevelopment — A “D.C. developer filed preliminary plans with Alexandria earlier this month for the project, looking to completely overhaul a Mount Vernon Avenue shopping center near Four Mile Run Park, now called Del Ray North. It’s currently home to a MOM’s Organic Market, but has seen a variety of retail vacancies recently.” [Washington Business Journal]

Port City Planning 9th Anniversary Celebration — “Time to celebrate 9 awesome years of brewing with the only way we know how: a COLOSSAL release! For our ninth anniversary we are introducing COLOSSAL IX a Weizenbock to the COLOSSAL lineup.” [Port City Brewing]

Artist Alfredo DaSilva Killed Sunday While Crossing Duke Street

By James Cullum

Published January 26, 2020 at 4:25PM | Updated January 26, 2020 at 11:08PM

An 89-year-old Alexandria artist was killed Sunday after being struck by a vehicle while walking across the Duke Street near Cameron Station Blvd.

“Initial investigation indicates Mr. Alfredo DaSilva, a 89-year-old Alexandria city resident, was crossing Duke Street when he was struck by a motor vehicle,” Alexandria police said in a statement. Mr. DaSilva succumbed to his injuries at the scene.”

School System Apologizes, Says There is No Plan to Build Housing at George Mason Elementary School

By James Cullum

Published January 24, 2020 at 4:05PM | Updated January 25, 2020 at 3:20AM

City and Alexandria School System officials want to be clear: there is no plan to build a four-story housing structure as part of the plan to rebuild George Mason Elementary School.

Last weekend, a feasibility study commissioned by ACPS with architect Studio Twenty Seven Architecture, was mistakenly shared with the George Mason PTA. It showed an outline of an apartment complex in the middle of the George Mason baseball field. The study was quickly shared and denounced by members of the Beverly Hill Listserv, which spread it further and created an uncomfortable situation for ACPS administrators.

AWLA Office Dog Looks for a New Home to Help Manage

By Vernon Miles

Published January 24, 2020 at 2:15PM

Sugar, a dog available for adoption at the AWLA (photo courtesy AWLA)

A two-year-old pitbull named Sugar — “as sweet as her name implies” — is looking for a new home after deciding to move on from her clerical career.

Sugar has experience working in the front desk of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) at 4101 Eisenhower Avenue, where she is currently awaiting a new family.

Greg Parks Sworn in as Alexandria Clerk of Circuit Court

By James Cullum

Published January 24, 2020 at 11:45AM

It’s a new era in the Alexandria Courthouse.

Greg Parks was sworn in as Clerk of the Alexandria Circuit Court on Thursday, and officially took the reins of an office that has more than 800 responsibilities, including the organization of land records and the issuance of marriage licenses.

Dominion Energy Awards $15K for Alexandria’s Mobile Dental Bus

By James Cullum

Published January 24, 2020 at 10:30AM

Going to the dentist can be expensive, and a grant from Dominion Energy will help Alexandria kids keep those pearly whites glistening.

Dominion’s charitable foundation announced this week that it awarded $1.6 million to more than 200 organizations in 13 states, including $15,000 to the Alexandria City Public Schools Wellness on Wheels (WOW) bus, a mobile dental unit that provides primary dental care to students in schools across the city.

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published January 24, 2020 at 6:00AM

A VRE train heading south through Potomac Yard (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Suggestion of Affordable Housing at School Sets Listserv Ablaze — “A contractor for Alexandria’s public schools set off an online firestorm by accidentally including a rendering of an apartment building with affordable units in a presentation about modernization plans for an elementary school… the mistake occasioned a ‘3 day+ rager‘ about affordable housing, racism, and–because this is Alexandria–dockless scooters, the halal chicken slaughterhouse, and a ‘road diet’ imposed on a different leafy neighborhood.” [Washingtonian]

Pushback on (Actual) Affordable Housing at School Proposal — “Members of the MacArthur Advisory Committee and the community were left scrambling last week after the city indicated it would be exploring affordable housing on the Douglas MacArthur Elementary School site. The announcement that the city would not only be exploring co-location options, but also providing funding to Alexandria City Public Schools for an architectural exploration of potential housing options, surprised members of the advisory committee.” [Alexandria Times]