News | ALXnow - Part 158

45-unit apartment building proposed for empty office near King St. Metro station

Published September 25, 2025 at 3:13PM

1625 Prince Street in Old Town (via Google Maps)

A proposal to turn a vacant office building into a 45-unit apartment building at 1625 Prince Street in Old Town.

Applicant 1625 Prince Street LLC is asking the city for a parking reduction, as well as modifications to the tree canopy and minimum side yard requirements. The building is less than 1,000 feet from the King St.-Old Town Metro station, was constructed in 1990 and bought by the American Society for Industrial Security in 1997, according to city property records. The proposal will go to the Planning Commission on Nov. 6.

Art on the Avenue festival needs volunteers, donations for 30th year

By James Cullum

Published September 25, 2025 at 2:45PM | Updated September 25, 2025 at 3:58PM

Art on the Avenue in Del Ray, Oct. 5, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Want to judge a pie-eating contest? A popular art festival coming to Del Ray next month is seeking volunteers and donations.

The 30th annual Art on the Avenue is coming to Mount Vernon Avenue on Saturday, Oct. 4, and the event brings thousands to the city’s Del Ray neighborhood. The event features sellable art from hundreds of artists, live music, family-friendly events, and more. The Del Ray Business Association hosts it.

Alexandria Police partner with local groups for youth soccer tournament Saturday

By James Cullum

Published September 25, 2025 at 1:45PM

There's a back-to-school soccer tournament at Alexandria City High School on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025 (via Facebook)

The Alexandria Police Department is partnering with local organizations to host a back-to-school soccer tournament for local youth on Saturday, Sept. 27.

The tournament will consist of a series of pick-up soccer games for teenagers at Alexandria City High School‘s King Street campus (3330 King Street), providing positive outlets and introducing them to city resources. The free event, presented by APD’s Crime Prevention Unit, the Alexandria Police Foundation, the Alexandria Gang Prevention Community Task Force, Alexandria Juvenile Court Services, the Alexandria Soccer Association, NOVA RAFT, and the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office, will take place from 2 to 6 p.m.

Housing Alexandria hosts Fall Festival fundraiser Oct. 9

By James Cullum

Published September 25, 2025 at 12:45PM

Housing Alexandria staff will celebrate their annual Fall Festival fundraiser on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025 (courtesy image)

Housing Alexandria is hosting a “laid-back gala” next month with music, games and food.

This year, the annual fundraising event will be held Thursday, Oct. 9, from 4 to 8 p.m. at The Garden Alexandria (5380 Eisenhower Avenue) and will celebrate the nonprofit’s completion of the Cardinal Path Homes project. The project provides 36 townhomes and condos to first-time homebuyers, available via lottery.

Widespread Xfinity outage affects Alexandria Thursday

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 25, 2025 at 12:02PM | Updated September 26, 2025 at 7:25AM

Purple circles on Xfinity's outage map indicate widespread service disruptions affecting many customers across Alexandria neighborhoods Thursday morning. (Screenshot via Xfinity)

Alexandria residents experienced internet, television and phone service disruptions Thursday after a third-party truck struck fiber lines, causing an outage affecting multiple neighborhoods across the city.

The outage began around 8 a.m. Thursday when the truck hit Xfinity’s fiber lines at the intersection of North Quaker Lane and Janney’s Lane, according to Comcast spokesman Charlie Schoenthaler.

Alexandria housing market faces dual pressures as federal cuts meet falling mortgage rates

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 25, 2025 at 11:45AM

Aerial view of Old Town Alexandria (credit: Adobe Stock)

Alexandria finds itself at the center of a housing market dynamic where federal downsizing has increased the number of residents putting homes on the market, while falling mortgage rates could boost buyer demand.

The White House told federal agencies to prepare for mass layoffs if the government shuts down next week. In a memo released Wednesday night, the Office of Management and Budget instructed agencies to consider “a reduction in force” for programs “not consistent with the President’s priorities,” according to The Associated Press. Unlike previous shutdowns, where workers were furloughed and returned, this would permanently eliminate positions.

AlexRenew inspects Potomac sewer tunnel in Jones Point Park

By James Cullum

Published September 25, 2025 at 10:45AM

AlexRenew started inspecting the Potomac Interceptor Sewer within Jones Point Park along the waterfront in Old Town on Monday, Sept. 22 (via X)

This week, AlexRenew is inspecting the Potomac Interceptor Sewer within Jones Point Park along the waterfront in Old Town.

AlexRenew will conduct video inspections and run bypass pumps along the Potomac Interceptor Sewer in the park, the wastewater treatment authority announced on social media.

ALXnow offers local businesses direct access to Alexandria’s largest and most engaged readership

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 25, 2025 at 9:30AM

When Alexandria residents want to know what’s happening in their community, they turn to ALXnow. Since launching in 2019, the local news site has become the go-to source for everything from City Council updates to restaurant openings, building a loyal readership of more than 250,000 engaged monthly visitors.

But here’s what many local business owners don’t realize: That same platform that keeps Alexandrians informed can also help promote your business to the community that matters most.

Notes: City to unveil draft principles for Duke Street development at community meeting

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 25, 2025 at 7:58AM

Duke Street and S. Reynolds Street (image via Google Maps)

Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Thursday, Sept. 25, the 268th day of 2025. There are 97 days left in the year.

⛈️ Today’s weather: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 11 a.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 11 a.m. and noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82°F. South wind 6 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Alexandria woman dies in Hybla Valley after being struck by hit-and-run driver, police officer

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 25, 2025 at 5:45AM | Updated September 25, 2025 at 9:04AM

Through their investigation, detectives were able to obtain a picture of the Mercedes involved in the initial crash. (Credit: Fairfax County Police Department)

An Alexandria woman died Tuesday night after being struck by a hit-and-run driver and then by a responding police officer in Hybla Valley, the Fairfax County Police Department announced.

Trina Jones, 62, of Alexandria, was crossing Richmond Highway at Belford Drive, just outside the Mount Vernon Crossroads shopping center, when a southbound driver hit her around 8:39 p.m., according to a police news release. One of the officers responding to the scene then struck Jones while driving a marked police cruiser, the Fairfax County Police Department said.

Alexandria names Paul Stoddard planning and zoning director

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 24, 2025 at 6:30PM

City of Alexandria Names Paul Stoddard the new Planning & Zoning Director (Credit: City of Alexandria)

City Manager James F. Parajon announced Wednesday the appointment of Paul Stoddard as the new director of the Department of Planning and Zoning.

Stoddard brings experience as a city planner and will officially assume the role Monday.