News | ALXnow - Part 210

First Look: New renderings show Alexandria’s proposed tallest building

Published July 10, 2025 at 5:30PM

A rendering of the proposed 700,000-square-foot, 350-foot-tall residential-over-retail building at 2425 Mill Road, as seen from the intersection of Mill Road and Stovall Street (via City of Alexandria)

New renderings for the proposed 31-story tower in Alexandria’s Carlyle neighborhood are in, and the developer will soon present them to a local review board for discussion.

So far, the mixed-use development at 2425 Mill Road includes 767 residential units and 40,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. The Aldie-based Red Fox Development Co. project could result in the tallest at-grade building in the city, and new development plans will be discussed next Thursday, July 17, at a public hearing with the Carlyle/Eisenhower East Design Review Board (DRB).

Boxing legend Tony ‘Da Beast’ Suggs to be inducted Into ACPS Hall of Fame after student nomination

By James Cullum

Published July 10, 2025 at 3:30PM | Updated July 11, 2025 at 12:16AM

Tony 'Da Beast' Suggs (on right) teaches at Charles Houston Recreation Center, July 9, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

For the last several years, Tony Suggs has helped others in Alexandria unleash “Da Beast” within. In a good way.

The 59-year-old doesn’t make it easy. In a recent boxercise class at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, more than a dozen students, ranging from their mid-20s to late 70s, got an intense hour-long workout. It started with pushups, leg lifts, scissor kicks, jumping jacks, and then moved to jump rope, followed by a half hour of throwing gloved hands against pads and heavy bags.

St. Lucy Food Project targets 25,000 pounds monthly as food insecurity rises in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 10, 2025 at 2:45PM | Updated July 10, 2025 at 7:51PM

Summer campers at Bishop Ireton High School fill up a truck with donated food for the Catholic Charities St. Lucy Food Project, July 10, 2025 (courtesy of Catholic Charities)

With the need for food assistance on the rise, a local charity is aiming to collect 25,000 pounds of food every month this summer.

The Catholic Charities St. Lucy Food Project gathers food year-round from many of the diocesan schools in the area. On Thursday (July 10), kids participating in summer camp at Bishop Ireton High School filled a box truck with canned fruit, vegetables, rice, and more. More than 1,200 pounds of food were collected at Bishop Ireton.

Mayor Gaskins among 16 mayors interviewed by New York Times about President Trump era challenges

By James Cullum

Published July 10, 2025 at 1:45PM

Mayor Alyia Gaskins speaks at the No Kings Rally at Market Square in Old Town, June 14, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Last month, Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins was interviewed by the New York Times about the challenges of running a city under the Trump administration.

After a little more than six months in office, Gaskins was one of 16 mayors interviewed by The Times at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Tampa, Florida. She said that the biggest challenges the city faces is uncertainty of federal funding, that recent political violence in Minnesota forced her to change her habits, and more.

Alexandria Library to debut new online catalog system next month

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 10, 2025 at 11:45AM

The Charles Beatley library in Alexandria (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Alexandria Library will unveil an upgraded online catalog system on August 19, which will require all library branches to close for the day as staff migrate to the new platform.

The new integrated library system, provided by Innovative Clarivate, promises to enhance the user experience for both patrons and staff while making the library’s collection of books, audiobooks, DVDs, and other materials easier to discover and access.

From Brunch to Brew: Three Alexandria restaurants nominated for RAMMY awards

By James Cullum

Published July 10, 2025 at 10:00AM

Food at Josephine, 109 S. St. Asaph Street in Old Town (via LeadingDC)

If you’re looking for a place to eat, a number of Alexandria restaurants have been named 2025 RAMMY Honors finalists by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington.

Nominations were announced in April, and the winners will be declared at the RAMMYS Awards & Gala on August 3 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Nominees were only eligible if they were in business throughout 2024.

Notes: Nearly 600 use SoberRide service during Independence Day weekend

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 10, 2025 at 8:00AM

Lyft. Credit: Lyft

Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Thursday, July 10, the 191st day of 2025. There are 174 days left in the year.

⛈️ Today’s weather: Scattered showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Light southwest wind. The chance of precipitation is 40%.

Upcoming Alexandria Youth Leadership Conference puts kids in touch with community leaders

By James Cullum

Published July 9, 2025 at 6:30PM

Alexandria's 12th annual Youth leadership Conference will be held Aug. 12-14, 2025 (via City of Alexandria)

Rubbing elbows with community leaders and participating in interactive workshops are in store for participants of Alexandria’s upcoming 12^th annual Youth Leadership Conference.

Registration for rising 9th to 12th graders closes Aug. 8, and the event will be held Aug. 12-14 (Tuesday to Thursday) at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive). This year’s theme is “Young Voices, Powerful Choices!”

Flash Flood Warning issued for Alexandria through 8:45 p.m.

By ALXnow.com

Published July 9, 2025 at 5:57PM

Flooding in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Alexandria and surrounding areas effective until 8:45 PM tonight, as Doppler radar shows thunderstorms capable of producing dangerous rainfall rates approaching the region.

The warning, issued at 5:44 PM, covers Alexandria along with Arlington County, northeastern Fairfax County, Falls Church, Washington D.C., and south central Montgomery County in Maryland. Weather officials warn that rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches within 20 minutes are anticipated, with total additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches possible across the warned area.

AWLA receives $100,000 grant to expand veterinary care access in Alexandria

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 9, 2025 at 3:30PM

The AWLA has been hosting Pets & People Community Wellness Events. (via AWLA)

The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) has been awarded a $100,000 grant from PetSmart Charities to address barriers that prevent residents in historically excluded communities from accessing veterinary care, the organization announced on Wednesday.

The one-year Incubator grant will focus on neighborhoods near the Mark Center off North Beauregard Street, where rising costs and geographical, cultural, and systemic barriers have left many pet owners without adequate veterinary resources.

Chinquapin Park Recreation Center begins major accessibility upgrades

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 9, 2025 at 2:45PM

The City of Alexandria launched a major accessibility improvement project at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility on Tuesday (July 8), marking the beginning of a six-month construction effort designed to make the popular community hub more accessible to all residents.

The Phase 1 project, which runs through January 31, 2026, will incorporate several key accessibility features, including a new accessibility lift in the main lobby, a more accessible front desk, additional family-changing rooms, and a new lifeguard office. The facility will remain open throughout most of the construction period.