News | ALXnow - Part 346

Inova Alexandria Hospital at Landmark breaks ground

Published September 30, 2024 at 5:15PM

Alexandria and Inova leaders break ground at Inova at Alexandria at Landmark, Sept. 30, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Inova Alexandria Hospital at Landmark broke ground today, marking a momentous occasion for the city’s West End.

When completed, the 1.1 million square-foot project at the former Landmark Mall (just off Interstate 395 at Duke Street) will include a 569,000 square-foot hospital center with 192 beds, a 111,000 square-foot cancer center, an 83,000 square-foot specialty care center and a retrofitted 550-space parking garage. A 1,488-space below-grade parking garage is also planned with at least 19 parking spaces set aside for electric vehicle charging.

Overdue Old Town bridge replacements could come with pedestrian improvements

By Vernon Miles

Published September 30, 2024 at 3:50PM

A VRE train crosses a bridge over King Street (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The much-needed replacement of Alexandria’s most-strikable bridge could come with some benefits to the cramped sidewalk beneath.

At a City Council meeting last week, City Council member Sarah Bagley said the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) is moving forward with the replacement of a pair of bridges that passes over King Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

Alexandria Police seeking information about young girl seen alone in parking lot near Brookville

By Vernon Miles

Published September 30, 2024 at 2:30PM | Updated September 30, 2024 at 4:09PM

Location where a young girl was seen alone (image via Google Maps)

The Alexandria Police Department (APD) is seeking help from anyone who might have information on a very young girl who was seen alone early this morning (Monday) near the Brookville neighborhood.

APD conducted a search of the area around the 900 block of N. Van Dorn Street but said no investigation is currently ongoing.

Man arrested after five injured in multi-vehicle hit-and-run in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published September 30, 2024 at 1:30PM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

A suspect in a multi-vehicle hit-and-run in Old Town that put five people in the hospital is behind bars, according to the Alexandria Police Department.

At around 10:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9, a gray Mercedes Benz traveling eastbound on Franklin Street ran a red light at the intersection with S. Patrick Street (Route 1) and then crashed into two vehicles, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

Alexandria elementary school still closed after lead exposure last week

By Vernon Miles

Published September 30, 2024 at 11:30AM

Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School (image via Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School/Facebook)

Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School in the Rosemont neighborhood remains closed today (Monday) after being closed last week due to a lead exposure incident at the school.

Principal Suzanne Hess sent a letter to the school’s community last Thursday saying contractors at the school for window replacement work discovered lead in two classrooms.

Notes: Sunglass Hut setting up shop in former Old Town Gap

By ALXnow.com

Published September 30, 2024 at 9:55AM

Bio-Acetate glasses (photo via Sunglass Hut/Instagram)

Good Monday morning, Alexandria!

Today’s weather: Expect showers to begin mainly after 2pm with a high temperature near 70 and a northeast wind around 10 mph. The probability of rainfall is 90%, with new amounts potentially less than a tenth of an inch. For Monday night, showers will continue with a low temperature around 63, a constant northeast wind at 10 mph, and an 80% chance of precipitation. Again, new rainfall amounts may be less than a tenth of an inch.

Police: Two men shot early this morning in Braddock neighborhood

By Vernon Miles

Published September 28, 2024 at 8:20AM

N. Fayette Street and Wythe Street (image via Google Maps)

The Alexandria Police Department confirmed two men in their car at the intersection of N. Fayette and Wythe Streets were shot in their car just before 2 a.m.

Witnesses told police they heard what sounded like automatic gunfire, according to the police scanner.

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By ALXnow.com

Published September 27, 2024 at 2:50PM

Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

This week started off with threats against Alexandria City Public Schools on Monday. Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt said the threats were being circulated and reported second-hand, without references to any specific Alexandria schools.

A threat briefly put Alexandria City High School on lockdown on Monday and the Alexandria Police Department (APD) remained at the school the rest of the day. APD said later that the reports of threats against local schools were likely hoaxes.

After Arlington Missing Middle changes overturned, Alexandrians wonder if Zoning for Housing is next

By Vernon Miles

Published September 27, 2024 at 2:25PM

Protestors and supporters of Arlington's Missing Middle zoning change (staff photo)

Circuit Court Judge David S. Schell, who is also set to rule on Alexandria’s Zoning for Housing/Housing for All litigation, overturned neighboring Arlington’s Missing Middle zoning changes today.

The Missing Middle and Zoning for Housing reforms were both substantial zoning reforms that, among other changes, eliminated single-family-only zoning. As a group of Alexandrians have been filing suit against the City, locals have been watching the Arlington case as a weather vane.

Visit Alexandria reports record tourism and spending

By James Cullum

Published September 27, 2024 at 1:30PM

A tour guide tells a story on a hot July day in front of the Carlyle House at 121 N. Fairfax Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

With visitation revenue at an all-time high, Alexandria’s tourism bureau forecasts an “ambitious” agenda for fiscal year 2025.

On Thursday, Visit Alexandria reported an 18% increase (to $941 million) in tourism spending in FY 2024. The city also saw $86 million in consumption tax revenues from sales, meals and lodging, a 6% increase. The largest consumption increase was in lodging, rising from $3 million during the pandemic to $15 million last year.

Traffic stalled on Route 1 after crash involving Alexandria Police cruiser

By Vernon Miles and James Cullum

Published September 27, 2024 at 11:35AM

Crash involving a police cruiser at Wythe and N. Patrick Street (staff photo by James Cullum)

Traffic slowed on Route 1 this morning for a crash involving an Alexandria Police Department (APD) cruiser on N. Patrick Street.

The crash occurred around 10:27 a.m. As of 11:20 a.m., the right lane of northbound traffic on N. Patrick Street was blocked and the eastbound lanes on Wythe Street were closed.