Alexandria is still working out the kinks in its short-term rentals policies, but rentals on sites like Airbnb have already taken over a considerable amount of the city’s transient lodging market.
In a newsletter, Mayor Justin Wilson said there are over 700 short-term rentals in Alexandria, comprising less than 1% of the city’s housing stock, but that those rentals account for over a quarter of the city’s transient lodging tax revenue — a market traditionally defined by hotels.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is celebrating Independence Day by going fare-free for the holiday.
On July 4th (Thursday) all Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess will be free after 5 p.m. The Metro system closes at midnight, but last train times vary by station.
Good Monday morning, Alexandria!
☀️ Today’s weather: Expect sunny skies and a high around 80 degrees, accompanied by a north wind at 14 mph and gusts reaching 22 mph. Monday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 63 degrees, and a north wind from 5 to 7 mph.
The Alexandria Police Department is investigating a shooting this afternoon on the 300 block of Hooffs Run Drive that left one man and the alleged male shooter dead.
Police said in a release that both people were transported to local hospitals and there is no threat to the public related to the incident. In an update around 11:45 p.m. police said the male victim and alleged shooter both succumbed to their injuries.
Another busy week in Alexandria, this one with multiple appearances by the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.
The first was the bridge opening on Tuesday night, the second of a pair of openings related to the Clipper Round the World Race yacht race.
It’s the season for fireworks, but not in Alexandria.
With the Fourth of July and the City’s birthday celebration (July 13) right around the corner, the Alexandria Fire Department sent out a reminder this week that fireworks are illegal.
As part of the 275th birthday celebrations this year, the Office of Historic Alexandria has launched a new exhibit in The Lyceum (201 S. Washington Street) dedicated to an oral history project.
The project is called Mapping Alexandria: Stories of a Changing City. It includes interviews with current and former residents to get first-hand accounts of Alexandria history and how its neighborhoods have evolved over time.
After a construction delay, Pupatella Neapolitan Pizza is still planning to open in Old Town North before the end of this year, the company tells ALXnow.
Construction started and then stopped at the building at 700 Slaters Lane, and will resume again in the next few weeks, according to Natasha Neely, a vice president for marketing for the company. Neely did not comment on the delay.
Regional gelato chain Pitango Gelato opened earlier this week at 115 S. Union Street in Old Town, a block away from the waterfront.
The location held a grand opening on Tuesday, June 25. The new location is next to Union Street Public House and less than a block away from Ben & Jerry’s.
Good Friday morning, Alexandria!
🌤️ Today’s weather: Expect a mostly sunny day with a high near 85, as northeast winds at 8 mph shift to southeast in the afternoon. Moving into Friday night, anticipate increasing clouds and a low around 71, accompanied by southeast winds between 6 and 9 mph.
Artwork formerly located at Waterfront Park and exploring the complex relationship between Alexandria’s economy and slavery is making a return: this time to a new permanent home at the Braddock Road Metro Station.
The artwork “Wrought, Knit, Labors, Legacies” by artist Olalekan Jeyifous opened in Waterfront Park in March 2020 and is inspired by “Alexandria’s rich and complicated industrial and merchant history.” The artwork was relocated to the Old Town Pool at 1609 Cameron Street, but the location was temporary until a more permanent location could be found, in part due to 2-5 years of construction planned at the Old Town Pool.
