News

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Feb 26, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Good Thursday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Feb 26, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. JUST IN: Republican nominee withdraws from Alexandria City Council race (925 views)
  2. Officials break ground on 377-unit affordable apartment complex at Victory Center (802 views)
  3. Nonprofit requests extension for 91-unit affordable housing redevelopment in Arlandria (473 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Friday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

☀️ Friday’s forecast

Expect a mostly sunny day with highs around 53°F and calm winds becoming southerly at 5 mph in the afternoon. The evening will be mostly clear with lows near 38°F and south winds between 3 and 6 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
– Theodore Roosevelt

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

Nonprofit requests extension for 91-unit affordable housing redevelopment in Arlandria

By James Cullum
Elbert Avenue Apartments (via Google Maps)

Housing nonprofit Community Lodgings, Inc. (CLI) is asking for an extension to redevelop an existing 28-unit affordable apartment building in the Arlandria neighborhood with more housing.

CLI is planning to construct a six-story, 91-unit affordable apartment building at 3908 Elbert Avenue, more-than tripling the amount of units the property currently has. The nonprofit, which received approval for the project in February 2023, previously said in its application that it wouldn’t have been able to break ground before the expiration of its development special use permit, which passed yesterday (Wednesday).

Go to Nonprofit requests extension for 91-unit affordable housing redevelopment in Arlandria Read more

JUST IN: Republican nominee withdraws from Alexandria City Council race

By James Cullum
Voting at Temple Beth El Synagogue (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Gerry Chandler, the Alexandria Republican City Committee’s nominee in the April 21 City Council special election, is withdrawing from the race.

Chandler, an educator and computer scientist, told ALXnow that he will not be running due to the “financial disclosures” he would have to submit. So far, Democratic nominee Sandy Marks and independent candidate Frank Fannon are the only people running to replace former Councilman-turned-Delegate R. Kirk McPike.

Go to JUST IN: Republican nominee withdraws from Alexandria City Council race Read more

Officials break ground on 377-unit affordable apartment complex at Victory Center

By James Cullum
The Victory Center at 5001 Eisenhower Avenue (staff photo by James Cullum)

Officials kicked off the residential conversion of the long-vacant Victory Center yesterday (Wednesday) with a symbolic wall demolition, as the site is expected to welcome hundreds of housing units along Eisenhower Avenue.

The project at 5001 Eisenhower Avenue by property owner Stonebridge, the City of Alexandria and Amazon’s Housing Fund promises to bring 377 housing units to the 9.73-acre Victory Center property, including committed affordable and workforce units.

Go to Officials break ground on 377-unit affordable apartment complex at Victory Center Read more

Alexandria’s congressional primary elections moved to August amid redistricting push

By Emily Leayman
Voters at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center on Election Day, Nov. 4, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The 2026 congressional primaries in Alexandria and the rest of Virginia will be delayed until August, leaving more time for candidate filings after the fate of mid-decade redistricting is decided.

Alexandria’s General Registrar Angie Maniglia Turner confirmed to ALXnow that the city will have its primary elections on Aug. 4. According to Maniglia Turner, the city’s only primaries in 2026 are Sen. Mark Warner (D)’s U.S. Senate seat and U.S. House of Representatives.

Go to Alexandria’s congressional primary elections moved to August amid redistricting push Read more

Morning Notes for February 26, 2026

By ALXnow.com
As seen around Old Town Alexandria and Waterfront Park (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Black History Education Bill Introduced — “Members of the House of Delegates are considering a bill that would allow more students to take Black history courses. More than 400 years ago, a privateer ship called the White Lion brought the first enslaved people to Virginia. That’s part of a legacy that Delegate David Reid thinks should be taught in Virginia schools.” [WVTF]

Low Passenger Count at DCA — “Reagan National Airport recorded its lowest annual passenger count in three years in 2025, even as Dulles International Airport set an all-time record. Just under 24.9 million passengers traveled through DCA last year, down 5.3% from 26.3 million in 2024, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) reported yesterday (Tuesday) — confirming preliminary numbers released last month.” [ARLnow]

Go to Morning Notes for February 26, 2026 Read more

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Feb 25, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Good Wednesday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Feb 25, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. DEVELOPING: National Park Service denies approval of pump station at Waterfront Park (2436 views)
  2. Developer proposes converting office complex into townhomes on Eisenhower Avenue (882 views)
  3. Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority board served with lawsuit by fired CEO (851 views)
  4. Morning Notes for February 25, 2026 (392 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Thursday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

🌦️ Thursday’s forecast

Rain and snow are likely before 10am, followed by a chance of rain between 10am and 4pm. Expect mostly cloudy skies and a high temperature of about 45°F, along with a gentle 3-6 mph northeasterly breeze. The precipitation probability stands at 50%. For Thursday night, anticipate partly cloudy conditions and a low temperature near 32°F, accompanied by calm winds. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.”
– Sam Levenson

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

City Manager unveils $977 million budget proposal without tax increase

By James Cullum
Alexandria City Manager Jim Parajon at the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 19, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Manager Jim Parajon unveiled his proposed $977.3 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget last night (Tuesday).

While the budget is a 2.2% increase from the current FY 2026 budget, Parajon’s proposal keeps the real estate tax rate of $1.135 per $100 of assessed value, and does not change the city’s refuse rate. He was able to achieve the feat through $9 million “in efficiency reductions, cost cutting savings, and vacant position reductions to balance the budget.”

Go to City Manager unveils $977 million budget proposal without tax increase Read more

City moves forward with Torpedo Factory operator search, including option to display historic ship hull

By Emily Leayman
The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

A process to select a new operator for the Torpedo Factory Art Center is moving forward, and the option to display remains of an 18th century ship could potentially be part of operators’ plans.

On Saturday, Alexandria City Council gave final approval to a procurement process to select a new operator for the Torpedo Factory Art Center at 105 N. Union Street. Council previously delayed approval of the procurement process to add a provision about exploring displays of historical archaeology artifacts.

Go to City moves forward with Torpedo Factory operator search, including option to display historic ship hull Read more

DEVELOPING: National Park Service denies approval of pump station at Waterfront Park

By James Cullum
Rendering of the pump station at Waterfront Park in Old Town at night, seen here looking east down Prince Street (via City of Alexandria)

The National Park Service has denied approval to build a pump station at Waterfront Park, the City of Alexandria has confirmed today (Wednesday).

The Alexandria Times was the first outlet to confirm the news. NPS sent the city a letter on Feb. 20 “indicating a reversal of their previous position on the City’s Deed Modification request for the Waterfront Flood Mitigation Pump Station,” according to the city website.

Go to DEVELOPING: National Park Service denies approval of pump station at Waterfront Park Read more

Developer proposes converting office complex into townhomes on Eisenhower Avenue

By James Cullum
Tri Pointe Homes wants to redevelop 4701 and 4801 Eisenhower into a residential development (via Google Maps)

A plan to convert a two-story office complex into a residential community with 37 townhomes on Eisenhower Avenue is headed to the Planning Commission in April.

D.C.-area homebuilder Tri Pointe Homes is asking for permission to convert property at 4701 and 4801 Eisenhower Avenue into a residential development with 80 back-to-back units and 24% ground-level open space. The proposal, considered “phase 2” of the existing Eisenhower Pointe housing development, is expected to go before the commission on Tuesday, April 7.

Go to Developer proposes converting office complex into townhomes on Eisenhower Avenue Read more
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