News | ALXnow - Part 446

Panel discussion tackles timeline question for Alexandria’s zoning overhaul

Published October 24, 2023 at 1:40PM

Agenda Alexandria panel discussion on Zoning for Housing (image via Agenda Alexandria/YouTube)

A panel last night on the city’s Zoning for Housing/Housing for All overhaul dived into the back and forth on the issue, including questions about the timeline from proposal to final review.

The proposal includes a number of changes to the city’s housing zoning, the most high-profile being allowing two-to-four-unit dwellings in formerly single-family residential zones. Other substantial changes include making it easier to build housing in industrial zones and eliminating minimum parking requirements for dwellings with up to four units in enhanced transit zones.

Multi-use apartment building proposed in 1970s-era office in Old Town North

By James Cullum

Published October 24, 2023 at 11:45AM

720 N. Fairfax Street in Old Town North (via Google Maps)

A makeover has been proposed for a 53-year-old office building in Old Town North.

The owners of the former home of the Alexandria Community Services Board at 720 North St. Asaph Street want the building converted into a 12-unit multifamily apartment building with ground floor commercial space.

Metro considering earlier closure, eliminating bus routes, and other cost cutting measures

By Vernon Miles

Published October 24, 2023 at 10:05AM

Metrobus near Potomac Yard (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

A particularly bleak budget prediction is forcing the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to consider plans involving longer train waits, Metro station closures, and eliminating many bus routes, the Washington Post reported.

WMATA’s worst-case scenario plans, built on an assumption of no increase in funding from D.C., Maryland and Virginia, include layoffs of nearly 5,000 employees, closing 20-25 rail stations either permanently or on weekends, and closing stations at 9 p.m. WMATA said all but 37 Metrobus routes are also on the cutting board.

Notes: Del Ray Halloween Parade ranked one of the top ten in the country

By Vernon Miles

Published October 24, 2023 at 8:55AM

Mario at the Del Ray Halloween parade on Sunday, October 24, 2021. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!

☀️ Today’s weather: Today’s forecast calls for sunny skies, with a high near 69. Weather tonight is clear with a low around 47, and tomorrow should be mostly sunny with a high near 75.

‘I Can’t Breathe’: Alexandria Police investigating display in police cruiser seemingly mocking police brutality victims

By Vernon Miles

Published October 23, 2023 at 3:45PM | Updated October 23, 2023 at 5:01PM

Alexandria Accountability footage of police vehicle with displayed pig wearing an 'I Can't Breathe' shirt (image via ALX Accountability/YouTube)

(Updated 4:20 p.m.) A video posted this weekend by citizen journalism page Alexandria Accountability shows an Alexandria Police Department vehicle with a display in the passenger seat that seems to mock police brutality victims George Floyd and Eric Garner.

The Alexandria Accountability footage shows a propped-up figure with a cartoon pig head, a black domino mask, and a shirt with the words “I Can’t Breathe” — the last words of Eric Garner, an unarmed Black man killed by a New York City Police Officer in 2014, and were said later by George Floyd in 2020 when he was murdered by Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin.

Zoning for Housing advocates and opponents face off in panel tonight

By Vernon Miles

Published October 23, 2023 at 3:00PM

Roy Byrd, chair of the Coalition for a Livable Alexandria, speaks at a rally at City Hall on Aug. 28, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Discussion panel program Agenda: Alexandria is hosting a panel tonight to bring advocates and opponents of the city’s housing reform together for a showdown.

The chosen dueling ground will be the Lyceum (201 S. Washington Street) at 7 p.m., though onlookers can also view the panel online.

Alexandria looking to make Duke Street intersection at Carlyle entrance more pedestrian friendly

By Vernon Miles

Published October 23, 2023 at 1:55PM

Duke Street and Dulany Street (image via Google Maps)

While the City of Alexandria is eyeing major changes to Duke Street west of Old Town, one change could be coming to the street right as it passes the Carlyle neighborhood.

The city could be swapping out one of the left turn lanes at the intersection with Dulany Street with a pedestrian refuge.

Alexandria City Council fires back after ‘woke’ criticism on renaming streets named after Confederate leaders

By James Cullum

Published October 23, 2023 at 11:10AM | Updated October 23, 2023 at 11:31AM

Members of the Alexandria City Council at their town hall meeting at Charles Houston Recreation Center on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council at its town hall meeting on Saturday shot back at criticism over its plan to rename streets named after Confederate leaders.

Council answered public questions for two hours Saturday morning at Charles Houston Recreation Center, and the meeting took a decisive turn when Mayor Justin Wilson read the following question:

Police: Driver seriously injures pedestrian in Duke Street crash

By Vernon Miles

Published October 23, 2023 at 9:50AM

Intersection of Duke and Paxton Streets (image via Google Maps)

The Alexandria Police Department (APD) said a woman was seriously injured when she was struck by a driver on Duke Street yesterday.

APD said around 9:46 a.m. on Sunday morning, officers responded to a collision involving a pedestrian at the Duke and Paxton Streets intersection.

Notes: Large group of drivers take over Seminary Road intersection early Saturday morning

By ALXnow.com

Published October 23, 2023 at 8:55AM

Intersection of Seminary Road and Beauregard Street (photo via Google Maps)

Good Monday morning, Alexandria!

☀️ Today’s weather: Expect sunny skies and a high around 63 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 8 to 13 mph, gusting up to 18 mph. As for Monday night, the sky will remain mostly clear, and the temperature will drop to around 40 degrees. The north wind will decrease to about 6 mph before calming down during the evening.

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By ALXnow.com

Published October 20, 2023 at 3:30PM | Updated October 20, 2023 at 4:03PM

Chicken and waffles at Matt & Tony's (image via Matt & Tony's All Day Kitchen/Facebook)

Everybody must be hungry, because this week’s top story was about an all-day brunch restaurant in Del Ray.

Matt & Tony’s All Day Kitchen + Bar (1501 Mount Vernon Avenue) was the sole Alexandria location in Washingtonian’s list of best brunch spots. The restaurant opened last year with a dog-friendly patio and specializes in all-day brunch.