News | ALXnow - Part 487

Del Ray residents converge over Preservation Virginia’s ‘endangered’ designation

Published May 19, 2023 at 2:30PM

Residents hear about Preservation Virginia's declaration of Del Ray in its annual list of endangered communities, May 18, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

About 50 people gathered in Del Ray early Thursday evening to decry increased development and to hear about a recent “endangered” designation within the neighborhood.

Preservation Virginia recently designated The Town of Potomac — once an independent and racist town and now a sub-neighborhood within Del Ray — in its annual list of endangered historic sites. The Town of Potomac was created in 1908 as a white-only community in Arlington County. It was annexed into the Alexandria in 1930, after which it “ceased to exist,” according to the city.

JUST IN: Long-awaited Potomac Yard Metro opens station in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published May 19, 2023 at 1:00PM | Updated May 19, 2023 at 1:16PM

Opening of the Potomac Yard Metro station (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 1:15 p.m.) During the celebration of the grand opening of the Potomac Yard Metro Station, electrician Antonio Jones looked up at the structure he and countless other laborers worked on over the last few years.

For him and other members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers — as much as for the city staffers, transportation executives and elected leaders from across the region in attendance — today (Friday) was a day of triumph: the Potomac Yard Metro station is finally open.

Alexandria Police Department makes arrest in alleged Old Town car theft

By Vernon Miles

Published May 19, 2023 at 10:30AM

Alexandria Police at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus. (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Police Department said they made an arrest in a car theft in Old Town earlier this week and were able to recover the vehicle.

Notes: Small Business Development Center Assistant Director Gloria Flanagan has died

By ALXnow.com

Published May 19, 2023 at 8:30AM

Good Friday morning, Alexandria!

☔ Today’s weather: Passing showers. Cloudy. Mild. High of 73 and low of 57.
☔ Tomorrow: Passing showers. Overcast. Mild. High of 75 and low of 56. Sunrise at 5:52 am and sunset at 8:17 pm.

Alexandria School Board to present Council with staggered terms proposal this fall

By James Cullum

Published May 18, 2023 at 3:30PM

ACPS Headquarters in Alexandria (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Some big changes are coming to the Alexandria School Board.

Tonight, the Board will conduct a work session on whether to stagger the election cycle for its members, as well as reducing the number of members. There are currently nine Board members serving three-year terms in Districts A, B and C, and their elections run concurrently with City Council.

Office of Historic Alexandria provides guide to city’s Confederate street names ahead of renaming

By Vernon Miles

Published May 18, 2023 at 2:50PM

N. Early Street (image via Google Maps)

Jubal Early was a Confederate military leader who not only fled the country to avoid surrendering but eventually came to be one of the early vocal proponents of the Lost Cause myth and an outspoken white supremacist.

N. Early Street — a road between Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus and, ironically, the Union’s Fort Ward — honors Early. It is one of the 41 roads throughout Alexandria confirmed in a new report to be named for a Confederate leader.

Waterfront flood mitigation plan heads to City Council for next steps

By Vernon Miles

Published May 18, 2023 at 1:30PM

Flooding on lower King Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

After years of planning, the flood mitigation plan for Alexandria’s waterfront is making some progress.

The Waterfront Implementation Program is heading to a public hearing for procurement and proposals on Tuesday, May 23 — the next major step along the costly road toward getting a new bulkhead and other waterfront infrastructure built.

No arrest after gun displayed during argument at Potomac Yard Shopping Center

By James Cullum

Published May 18, 2023 at 10:45AM | Updated May 18, 2023 at 11:06AM

A man allegedly displayed a handgun during an argument in the 3400 block of Richmond Highway in the Potomac Yard Shopping Center on May 17, 2023 (via Google Maps)

There were no injuries or arrests after a man allegedly displayed a handgun during an argument in the parking lot of the Potomac Yard Shopping Center on Wednesday afternoon.

Police were dispatched for an assault in the 3400 block of Richmond Highway at around 4:15 p.m. The victim told police that he got into another argument with a man just outside the Best Buy (3401 Richmond Highway) and that the suspect allegedly revealed a handgun in his waistband.

Notes: Agenda Alexandria to discuss uptick in gun-related crime on Monday

By ALXnow.com

Published May 18, 2023 at 9:05AM

Police investigating a shooting in the Andrew Adkins development (staff photo by James Cullum)

Good Thursday morning, Alexandria!

🌥 Today’s weather: Cloudy. Mild. High of 71 and low of 51.
⛅ Tomorrow: Breaks of sun late. Mild. High of 71 and low of 50. Sunrise at 5:52 am and sunset at 8:16 pm.

Alexandria Library launches new archive to document the city’s online culture

By Vernon Miles

Published May 17, 2023 at 3:30PM

The Kate Waller Barrett Branch of the Alexandria Library (staff photo by James Cullum)

In the Alexandria Gazette’s newsroom is a wall filled with archives of the news organization dating back to the early 19th century.

It’s an invaluable resource and a chance to look back at Alexandrians describing the city in their era in their own words, from local advertisements to gossip at the port. As more news is reported exclusively online, the Alexandria Library is hoping to recapture that sort of archive for the digital age.

Crooked Beat Records to reopen in new Del Ray location in June

By James Cullum

Published May 17, 2023 at 2:45PM

Crooked Beat Records is now closed at 802 N. Fairfax Street in Old Town. (Photo via Crooked Beat Records/Facebook)

Crooked Beat Records will reopen in Del Ray in the first week in June, owner Bill Daly tells ALXnow.

The record shop closed at 802 N. Fairfax Street in Old Town on April 29, a week after Record Store Day. Daly signed a five-year lease for the 1,200-square-foot basement in 2417 Mount Vernon Avenue — in the same building that houses Cheesetique, the Del Ray School Of Music and Piece Out Del Ray.