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Alexandria bomb threat suspect was found guilty for similar offense in 2016

By James Cullum
Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

A 33-year-old man with a history of making bomb threats in Alexandria faces three more counts of making bomb threats to the city’s 911 call center.

Mikhail Stefon Douglas, of Severn, Maryland, faces three counts of making bomb threats to the city’s Department of Emergency and Customer Communications call-takers on Nov. 8, 2022. No explosives were found during a police search of the DECC facility at 2525 Mount Vernon Avenue and no one was injured, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

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Housing Alexandria breaking ground on new Arlandria affordable housing development this summer

By Vernon Miles
Concept rendering of Sansé and Naja development in Arlandria (courtesy of Housing Alexandria)

Local nonprofit Housing Alexandria said it will break ground on a new 474-unit affordable housing project in Arlandria this summer at the intersection of Mount Vernon Avenue and Glebe Road.

The project — a pair of buildings the nonprofit announced will be called Sansé and Naja — will create 474 units of affordable housing, 36,000 square feet of commercial space and a two-level underground parking garage. All of the units will be affordable for households making up to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) with 105 units set aside as deeply affordable — available to those making 40% AMI.

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Walgreens redevelopment in Old Town headed to city review

By Vernon Miles

The proposed redevelopment of a pair of blue and white buildings, a former Burke & Herbert Bank and a former Walgreens, is heading back to city review next month.

The plan is to combine the two buildings into a single mixed-use development called The Mansley with ground-floor retail and three stories of residential space above.

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Four Alexandria schools participating in speed camera pilot

By James Cullum
Speed cameras (via ACPS)

Four Alexandria school zones have been selected for a pilot program to install speed cameras, according to a presentation prepared for a joint City Council and School Board meeting.

This is the first time Alexandria will use speed cameras, and the following locations were agreed upon by Alexandria City Public Schools, the police department and the Department of Transportation & Environmental Services:

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Changes in the works for King Street Trolley, including new Eisenhower destination

By Vernon Miles
King Street Trolley in Alexandria (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A proposed extension of the King Street Trolley has reappeared in a new DASH transit plan.

The bus network’s FY 2023-2028 Transit Development Plan includes a look behind the curtain at what’s ahead for the bus network, including a plan to take the King Street Trolley down to the Eisenhower Avenue Metro station.

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Notes: New Queen Street restaurant brings Alexandria, Egypt to Alexandria, Virginia

By ALXnow.com
Meal at Elaine's Restaurant prepared by Chef Charles Smeed (image via Elaine's Restaurant/Facebook)

Good Monday morning, Alexandria!

☔ Today’s weather: Possible light rain in the afternoon and evening. High of 56 and low of 44.
⛅ Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 55 and low of 43. Sunrise at 7:00 am and sunset at 7:28 pm.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) speaks to Alexandria Democrats at Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray, March 20, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

It was a big week for questions about the future of development, density and affordable housing.

In neighboring Arlington, the County Board voted to approve ‘Missing Middle’ zoning changes that would allow multifamily residential structures on what had been single-family zoning. As Alexandria launches its own Zoning for Housing/Housing for All initiative, some eyes now turn to that program to see if Alexandria will follow suit.

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Nearly $60,000 raised for Alexandria bartender shot in attempted carjacking

By Vernon Miles
Mason Social bartender James Lee (image via GoFundMe)

A GoFundMe campaign for James Lee, a bartender at Mason Social, has raised $58,653 to help him recover from being shot multiple times in an attempted carjacking.

Zebra reported last week that Lee was reportedly approached by two men while he was stopping for gas on Pennsylvania Avenue. The men allegedly drew their guns and told him to give up his car. When he got in the car and fled, he was shot seven times. He was able to get away and called 911 before passing out from his injuries.

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New Waterfront art installation celebrating nautical history debuts tomorrow

By Vernon Miles
"Two Boxes of Oranges and Admonia Jackson" (via City of Alexandria)

(Updated 4:55 p.m.) A new art exhibit meant to evoke the hull of a ship is being unveiled tomorrow in Old Town’s Waterfront Park (1 Prince Street).

The installation is the latest in a series of temporary art exhibits at the foot of King Street, replacing the kitschy I Love You display. The new artwork is called “Two Boxes of Oranges and Admonia Jackson,” named from text in a ship’s manifest found in an archeological dig.

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