News | ALXnow - Part 527

Grammy winners and other stars send in letters supporting The Birchmere’s new electric sign

Published March 8, 2023 at 3:30PM | Updated March 8, 2023 at 4:12PM

New sign at The Birchmere (image via City of Alexandria)

Chris Issak, John Waters and Judy Collins are just a few of the dozens of famous artists who petitioned the Alexandria Planning Commission and City Council to approve The Birchmere‘s Special Use Permit request to keep up its flashy new 5-foot-by-2.5-foot digital sign along Mount Vernon Avenue in Arlandria.

The Planning Commission approved the request 7-0 on Tuesday, and it now goes to City Council. Planning Commission Chair Nathan Macek said that the letters with all of the supporting signatures would be “an excellent auction item.”

Inova Hospital at Landmark project sails through Alexandria Planning Commission

By James Cullum

Published March 8, 2023 at 1:15PM

The proposed Inova Alexandria Hospital building on the former Landmark Mall site (via City of Alexandria)

The former home of Landmark Mall is likely to soon get a new tenant. The 1.1 million-square-foot Inova at Landmark Project sailed through the Alexandria Planning Commission last night, with just one hurdle left before getting the green light to start construction.

With the 6-0 (Chair Nathan Macek recused himself) approval further bolstering Inova’s plan to move Alexandria Hospital to the West End site, the matter will now be presented to City Council at its public hearing on Saturday, March 18.

Arlington attorney arrested for allegedly stealing credit cards from Alexandria office building

By Vernon Miles

Published March 8, 2023 at 10:15AM | Updated March 8, 2023 at 4:21PM

The Franklin P. Backus Courthouse at 520 King Street in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated at 10:25 a.m.) An Arlington defense attorney has been arrested and charged with allegedly stealing credit cards from an Alexandria office building multiple times last year.

The attorney is charged with credit card theft and credit card fraud, both as felonies, and another credit card fraud misdemeanor charge.

Notes: Last day for Alexandria City Public Schools’ survey about metal detectors in schools

By ALXnow.com

Published March 8, 2023 at 9:15AM

Advanced metal detectors will be used for a pilot program in two Alexandria City Public Schools locations as part of a pilot program (via ACPS)

Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!

🌤 Today’s weather: Clear throughout the day. High of 48 and low of 30.
🌤 Tomorrow: Clear throughout the day. High of 53 and low of 31. Sunrise at 6:30 am and sunset at 6:09 pm.

Power (mostly) restored after early morning outage in Del Ray

By Vernon Miles

Published March 8, 2023 at 8:55AM

Power outage in Del Ray (image via Dominion Energy)

Del Ray residents were in for a rude awakening this morning as many discovered early this morning that power to the neighborhood was out.

As of 8:45 a.m., most of that power has been restored, but Dominion said 367 residents at the north end of the neighborhood still remain in the dark.

Large residential overhaul in Old Town clears bureaucratic hurdle

By Vernon Miles

Published March 7, 2023 at 3:45PM | Updated March 8, 2023 at 8:37AM

Tycon Building redesign plans (image via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria’s Board of Architectural Review can be infamously picky about urban design, but the board unanimously voted to approve a large new project in Old Town with significant enthusiasm.

Applicant City House Old Town, LLC is applying to have the office building at 1101 King Street — currently a mostly vacant office space called the Tycon Building — changed into a residential development with 210 units.

Procession through Alexandria this Saturday will honor Fire Department Deputy Chief Brian Hricik

By Vernon Miles

Published March 7, 2023 at 1:45PM

Deputy Chief Brian Hricik (image via City of Alexandria)

A procession is planned this week to honor Deputy Chief Brian Hricik, who died late last month after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Hricik, who had been with the Alexandria Fire Department (AFD) since 1997, will be remembered at 1 p.m. at the Vienna Presbyterian Church (124 Park Street NE).

Sweet Sandy: Cuddle companion up for adoption

By Sponsor

Published March 7, 2023 at 12:00PM

Meet Sandy, a sweet 5-year-old full of affection, waiting to find her forever home!

She is up for adoption at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria and is very friendly. Sandy is full of character and greets everyone with sloppy kisses and tail wags, according to AWLA spokesperson Erin Shackelford.

Driver crashes into police cruiser and charged with DUI in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published March 7, 2023 at 10:50AM

A Fairfax County man was charged with driving while intoxicated in the

A Fairfax County man goes to court this week for allegedly crashing his car into an Alexandria Police cruiser while driving drunk.

The incident occurred at around midnight on Sunday, Feb. 26, near the intersection of S. Washington Street and Green Street. There were two officers in the cruiser at the time of the crash. While the airbags were deployed, no one was injured in the crash, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

Notes: 14-year-old charged with possession of a firearm in Alexandria City High School incident

By ALXnow.com

Published March 7, 2023 at 8:40AM

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

Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!

⛅ Today’s weather: Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 51 and low of 31.
🌤 Tomorrow: Clear throughout the day. High of 49 and low of 31. Sunrise at 6:32 am and sunset at 6:08 pm.

PHOTOS: The 2023 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published March 6, 2023 at 3:30PM | Updated March 6, 2023 at 4:43PM

Handing out flags at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Old Town, March 3, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Old Town was packed on Saturday morning for Alexandria’s 40th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Thousands of visitors lined King Street to watch a procession of more than 2,000 participants, including Irish dancers, historic reenactors and the City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums. The festivities also included a car show and a dog show at Market Square outside City Hall.