News | ALXnow - Part 625

D.C. man charged with assault and battery after brawl at William Ramsay Recreation Center

Published April 5, 2022 at 10:45AM

Alexandria Police at night (staff photo by James Cullum)

A 25-year-old Washington, D.C. man was arrested on March 26 (Saturday) after an assault by mob at William Ramsay Recreation Center (5650 Sanger Avenue).

At around 9:15 p.m., the city’s Department of Emergency Communications got a call of multiple males fighting in the gym of the West End recreation center. When police arrived, a white Chrysler Sebring with Virginia tags attempted to drive away from the scene at “a high rate of speed,” according to a search warrant affidavit. Responding officers blocked the Sebring’s exit and its occupants were detained and questioned.

Former Banana Republic location in Old Town headed to city review

By Vernon Miles

Published April 5, 2022 at 9:45AM

Banana Republic at 628 King Street and Gap Outlet at 622 King Street closed Jan. 24, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The demolition and redevelopment of 628 King Street, formerly Banana Republic, is headed to review at the Board of Architectural Review (BAR) as the developer hopes to make some changes to the upper part of the building.

Currently, the building’s second floor is an almost entirely windowless brick facade. Jemal’s Gap Corner King, LLC, part of Douglas Development, is applying to demolish part of the north and west parts of the building to add windows to the second floor.

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published April 5, 2022 at 5:00AM

Scenes from Old Town as a storm front bringing rain and high winds moves through the region (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Spring plant sale returning — “On April 30, from 9 am to 2 pm, ten vendors from Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and DC will gather to sell native plants, shrubs, and trees for sun or shade in the Church of St. Clement parking lot 1701 N. Quaker Lane.” [Zebra]

It’s Tuesday — Rain throughout the day. High of 60 and low of 48. Sunrise at 6:47 am and sunset at 7:37 pm. [Weather.gov]

Environmental group protests Chase Bank and Wells Fargo with ‘die-ins’ at Old Town branches

By James Cullum

Published April 4, 2022 at 3:30PM | Updated April 4, 2022 at 3:57PM

A "die-in" outside Chase Bank at 106 N. Washington Street on Monday, April 4, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Chanting and holding signs, a local environmental group protested Chase Bank and Wells Fargo with ‘die-ins’ at their Old Town branches.

On Monday afternoon (April 4), more than a dozen protestors from the group TH!RD ACT-VA walked into both banks and chanted “What do we want? Climate change! What do we need? System change!” and delivered letters to local branch managers to forward to Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and Wells Fargo CEO Charles W. Scharf. The letters demand that the banks “divest from fossil fuels this year.”

Alexandria Republicans and Democrats hash out differences in roundtable discussion

By Vernon Miles

Published April 4, 2022 at 2:45PM

Last week, Agenda Alexandria sat local Republicans and Democrats together at a table to hash things out and try to find a way forward.

The round table discussion featured former Delegate Mark Levine and Legislative Director Sarah Taylor voicing the more Democrat-aligned viewpoint. On the Republican side was The Family Foundation Director of External Relations Michael Leaser and Michael Ginsberg, vice president of CACI and leader of the Suburban Virginia Republican Coalition.

City apologizes for delays in flood mitigation grant program

By Vernon Miles

Published April 4, 2022 at 1:30PM

Nearly a year after Alexandria launched a flood mitigation program to reimburse projects on private properties, the city is apologizing for some delays with the program and said the process should be streamlined soon.

The Flood Mitigation Grant Program partially reimburses residents to install flood mitigation practices on their property. The pilot program launched last August and received over 175 applications. Applicants can receive a reimbursement of up to 50% of their project costs, up to $5,000. So far, the city has reimbursed nearly $300,000 worth of flood mitigation projects. Bill Skrabak, deputy director of Infrastructure & Environmental Quality, said the city was hopeful it would get some use but wasn’t prepared for the number of grant requests.

April in Alexandria: Easter egg hunts, musical performances and soul food

By James Cullum

Published April 4, 2022 at 11:05AM

The George Washington National Masonic Memorial in the springtime. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Spring gets into full swing in Alexandria this month, and there are dozens of events around the city to get you out of the house.

Visit Alexandria has compiled a list of events this month around town, including Easter egg hunts, book signings, a film screening and musical performances.

City to host public meeting on new density and affordable housing options

By Vernon Miles

Published April 4, 2022 at 10:00AM

The City of Alexandria is hosting a community meeting for a plan to allow additional bonus height in new zones in exchange for affordable housing.

Currently, developers can only apply for bonus height in zones with height limits of 50 feet. The new ordinance would take that down to allow developers to apply for bonus height in zones with 45 foot high limits. It’s a relatively minor change on paper, but it opens new density options across the city as well as more opportunities for affordable housing.

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published April 4, 2022 at 5:00AM

Sheriff’s Office assessors want to hear from locals — “A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) is conducting an assessment of the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services.” [Zebra]

It’s Monday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 56 and low of 37. Sunrise at 6:49 am and sunset at 7:36 pm. [Weather.gov]

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published April 1, 2022 at 3:30PM

The scene of a crash outside Jefferson Houston Elementary School, March 29, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s been a big week for crime and public safety issues in Alexandria.

There were several arrests and a few notable cases where there weren’t arrests: like when a child was struck in a crash and no arrests made after another fatal crash.

Alexandria Police to start wearing body worn cameras this summer, will take a year until full deployment

By James Cullum

Published April 1, 2022 at 2:15PM

Alexandria Police will be outfitted with body worn cameras starting this summer, but it won’t be until next year that all officers will be outfitted with the devices.

The $2.2 million program City Manager Jim Parajon presented to Council on Wednesday (March 30) is significantly scaled back cost-wise when compared to a $13 million proposal presented to City Council last year by then-Police Chief Michael Brown.