St. Elmo’s opening third coffee shop — “St. Elmo’s awnings are up in Fairlington.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
ParcView II development draws support from Planning Commission, concern from neighbors — “Another controversial project that has raised concerns about density, parking and safety, but which would considerably boost Alexandria’s supply of affordable housing, will come before City Council at Saturday’s public hearing.” [Alexandria Times]
Other than the stabbing, this week was relatively sedate — especially compared to last week.
With the drama behind Governor Youngkin’s recent visit mostly in the rearview mirror, the city’s been getting to the internal business of budget issues. Residential property assessments are up and hotel revenue down, not to mention an election safely behind a new Council, but remains to be seen whether the city will see a tax rate increase.
The thoughtful dining experiences have paid off. Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap was awarded the Heart of Del Ray award on Friday (Feb. 11), beating out four other local businesses.
More than 1,000 voters cast ballots for the spot that captured the heart of the community. The Del Ray Business Association presented the restaurant with a large heart-shaped award on Friday morning — just in time for Valentine’s Day on Monday, Feb. 14.
After being canceled last month due to weather and rising Covid numbers, the monthly Del Ray Vintage Flea Market is back this Saturday.
Looking for Valentine’s Day-inspired gifts? The market will feature more than 50 vendors and be open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of 1900 Mt. Vernon Avenue and the back parking lot of the Salvation Army Corps building.
The Alexandria Library is hosting an art contest for Alexandria teens and the deadline is early next week.
The Teen Winter Creativity Contest is open to all local writers, visual artists and photographers in grades 6 through 12. Entries must be received by the Alexandria Library by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday (Feb. 15). The entry forms are available at the bottom of the contest page and only one entry is permitted per student in each category.
Community conversations about the future of the shuttered GenOn plant in Old Town North continue with another community meeting later this month.
A virtual community meeting on the future of the plant will be held on Thursday, Feb. 24, at 6:30 p.m.
Freedom House Museum aims to reopen in April — “With its purchase of Freedom House several years ago, the City of Alexandria took tangible steps to ensure that its African American history is not forgotten. Now, following a long closure due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and several renovations, the Freedom House Museum is getting ready to reopen its doors.” [Alexandria Times]
Lee-Fendall House names new executive director — “Amanda Roper takes the reins at the historic property and museum in Old Town.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
(Updated at 11 a.m.) West End residents are fuming over Wesley Housing’s plan to expand a 14-story 1970s-era apartment building into a three-building affordable apartment complex. Plans for the ParcView II complex at 5380 Holmes Run Parkway would add hundreds of affordable units to Alexandria’s West End, and City Council will consider them on Saturday (Feb. 12).
Wesley Housing owns the property and is managing its redevelopment, and wants to redevelop the 14-story building with 146 affordable units and build two new nine-story apartment buildings with 227 affordable units on a three acre lot.
Alexandria hotels are still hurting, but there may be some signs of relief on the horizon.
The ongoing battering of the hotel industry by Covid has been one of the biggest talking points in the budget so far: particularly because city leaders say it could lead to more tax pressure on the city’s residents.
Midnight the cat needs a new home in the twilight of her life.
The 17-year-old female black cat is up for adoption with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, and all adoption fees have been paid for by a generous donor.
A 26-year-old Washington, D.C. man has been sentenced to three months in the Alexandria jail after leaving the scene of an accident while driving a stolen car in the West End in January.
Jarrel Bailey was arrested driving a stolen Dodge Challenger on Jan. 3 after Alexandria police attempted to pull him over for reckless driving on Monday, January 3. The Challenger took off at high speed, and then “struck an uninvolved motorist,” according to a search warrant affidavit.
