News | ALXnow - Part 695

West End massive affordable housing apartment complex going to City Council on Saturday

Published February 10, 2022 at 3:30PM | Updated February 11, 2022 at 10:53AM

A rendering of Wesley Housing's affordable housing project ParcView II at 5380 Holmes Run Parkway. (Via Wesley Housing)

(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.

Visit Alexandria predicts tourism rebound for hotels, business travel still years behind

By Vernon Miles

Published February 10, 2022 at 1:30PM

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.

17-year-old Midnight the cat is looking for a new home

By James Cullum

Published February 10, 2022 at 10:45AM

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.

D.C. man sentenced to three months in jail for hit-and-run, eluding police

By James Cullum

Published February 10, 2022 at 9:55AM

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.

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published February 10, 2022 at 5:00AM

Gov. Youngkin defends school tip line as educational groups call for it to be shut down — “Eight educational groups issued a joint statement that calls on Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin to ‘immediately shut down’ an email tip line created for people to report ‘divisive practices’ in schools.” [ABC]

Davidson Hospitality Group selected to operate Lorien Hotel & Spa in Old Town — “Davidson Hospitality Group announces the addition of Lorien Hotel & Spa to its management portfolio, the third Washington D.C.-area hotel to be managed under the company’s Pivot lifestyle operating vertical.” [Hospitality Net]

Classical movements tuning up for expansion in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published February 9, 2022 at 3:30PM

Garden portion of The Rectory set up as music venue during the pandemic in 2020. (via Classical Movements)

After nearly two years of hosting outdoor classical music concerts in Old Town, Classical Movements wants to expand their operation.

City Council, which approved Classical Movements’ request to operate last year, will review the application to expand hours and increase seating for the venue at The Rectory at 711 Princess Street at its meeting on Saturday, Feb. 12. Classical Movements wants to increase outdoor seating from 50 to 181, and expand hours from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

DASH leaders say city needs remote charging and more to make electric bus fleet viable

By Vernon Miles

Published February 9, 2022 at 2:30PM

Electric DASH bus, photo via DASH/Facebook

If the city wants a fully electrical bus fleet, DASH leadership said its going to need to invest in making sure buses can recharge across the city.

In a meeting with the City Council ahead of the legislative session last night, DASH General Manager Josh Baker outlined some challenges facing the city as it pushes to have a fully electric bus fleet by 2035.

Bonaventure unveils new shopping center plans on Mount Vernon Avenue

By James Cullum

Published February 9, 2022 at 1:00PM

A conceptual design for Bonaventure's property at 2525 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray. (Via Bonaventure)

Local developer Bonaventure hopes their new shopping center in the middle of Del Ray could be constructed as early as summer 2025. That’s if all goes according to their plan.

Right now the plan for 2525 Mount Vernon Avenue is still in its conceptual phase, but includes a four-story, 43-foot-tall building with 12,530 square feet of retail and 79 rental units on the one acre lot. Bonaventure is not planning on including any affordable housing units in the project, and will instead contribute to the city’s Housing Trust Fund.

Pedego Electric Bikes in Old Town is planning to open a store in Vienna next month

By James Cullum

Published February 9, 2022 at 11:00AM

Business has been so good at the Pedego Electric Bikes shop in Old Town that owner Todd Ketch is planning to open another location in Vienna next month. The ink is still drying on the deal, but if all goes as planned then Ketch will be opening in an industrial section of downtown Vienna.

“The pandemic was like dumping gasoline to the fire for the electric bike market,” Ketch said. “It’s not going to stop from here. How are we going to take full advantage? I’m going to open a second store in Vienna, and we’re excited.”

Maryland lab uncovers more details behind an Old Town artifact

By Vernon Miles

Published February 9, 2022 at 9:50AM

X-ray of Robinson Landing South watch fob, image via Arianna Johnston/MAC Lab

An x-ray treatment of an artifact found at Robinson Terminal South has revealed more details about an artifact stuck into a strip of corrupted iron alloy.

The much smaller artifact came from the same area as the buried ships found in 2018. The artifact is a watch fob, a popular 18th and 19th-century accessory, but only part of the original piece was visible. A report by conservator Arianna Johnston from the Maryland Archeological Conservation Laboratory highlighted what their lab learned with further study.

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published February 9, 2022 at 5:00AM

Alexandria’s St. Patrick’s Day parade postponed until September 2022 — “The word is out-no parade in March.” [Zebra]

Fairfax County considers renaming districts and voting precincts — “Five local governmental districts and voting precincts could be renamed due to their Confederate associations.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]