News | ALXnow - Part 697

After two years of COVID-19, the pandemic is winding down in Alexandria

Published March 11, 2022 at 3:00PM | Updated March 14, 2022 at 11:57AM

Walking on King Street in Old Town, Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Nicole Burlimann now has a completely different life. Exactly two years ago, she was the food and beverage manager at the Hilton Garden Inn — facing a busy spring full of events. Then COVID hit, her position was terminated and she collected unemployment for months while watching and waiting for restrictions to be lifted and normalcy to resume.

After four months, Burlimann started working part-time at Piece Out Del Ray (2419 Mount Vernon Avenue) when it opened in the summer of 2020. The restaurant is owned by the Ponzi family, and they later promoted Burlimann as general manager at their St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub and Market 2 Market locations in Del Ray.

Alexandria celebration of fast or unique cars returning this spring

By Vernon Miles

Published March 11, 2022 at 10:45AM

Old Town Festival of Speed and Style, photo via Festival of Speed and Sound/Facebook

An annual celebration of fast, unique and/or bizarre cars is coming back to Alexandria this spring for its third year.

The Old Town Festival of Speed & Style, presented by Burke and Herbert Bank, is scheduled to come back on May 22.

School Board meeting gets heated over formation of school law enforcement advisory group

By James Cullum

Published March 11, 2022 at 10:10AM | Updated March 11, 2022 at 3:47PM

School Board Chair Meagan Alderton tells Board members that they need to focus at the March 10 meeting. (Via ACPS)

A miscommunication on the formation of an advisory group left the Alexandria School Board in disarray on Thursday night (March 10).

As expected, Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr. and staff discussed the creation of a school law enforcement partnership (SLEP) advisory group, but Board Member Tammy Ignacio was not pleased with communication between Board members on proposed edits to Hutchings’ proposal.

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published March 11, 2022 at 5:00AM

Nonprofit promotes health for local firefighters — “On Feb. 17, Tate and Food on the Stove executive chef Brazil Murphy brought their skills to Alexandria Fire Station 203 on Cameron Mills Road.” [Alexandria Gazette]

It’s Friday — Rain overnight. High of 58 and low of 37. Sunrise at 6:27 am and sunset at 6:13 pm. [Weather.gov]

Old Town North office building getting restaurant conversion

By Vernon Miles

Published March 10, 2022 at 3:45PM

Madison Place office building in Old Town North, image via Google Maps

An office building in Old Town North could be getting a refit to open up a restaurant and retail space on the ground floor.

A Special Use Permit application filed by Asana Partners for 500 Montgomery Street indicates that the owners of the Madison Place office building are looking to make changes to the ground floor to bring in restaurant and retail space.

Old Town North’s tiny The Perfect Pita could be getting an upgrade

By Vernon Miles

Published March 10, 2022 at 2:30PM | Updated March 11, 2022 at 3:11PM

Perfect Pita in Old Town North, image via Google Maps

(Updated 3/11) If you’ve been around Old Town North, you know the Perfect Pita in question.

It sits at 951 N. Fairfax Street street, but it’s perhaps better known as the franchise location situated in a tiny standalone space. At an Urban Design Advisory Committee meeting yesterday (Wednesday), the committee endorsed plans for The Perfect Pita to expand the building and upscale its operations.

Nonprofit looks to triple affordable housing units at Arlandria apartment complex

By Vernon Miles

Published March 10, 2022 at 10:45AM

Elbert Avenue Apartments (via Google Maps)

Alexandria non-profit Community Lodging has announced plans to significantly expand affordable housing in Arlandria-Chirilagua with the redevelopment of a 1940s apartment complex.

Elbert Avenue Apartments, a set of three three-story buildings constructed in the 1940s, currently has 28 units affordable for renters making 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) — the standard applied for evaluating affordable housing. But these buildings are in rough shape after what Community Lodging called years of “Band-Aid fixes”.

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published March 10, 2022 at 5:00AM

Two ducks on a rock about to take off at the Old Town waterfront (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

New Tex-Mex opens in Huntington — “Alexandria residents originally from Texas or other states along America’s southern border say it’s tough to find good Tex-Mex food here in the DMV.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

It’s Thursday — Overcast throughout the day. High of 51 and low of 36. Sunrise at 6:28 am and sunset at 6:12 pm. [Weather.gov]

Alexandria City Council plays it safe with new maximum real estate tax rate

By Vernon Miles

Published March 9, 2022 at 3:45PM

Alexandria City Hall lit up (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s City Council set the maximum real estate tax rate at a half-cent higher than the current rate, with officials saying that 2022’s hardships make any higher burden on residents untenable.

The City Council voted unanimously for the real estate tax rate to be set at no higher than $1.115 per $100 of assessed value, a slight increase from the current $1.11. While the eventual real estate tax rate could be lower than $1.115, it won’t be higher. Additionally, the city won’t increase the tax rate on personal property or business-tangible property.

Alexandria leaders plan around upcoming Yellow Line shutdown

By Vernon Miles

Published March 9, 2022 at 2:30PM

Construction work at Potomac Yard Metro station, photo via City of Alexandria

The WMATA monkey’s paw curls once more, and the planned opening of the Potomac Yard Metro station will coincide with a pair of shutdowns along the Yellow Line.

The first — and long-expected — shutdown will last from Sept. 10 to Oct. 22 as WMATA ties the new Potomac Yard Metro station in with the rest of the system. The shutdown will close all rail service south of Washington National Airport.

Face masks now optional for ACPS staffers, substitutes get a raise

By James Cullum

Published March 9, 2022 at 1:00PM

As of Monday (March 7), Alexandria City Public Schools staff are no longer required to wear face masks in schools.

Staff were informed of the rule change in an email on Friday (March 4) that wearing masks in ACPS facilities and vehicles is optional, with few exceptions. Additionally, all ACPS staff (not including substitutes) will get paid emergency leave if unable to work due to COVID-19.