News | ALXnow - Part 778

Morning Notes

Published July 9, 2021 at 5:00AM

The Alexandria City High School logo at the Earl Lloyd Court (staff photo by James Cullum)

Dessert collection of White House Pastry Chef up for auction in Alexandria – “Coming up soon, this fall, The Potomack Company in Alexandria will be auctioning [Roland] Mesnier’s dessert mold collection, which includes molds used to create peach sorbet for Princess Diana in 1985, as well as molds for dessert centerpieces such as a large American bald eagle, the Statue of Liberty, Big Ben, the Queen of England’s coach and many others that honored kings and queens, prime ministers and governors.” [Alexandria Living]

City launches Unified Planning Team — “In one of the first major plan alignment efforts of the city, the leadership of [the Alexandria City Public Schools system, the Health Department and Department of Community and Human Services], with support from the Alexandria City Council and the ACPS School Board, agreed to the establishment of a Unified Planning Team to jointly develop the three plans.” [Zebra]

Tropical Storm Elsa’s dregs tear through southern Alexandria

By ALXnow.com

Published July 8, 2021 at 3:40PM | Updated July 8, 2021 at 6:03PM

Tree felled by Tropical Storm Elsa south of Duke Street, staff photo by James Cullum

Tropical Storm Elsa is withering as it creeps north along the East Coast, but its remnants spawned a storm that packed winds strong enough to wreak havoc along Duke Street in Alexandria.

Luis Ramirez had just gotten home from his construction job Thursday afternoon when he heard a ripping, tearing sound and then a thunderous boom. At the corner of Vermont Avenue and S. Gordon Street, a felled tree narrowly missed his house.

AHDC unveils new designs and specs for planned Chirilagua affordable housing

By Vernon Miles

Published July 8, 2021 at 2:30PM

Rendering for Mount Vernon and Glebe, via AHDC

As the Alexandria Housing Development Corporation (AHDC) moves forward with its plans to build a 482-unit affordable housing complex in Chirilagua-Arlandria, the local non-profit unveiled the first renderings for the site and stats that raised some eyebrows online.

The City Council approved a loan for the AHDC project in May as part of an ongoing effort combat gentrification likely incoming with Amazon’s arrival in nearby Crystal City. The new development will come at the intersection of Mount Vernon and Glebe Road.

City Council approves massive high-rise project without affordable housing near Eisenhower Metro station

By James Cullum

Published July 8, 2021 at 1:00PM

The Alexandria City Council unanimously approved a massive high-rise apartment building project near the Eisenhower Metro Station in Carlyle, and none of the 1,414 units will be dedicated to affordable housing.

Instead, the applicant Carlyle Plaza, LLC, will contribute $6.1 million to the city’s Housing Trust Fund.

Apothecary Museum reopening this weekend in Old Town

By Vernon Miles

Published July 8, 2021 at 10:45AM

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum at 105-107 S. Fairfax Street in Old Town (Staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s not 1805, so the local apothecary reopening may not have the relevance it once did, but the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum in Old Town is rejoining several other local historic sites this weekend as it reopens for public visits.

The apothecary at 105 South Fairfax Street was once the go-to spot for medicine, farm equipment, and other necessities. The apothecary was converted into a museum in 1939 and purchased by the city in 2006.

Bonded kitties Raven and Chenille are looking to be adopted in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 8, 2021 at 9:30AM

Kitties Chenille and Raven are inseparable, and they’re up for adoption as a pair via the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

Raven is a male brown tabby and Chenille is a black short-haired female. The kittens are four months old and aren’t related by blood, and quickly became best friends after moving into the AWLA.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published July 8, 2021 at 5:00AM

A tour guide tells a story on a hot July day in front of the Carlyle House at 121 N. Fairfax Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria man charged with storming U.S. Capitol on January 6 — “After storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, a Northern Virginia man began forming his own militia-like group in the D.C. suburbs and building up a supply of explosives under the guise of a Bible study group, according to federal prosecutors. Fi Duong, 27, appeared in court Friday and was released to home confinement pending trial, over the objections of prosecutors who sought stricter terms. According to the court record, at the time of his arrest he had several guns, including an AK-47, and the material to make 50 molotov cocktails.” [Washington Post]

Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery Memorial dedication on July 24 — “Join Historic Alexandria in honoring Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery Memorial’s inclusion in the African American Civil Rights Network (AACRN). The free dedication will include a wreath laying by the 31st Masonic District, a reading by representatives of the United States Colored Troops (USCT), and remarks by Reverend Taft Quincey Heatley. The ceremony will take place rain or shine.” [City of Alexandria]

Here’s how Alexandria will spend the first portion of its American Rescue Plan Act funding

By James Cullum

Published July 7, 2021 at 4:45PM

Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria will spend millions on emergency financial support programs, stormwater repair, childcare and dozens of other projects as part of its first portion of American Rescue Plan Act funding.

“Now the really hard work begins,” Mayor Justin Wilson said after Council’s unanimous passage of a plan Tuesday night. “I think this is an opportunity to make some transformational investments.”

Alexandria man arrested five months after DNA links to 7-Eleven break-in

By James Cullum

Published July 7, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated July 7, 2021 at 4:36PM

A 59-year-old Alexandria man has been arrested nearly five months after DNA evidence linked him to a robbery at a 7-Eleven convenience store in Del Ray.

Alexandria Police responded to a commercial alarm at the convenience store at 2108 Mount Vernon Avenue at around 3:15 a.m. on Friday, January 22.

Long-awaited Landmark Mall redevelopment clears City Council approval

By Vernon Miles

Published July 7, 2021 at 2:30PM

Landmark Mall rendering (image via City of Alexandria)

The sweeping redevelopment of defunct shopping center and Wonder Woman setting Landmark Mall cleared a major hurdle last night as the City Council approved some early financing and plans for the site.

The unanimous approval with little discussion on the City Council was in sharp contrast to a contentious meeting with the Planning Commission, the latter of the approval additional environmental requirements.

Mayor ‘dismayed’ by Council relationship with School Board after reallocation of school resource officer funding

By James Cullum

Published July 7, 2021 at 1:00PM | Updated July 7, 2021 at 5:05PM

Despite a last-minute appeal by the Alexandria School Board to slow down on eliminating the school resource officer program, City Council voted 5-1 on Tuesday in favor of reallocating nearly $800,000 toward mental health resources for school aged children.

Mayor Justin Wilson, who voted in the minority against eliminating SROs in the 4-3 Council vote in May, said that the issue was not handled correctly and that he is “dismayed” by the deteriorated relationship between Council and the Board.