News | ALXnow - Part 784

Morning Notes

Published June 24, 2021 at 5:00AM

Alexandria Fire Station 201 in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

2021 Valor Awards honor Alexandria heroes — “The annual awards are dedicated to honoring the public safety personnel of the Alexandria Fire Department, Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, and Department of Emergency Communications for heroic acts of valor.” [Alexandria Living]

PHOTOS: New Harris Teeter opens in Alexandria — “The new 72,000-square foot Harris Teeter at 4550 King St., at the West Alex development, opened its doors to the public Wednesday morning with balloons, lots of ‘2 for 1’ deals and even the store’s mascot, Harry the Happy Dragon, greeting customers.” [Alexandria Living]

BREAKING: California man arrested for West End murder, indicted with 16 others in massive racketeering conspiracy

By James Cullum

Published June 23, 2021 at 3:00PM | Updated June 23, 2021 at 3:16PM

An Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Cullum)

A 23-year-old man is awaiting extradition to Alexandria for the November 7 murder of a man in the West End.

Ahmed Mohammed Shareef, of Cosa Mesta, California, was indicted by a Grand Jury for killing 23-year-old Yousef Tarek Omar in the 4800 block of West Braddock Road. It was the City’s third and final homicide of 2020.

With Alexandria City High School marquee unveiling, T.C. Williams High School is nearly gone

By James Cullum

Published June 23, 2021 at 2:15PM | Updated June 23, 2021 at 8:55PM

Students unveil the Alexandria City High School marquee, June 23, 2021. (staff photo by James Cullum)

In a victory for civil rights, the marquee for Alexandria City High School was unveiled Wednesday morning, replacing the old sign bearing the name of T.C. Williams High School.

It’s been nearly a year since the effort to change the name of Virginia’s largest high school began. The new name will go into effect July 1, as will the official renaming of Matthew Maury Elementary School to Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School.

Alexandria City Public Schools scraps recreation center classroom plans

By Vernon Miles

Published June 23, 2021 at 1:30PM

Alexandria City Public Schools won’t be looking for classroom space in recreation centers.

That’s according to last week’s virtual meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission, which looked over a slew of updates for various projects throughout the city.

Massive redevelopment of West End apartment building has neighbors worried about street parking impact

By James Cullum

Published June 23, 2021 at 9:55AM

Wesley Housing wants to convert the ParcView Apartments into a three-building complex with hundreds of new affordable units. (Courtesy Wesley Housing)

The proposed conversion of a West End apartment building into a three-building complex has neighbors concerned of potential parking issues.

The current surface level parking lot would be moved underground and expanded to 313 spaces, but neighbors are concerned that on-street parking will become a problem. The plans call for . With 385 units, that provides .81 spaces per unit, which property owner Wesley Housing says falls within the city’s parameters.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published June 23, 2021 at 5:00AM

Inova Alexandria Hospital rezoned to allow Landmark project to move forward — “Inova’s Alexandria hospital campus is now zoned to allow for future residential development, after city council voted 7-0 to allow the rezoning to make it easier for Inova to sell the Seminary Hill hospital land to a developer.” [Alexandria Living]

New Harris Teeter grand opening set in Alexandria — “A new Harris Teeter grocery store in Alexandria is holding a grand opening on Wednesday, June 23 beginning at 8 a.m. at 4550 King St., in the West Alex development at the corner of King and Beauregard streets.” [Alexandria Living]

JUST IN: Alexandria City Manager Mark Jinks announces retirement

By James Cullum

Published June 22, 2021 at 8:50PM | Updated June 23, 2021 at 7:55AM

Alexandria City Manager Mark Jinks officially announced his retirement to the City Council at Tuesday night’s meeting.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the Alexandria community in addressing its challenges and creating a better community for all Alexandria residents and businesses,” Jinks said. “A new City Council will be seated in January that will be developing a new long-range strategic plan in 2022, so this is a good time for a transition.”

Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School marquee unveiled

By James Cullum

Published June 22, 2021 at 4:15PM | Updated June 23, 2021 at 10:14AM

The new name of Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School is unveiled by students on June 22, 2021. (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated 6/23) Alexandria greeted a new marquee at the newly named Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School on Tuesday, as the old name of Matthew Maury Elementary will be officially retired on July 1.

Also, the school’s mascot is now the bee and the official school colors are green and blue.

With eviction moratorium expiring, city pushes renters and landlords toward rental assistance

By Vernon Miles

Published June 22, 2021 at 2:30PM

The thrice-extended moratorium on evictions, put into place to keep renters in their homes despite worsening economic conditions, is about to run out.

With the moratorium set to expire on June 30, the City of Alexandria is directing local renters and landlords toward local and state rental relief programs to help prevent evictions in Alexandria.

UPDATE: Alexandria first responders save suicidal woman on Monroe Avenue Bridge

By James Cullum

Published June 22, 2021 at 12:30PM | Updated June 22, 2021 at 10:41PM

A woman hangs off the Monroe Avenue Bridge, June 22, 2021. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Updated at 1:30 p.m. Alexandria first responders saved a woman dangling off the Monroe Avenue bridge for nearly three hours on Tuesday, June 22.

Police were able to distract the woman, while below her on the ground a Fire Department tower ladder rose up, and then the woman was snatched and then safely put into the ladder bucket.

After dual election losses, Mark Levine says he’s deciding his next move

By James Cullum

Published June 22, 2021 at 10:45AM | Updated June 24, 2021 at 4:17PM

Delegate Mark Levine isn’t out of the politics game yet, but he’s keeping his cards close and still hasn’t made up his mind about next moves.

It’s been weeks since Levine lost the Democratic nomination for both seats he sought in the June 8 primary, as Del. Hala Ayala won the lieutenant governor’s primary race and Alexandria Vice Mayor Elizabeth Bennett-Parker won the nomination for his Delegate seat for the 45th District.