News | ALXnow - Part 789

Local historians profile former slave in Alexandria who struggled to rescue his family

Published July 19, 2021 at 1:30PM

Freedom House at 1315 Duke Street (photo via City of Alexandria)

As the city work to prepare the new Freedom House Museum for opening this fall, local historians are working to put together the stories of families that were trafficked through the slave trading hub at 1315 Duke Street.

Primary sources for the biographies range from ship manifests that show newborn babies taken from their families to newspaper articles from the time. One of the stories highlighted is that of Burdette Washington, who was born into slavery and whose life was cataloged in the pages of advertisements in the Alexandria Gazette and other sources.

Alexandria man caught with gun at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport checkpoint

By James Cullum

Published July 19, 2021 at 10:45AM

At Gravelly Point, a man in a folding chair reads a book as planes land outside Reagan National Airport (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

An Alexandria man was caught trying to get past a security checkpoint with a .38 caliber handgun and seven bullets at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Friday, July 18.

The man had his weapon confiscated and now faces upward of $10,000 in federal financial civil penalties.

Del Ray affordable housing completes long-awaited overhaul

By Vernon Miles

Published July 19, 2021 at 9:45AM

Ribbon-cutting for the Bellefonte Apartment Community renovations, courtesy AHDC

The residents of Del Ray’s Bellefonte Apartment Community (11 East Bellefonte Avenue) are back after a pair of local non-profits announced they’ve finished extensive renovations to the affordable housing community aimed at caring for adults with special needs.

Sheltered Homes of Alexandria (SHA), Alexandria Housing Development Corporation (AHDC) spearheaded the renovation of 12 apartment units. According to a press release, the renovations included a complete interior gutting and redesign of the building; changing some units to be fully wheelchair accessible, improving the stormwater systems, and updating security at the building.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published July 19, 2021 at 5:00AM | Updated July 19, 2021 at 9:31AM

Mayor and family attend Nats game canceled after shooting outside stadium Saturday — “We’re okay and on the Metro home, but baseball games should not be called because of a shooting. This is effed up and we all know it. We just don’t want to do anything about it.” [Twitter]

Intertribal Creatives Collective provides home for native artists — “Step into the new Intertribal Creatives Collective in Old Town Alexandria, and you’ll find yourself in a Western-style trading post with a touch of modern-day cool.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 16, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated July 19, 2021 at 10:11AM

The grand finale of Alexandria's birthday celebration over the Potomac River, July 7, 2018 (staff photo by James Cullum)

What a hot week in Alexandria.

With temperatures hovering in the mid-90s, the week started with a power outage at a 17-story apartment building in Landmark area. The outage lasted five days and residents had to find accommodations until the building reopened Friday afternoon.

After last month’s Democratic primary, Republican Darryl Nirenberg tops campaign donation leaderboard

By James Cullum

Published July 16, 2021 at 2:30PM | Updated July 16, 2021 at 2:48PM

Voting at Temple Beth El Synagogue (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The November 2 general election is less than four months away, and nearly all of the candidates running for City Council spent most of their money in last month’s Democratic primary.

Republican candidate Darryl Nirenberg has $48,552 in the bank — more than anyone else running for Council.

New city health improvement plan aims to fix inequities

By James Cullum

Published July 16, 2021 at 1:15PM | Updated July 16, 2021 at 1:41PM

Where you live in Alexandria can determine your life expectancy, and a newly released City plan is focusing on removing the effects of decades of discriminatory practices.

The Community Health Improvement Plan 2025 (CHIP) is a blueprint to address poverty, mental health, and housing policies and systems in the city. For instance, the average life expectancy in the city’s heavily Hispanic Arlandria neighborhood is 78, while more affluent areas like Old Town have a life expectancy of 87.

Developers eye Beauregard redevelopment with West End upgrades on the horizon

By Vernon Miles

Published July 16, 2021 at 10:45AM

Developments in Beauregard, via City of Alexandria

With the city hoping Landmark development and the West End Transitway will help turn the Van Dorn corridor into a new commercial hub, developers near the Mark Center are hoping to cash in.

According to Maya Contreras, principal planner for Alexandria, plans are in the works to add new density to a stormwater pond near the Hilton (5000 Seminary Road) and to a site originally planned to be an office space, but will likely become something else.

Canceled last year, Alexandria will celebrate National Night Out August 3

By James Cullum

Published July 16, 2021 at 9:45AM

National Night Out 2023 (photo via Alexandria Police Department/Facebook)

After a break last year, National Night Out is returning on Tuesday, August 3.

The annual community-building campaign brings the Alexandria Police Department, Fire Department, Sheriff’s Office and other City agencies into communities for cookouts as part of a nationwide crime and drug prevention effort.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published July 16, 2021 at 5:00AM

Local musicians bring jazz home with Yellow Door Concert series — “The Ambrose’s founded the Yellow Door Concert Series in 2018 after noticing a lack of opportunity for community members to experience the arts and music in Alexandria. They named the series after the yellow doors they have at their home. Robyn, a classical bass player, and Vaughn, a jazz saxophone player, began the predominantly jazz concert series by hosting their first concerts inside their home in Alexandria.” [Zebra]

Alexandrians eliminated from ‘Crime Scene Kitchen’ reality show — “Alexandria’s own Erinn Roth and Amanda Carter went out on a high note from the competitive cooking show on FOX.” [Alexandria Living]

Historic firehouse festival returns next month in Old Town

By Vernon Miles

Published July 15, 2021 at 3:30PM

Friendship Firehouse Festival (via Friendship Fire Company/Facebook)

The Friendship Firehouse Festival is back on this year after having been cancelled last year due to — you know.

The festival is an annual celebration of the Friendship Firehouse (107 S Alfred Street) in Old Town that opened in 1855, and has since been run as a museum focusing on fire-fighting history and fire safety. The museum hosts community events throughout the year, and holds preserved historic artifacts.