News | ALXnow - Part 791

ARHA documents outline affordable housing organization’s shift toward rental-assistance

Published July 13, 2021 at 4:45PM

Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s (ARHA) newly released Annual Agency Plan outlines the public agencies ongoing efforts at modernization and acquisition of affordable units in Old Town, with a particular focus on being more involved in rental-assistance programs.

The plan outlines areas of change for the organization, with the organization required to explain new activities in the current fiscal year. This year, one of those categories involves changes in “Mixed Finance Modernization or Development”. In its explanation, the document explained that ARHA is continuing to work on demolition of older units under Housing and Urban Development code Section 18 and rental assistance demonstration — rental assistance that ensures existing low-income units remain affordable — of others.

The Alexandria Police, Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department all want raises

By James Cullum

Published July 13, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated July 13, 2021 at 3:52PM

Alexandria Police at the annual wreath laying ceremony for fallen officers on May 10, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s police, fire and sheriff’s offices are asking the City Council for a raise.

The city imposed a pay and hiring freeze during the pandemic, and after more than a year of operating under a City Emergency, all city and state employees got a 1% bonus and merit increases were restored with the passage of the fiscal year 2022 budget.

RiverRenew construction throughout Old Town to start this fall

By Vernon Miles

Published July 13, 2021 at 2:30PM | Updated July 14, 2021 at 11:16AM

Map of planned RiverRenew project (image via National Park Service)

Massive infrastructure project RiverRenew has laid out a rough timeline for the ambitious three-pronged work throughout Old Town later this year.

The project is part of compliance with a 2017 Virginia law that requires Alexandria to overhaul the city’s combined sewer system, which has been dumping 130 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River every year. The city is required to complete the overhaul by July 1, 2025.

School Board Member Jacinta Greene faces reelection, wants race relations taught in ACPS

By James Cullum

Published July 13, 2021 at 1:15PM | Updated July 13, 2021 at 2:19PM

Alexandria School Board Member Jacinta Greene is seeking reelection. (via Facebook)

School Board Member Jacinta Greene thinks the history of race relations should be taught in Alexandria City Public Schools.

“Systemic racism and race relations should be taught in schools,” Greene told ALXnow. “What has happened to Black people and minorities in our country has been deplorable and when you don’t teach history, that’s when it repeats itself.”

Alexandria City High School is ready to reopen at full capacity next month, principal says

By James Cullum

Published July 13, 2021 at 11:05AM | Updated July 13, 2021 at 11:57AM

Summer school is in full swing, and Alexandria City High School Principal Peter Balas says he and his staff will be ready to open to five days a week of in-person instruction when the 2021-2022 school year starts on August 24.

“We’ll be ready on August 24,” Balas told ALXnow. “I’m excited. Anything other than my kitchen table five days a week would be wonderful… I hope we start in August with no masks, no restrictions.”

Alexandria’s initial unemployment claims rise, continued claims drop

By James Cullum

Published July 13, 2021 at 9:35AM

Alexandria’s initial (first time) unemployment claims rose slightly, and continued claims fell June 26, according to the Virginia Employment Commission.

For the week ending June 26, there were 142 initial (first-time) claims, up slightly from the previous week’s 135 claims. There were also 977 continued claims, which was a reduction from the 1,054 claims from the previous week.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published July 13, 2021 at 5:00AM | Updated July 13, 2021 at 7:03AM

Video shows married gay couple facing down deluge of anti-gay, anti-Asian slurs — “Neighbors say they’ve never heard anything like it anywhere. Vile anti-gay slurs caught on a Ring camera hurled at a gay couple in the heart of Old Town Alexandria. Anti-Asian slurs too. All in a long-simmering dispute over a back alley parking space. The white couple caught on tape insist they’re not anti-gay or anti-Asian, but the language is pretty rough.” [WUSA9]

Little Free Pantry opens outside Charles Houston Recreation Center — “Located right next to the rec center, with a fresh coat of blue paint and packed full of everything from peanuts to fajita kits, the new Little Free Pantry is the culmination of five years of work for Old Town resident Hope Nelson. Little Free Pantries, which allow residents to donate as much as they want and take as much as they need, have sprung up across the country as part of a grassroots movement to provide short-term solutions for food insecurity.” [Alex Times]

Alexandria sees COVID-19 uptick as health department says unvaccinated account for majority of new cases

By James Cullum

Published July 12, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated July 14, 2021 at 10:35AM

Alexandria has seen a jump in its COVID-19 numbers this month, as the state health department says unvaccinated Virginians are making up 99.6% of new cases.

The Virginia Department of Health, on Friday, revealed the information in a new dashboard that launched Friday. Alexandria has suffered 11,921 reported cases, 140 deaths and 572 hospitalizations since the onset of the pandemic. The last death was reported on July 1, there were two deaths in June and four deaths in May.

Bilingual Montessori prechool to open in Rosemont church

By Vernon Miles

Published July 12, 2021 at 2:30PM

A new billingual Montessori program for pre-school children could open at the First Assembly of God Church (700 W. Braddock Road) in the Rosemont area.

Owner Flor Brea has filed an application with the city to open a program called Matteo Place Montessori Bilingual Preschool. According to the application, the program will teach children ages 2-6. The program is designed to teach up to 60 children with 10 employees.

West End high-rise apartment building evacuated after power outage

By James Cullum

Published July 12, 2021 at 12:35PM

An electrical malfunction prompted the evacuation of the 17-story apartment building at 6060 Tower Court in the West End on Monday, July 12, 2021. (Courtesy Google Maps)

An electrical malfunction has prompted the required evacuation of a 17-story apartment building in the West End.

The power went out at Key Towers at 6060 Tower Court shortly before 5 a.m., and the city’s DASH bus service is helping transport evacuated residents to a cooling center at Patrick Henry Recreation Center, which is just over two miles away. There are 140 units in the 1960s-era building and Monday’s temperature is expected to reach the mid-90s.

Chef Justus Frank is focusing on family with Elo’s Italian Pop-Up in Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published July 12, 2021 at 11:05AM | Updated July 12, 2021 at 2:48PM

Chef Justus Frank wants you to stay a while, and his strategy is Italian food.

In May, Frank and business partner Jeremy Barber said goodbye to their date night spot Live Oak at 1603 Commonwealth Avenue and reopened with Elo’s Italian Restaurant and Bar pop-up. The new concept opened its patio in May with a focus on family. They even have a kids menu.