News | ALXnow - Part 806

Developer JBG Smith joins J.P. Morgan Global Alternatives to own and manage 2 million square feet of Potomac Yard

Published May 5, 2021 at 3:30PM

JBG Smith, the master master developer for Virginia Tech’s $1 billion Innovation Campus, just signed a deal to design, construct, manage and own 2 million square feet of mix-used property at Potomac Yard.

“Institutional investors advised by (project financial manager) J.P. Morgan Global Alternatives contributed a land site that is entitled for approximately 1.3 million square feet of development it controls at Potomac Yard Landbay F (North Potomac Yard), while JBG SMITH contributed adjacent land with more than 700,000 square feet of development capacity at Potomac Yard, Landbay G (the Town Center),” JBG Smith said in a release.

City Council candidates clash on critical local issues, Part 1

By Vernon Miles

Published May 5, 2021 at 2:45PM | Updated May 5, 2021 at 3:38PM

In a crowded City Council election, the Alexandria Democratic Committee split the candidates into two groups for moderated debates, which posted last night.

The debates, moderated by Alexandria Gazette-Packet journalist Michael Lee Pope, touched on various issues that have become critical talking points in city races over the last few years, from parking to broadband to — of course — Seminary Road.

NEW: Alexandria School Board shakeup looms as few incumbents have filed to run for reelection

By James Cullum

Published May 5, 2021 at 1:00PM | Updated May 6, 2021 at 8:40AM

(Updated at 4:30 p.m.) Only three sitting members of the Alexandria School Board have filed to run for reelection, and four newcomers have entered the race.

The last three years have been a contentious period, and the school system has been under intense scrutiny throughout the pandemic.

Old Town dominated the city in 2020 business grant funding

By Vernon Miles

Published May 5, 2021 at 10:45AM

A new report from the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership showed that the 22314 zip code — Old Town and Carlyle — received more funding in business grants than the rest of Alexandria combined.

A breakdown of grant dollars by zip code showed that Old Town and Carlyle businesses received $3.5 million in grant funding. The next closest was the 22304 zip code in the West End, totaling $1.1 million.

Knife pulled on woman who chases would-be thieves in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published May 5, 2021 at 9:35AM

Alexandria police (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria Police are investigating an incident where a knife was brandished against a woman outside the La Madeline restaurant in Old Town.

The incident occurred at around 1 p.m after the victim was eating lunch with her son at the restaurant at 500 King Street. The woman noticed that the strap to her purse, which was on the back of her chair, was moving. When she turned around, her purse was no longer on the back of her chair and her wallet was gone. There were two unknown men sitting at the table behind her, and she saw one of them fumble with her wallet.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published May 5, 2021 at 5:00AM

Virginia Tech Innovation Campus gets $50M commitment from Boeing — “Boeing’s multi-year gift will help the campus provide scholarships to students and recruit faculty to the Innovation Campus.” [Patch]

Coalition launches video series to encourage youth to be alcohol free — “The Substance Abuse and Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA) has launched a prevention campaign featuring a series of short videos created by T.C. Williams High School students that encourage youth to be alcohol free.” [City of Alexandria]

What’s next for GenOn and the rest of Old Town North?

By Vernon Miles

Published May 4, 2021 at 5:15PM

Exercising near the closed Potomac River Generating Station in Alexandria near the Potomac River (staff photo by James Cullum)

Hilco Redevelopment Partners is preparing a sweeping redevelopment for the GenOn power plant in Old Town North, and at a public meeting held last week the developer and city staff gave an overview of how plans for the site fit alongside other nearby developments.

Jeffrey Farner, Deputy Director Department of Planning and Zoning, said the GenOn team faces the challenge of designing something that is in many ways the opposite of the current plant. The GenOn site is a closed off and very likely polluted site, and the city aims to work with the developer to turn the site into an open mixed-use development complete with open park space.

NOW: Alexandria under severe thunderstorm watch until 8 p.m.

By James Cullum

Published May 4, 2021 at 4:45PM

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch until 8 p.m. in Alexandria and the surrounding area.

Wind gusts could reach 60 miles per hour, and NWS is warning that the storm could cause trees and large branches to fall.

Police: Armed robberies occur minutes apart in Del Ray and Arlandria

By James Cullum

Published May 4, 2021 at 3:00PM

Police car lights (file photo)

Alexandria Police are investigating two armed robberies that occurred within a half hour of each other in Del Ray and Arlandria on Tuesday (May 4) afternoon.

A male victim was robbed of his cell phone at gunpoint by two male suspects at around 12:15 p.m. in the unit block of E. Oxford Avenue in Del Ray. Then at around 12:40, another male victim was robbed of his cell phone and wallet at gunpoint by two male suspects in the 3900 block of Courtland Circle in Arlandria.

NEW: Man sentenced 41 months for targeting Alfred Street Baptist Church, journalists and others in ‘swatting’ conspiracy

By James Cullum

Published May 4, 2021 at 1:55PM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

A 27-year-old Texas man was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison today for his role in calling in a bomb threat to Alfred Street Baptist Church, as well as other “swatting” incidents against a U.S. Cabinet member, journalists and Old Dominion University.

John Cameron Denton of Montgomery, Texas, a leader with the Atomwaffen Division neo-Nazi group, participated with three others in at least 134 swatting attacks around the country between October 2018 and February 2019. He pleaded guilty last year after being arrested in a sting operation to committing an offense against the United States and interstate threats to injure.

Alexandria City Council to end School Resource Officer program at Alexandria City Public Schools

By James Cullum

Published May 4, 2021 at 10:50AM

Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

The Alexandria City Council on Monday night effectively put an end to the School Resource Office program between the police department at Alexandria City Public Schools.

School resources officers (SROs), police officers stationed inside T.C. Williams High School, Francis Hammond Middle School and George Washington Middle School, will no longer have offices in those schools.