Alexandria’s initial and continued unemployment claims continued their decline for the week ending Dec. 26.
The Virginia Employment Commission reports that there were 1,167 continued claims in Alexandria for the week ending Dec. 26, a 5% drop from the previous week’s total of 1,223 claims. That’s the lowest number of continued claims since the week ending April 4, which saw 1,710 claims.
As part of The Chamber ALX’s efforts to advocate for local businesses, the organization has put together a survey for local business owners seeking their feedback on what kind of resources they need to survive.
The new survey asks local businesses things like whether they’ve accessed financial resources yet and what specific rules and regulations need to be changed to help local businesses.
Intelligence company Nisos (603 King Street) announced today that it has gained $6 million in funding, primarily from a cybersecurity investment group.
The company specializes in countering disinformation and responding to cyber attacks. Nisos said in a press release the new funding will allow the company to expand its international operations and marketing work.
(Updated 4:10 p.m.) As part of a continued effort to provide widespread COVID-19 testing, the City of Alexandria and Alexandria Health Department are launching a partnership with private testing company Curative to provide free COVID testing kiosks.
The city said the new kiosks will replace community testing the city has been engaging in since last July.
A coworking space, food market and restaurant are all coming to The Atrium (277 S. Washington Street) in Old Town.
Companies W.C. & A.N. Miller Development Company and Avison Young announced in a press release that new restaurants Mae’s Market & Café and Virginia’s Darling Restaurant would be opening in the building over the next few months. Both restaurants are new ventures from Stomping Ground in Del Ray, which also expanded to Tysons in 2018 and bagel shop Bagel Uprising next door in Del Ray in 2019.
Citizens’ Association Frustrated With ADU Policy Progress — “NRCA supported eight reasonable restrictions and prohibitions on ADUs…we are very disappointed that the vast majority of [our] comments and proposals were not included in the current version of the policy.” [Twitter]
Over 60 Restaurants Participate in January Restaurant Week — “For an extended two-week period, more than 60 restaurants in Alexandria, Virginia, will offer a $49 takeout, delivery or curbside pick-up dinner for two during Alexandria Restaurant Week To-Go, January 22 – February 7, 2021.” [Zebra]
A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle in the parking lot of the Safeway at 299 S. Van Dorn Street and is in serious condition, according to Alexandria Police.
The incident was reported at 2:54 p.m. by police via Twitter, and involved multiple cars.
A concert tour company that started giving live classical music performances last spring wants official city approval to keep the music playing.
Representatives from Classical Movements asked the city for approval last April and May to allow musicians to perform at The Rectory at 711 Princess Street in Old Town. After not hearing back, they decided to start putting on shows anyway at the property’s secret garden with small live concerts. The Sounds of Hope and Harmony performances have been held with socially distant crowds, and have featured musicians from the National Symphony Orchestra, the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra and the Eclipse Chamber Orchestra.
The Connection Newspapers, like many local news organizations across the country, has been hit with a drop-off in advertising during the pandemic. Now, with the network of local papers on its last legs, the Alexandria Gazette Packet has gotten a groundswell of support from the community it’s covered for around 200 years.
The GoFundMe fundraiser aimed at helping to save the paper has earned $10,982 of its $50,000 goal since it launched on Christmas Eve.
(Updated 4 p.m.) Shortly after the first community meeting on plans for Landmark Mall, Inova is planning to host a second meeting tomorrow to discuss potential rezoning of Inova Alexandria Hospital’s current Seminary Hill site.
Current plans for the hospital are to be rezoned and redeveloped as residential properties, a move that has drawn some praise from local civic associations, according to Alexandria Living Magazine.
(Updated 1/6/21) A brick parking garage at 101 Duke Street, planted squarely in the heart of Old Town, could be redeveloped into six new townhouses.
At a Board of Architectural Review meeting scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 21, a development proposal by Cummings Investment Associates Inc. is docketed for a concept review.
