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.
(Updated 1:25 p.m.) It’s been a couple weeks since plans for Inova Health System to spearhead redevelopment of Landmark Mall were announced, and in the last few days more details have emerged.
In a meeting last night, developers outlined plans to build a state-of-the-art medical facility with a trauma center, helipad, 230 patient rooms and more. The project will also reportedly come with 4 million square feet of new development, including housing, retail, and other uses.
The Alexandria Police Department has put out a reminder — and a quick explainer — that a new law that went into effect this year makes holding a cellphone while driving illegal.
“One resolution we hope everyone makes is to go hands-free while driving a vehicle,” the police department said. “Virginia had over 23,000 distracted driver crashes in 2019, resulting in 120 deaths. January 1 signifies the first day that the new hands-free law goes into effect statewide. The new law prohibits anyone from driving a motor vehicle while holding a cell phone or other handheld personal communications device, even if the driver isn’t looking at or using the device.:
