News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum
Waterfront Park along the Potomac River in Alexandria, with National Harbor and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in the background (staff photo by James Cullum)

Beyer Criticizes Pence Over Second Wave Comments — “Over 116,000 Americans have died. Over 2,000,000 have gotten sick. The person appointed by the President to lead the response (you) flout basic safety precautions recommended by the CDC to prevent spread of the virus as more people get sick.” [Twitter]

Alexandria DMV Opening June 22 by Appointment Only — “The validity of driver’s licenses and identification cards expiring on or before July 31, 2020, is extended for 90 days, not to exceed August 31, 2020. This means that a customer whose credential expired between March 15 and May 31 will have 90 days beyond the expiration date to renew, and credentials with an expiration date from June 1 to July 31 must be renewed no later than August 31, 2020. Vehicle registrations that expire in March, April, and May are extended for 90 days; those expiring in June are extended for 60 days; and those expiring in July are extended for 30 days. In addition, the federal enforcement date for REAL IDs was moved to October 1, 2021.” [DMV]

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Pines Of Florence Closes in Old Town as Building Redevelopment Looms

By Vernon Miles

Pines of Florence in Old Town (1300 King Street) has closed, though how permanent that close is remained unclear.

An employee of Pines of Florence said over the phone that the closure was due to redevelopment for the building approved last fall. The redevelopment is planned to turn the block into a four-story mixed-use development with 31 condominium units and 6,400 square feet of ground-floor retail

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ARHA Leadership Praised After COVID-19 Shutdown

By Vernon Miles
Residents have reportedly been threatened with eviction if they or their children play at an Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority park that has been sectioned off (staff photo by James Cullum)

After some early concerns and criticisms, the Alexandria Redevelopment Housing Authority‘s resident community praised the organization’s leadership and swift action through the pandemic, and vice-versa.

Kevin Harris, the president of the Public Housing Resident Association in Alexandria, praised ARHA’s leadership and CEO Keith Pettigrew in particular. Harris and Jeremy McClayton, an associate organizer with Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement, said it was a stark contrast to earlier experiences with ARHA.

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No Fireworks: Alexandria’s Birthday Celebration to be Virtual Next Month

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

Alexandria is turning 271 years old next month, but due to coronavirus concerns the city’s annual massive birthday event will be virtual.

The event, which also celebrates the countrywide July 4 festivities, draws thousands of residents and visitors along Oronoco Bay Park to receive birthday cupcakes; listen to the city’s poet laureate; and ooh and ahh at a fireworks show over the Potomac River as the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra (ASO) plays the 1812 Overture — with actual howitzer blast punctuations by the Presidential Salute Battery of the 3d United States Infantry Regiment.

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Torpedo Factory in Old Town Reopens on Weekends

By Vernon Miles
The Torpedo Factory in Old Town (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Torpedo Factory Artists Association (TFAA) announced that as part of the city’s phased reopening, the Torpedo Factory is now reopened to the public on weekends, with some precautions.

“The Torpedo Factory is now open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,” the TFAA said on Facebook. “You can enter through the waterfront entrance and masks are required inside the building. Please come out and enjoy some art.”

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Beyer Lauds Supreme Court LGBT Decision — “This is such a big step forward. Employers shouldn’t be able to fire people because of who they are or who they love. After a long and difficult struggle by activists and civil rights organization, an historic decision and a great moment for the country.” [Twitter]

Former Mayor Silberberg Marched in D.C. on Saturday — “All around me, there were poignant reminders of all that had transpired in this location in recent days and weeks — handmade signs attached to the remaining fence and bouquets of flowers. And then that evening, there was breaking news about another tragedy, this time in Atlanta. Heartbreaking.” [Facebook]

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New Playground Planned to Help Revitalize Fort Ward Park

By Vernon Miles
Rendering of planned Fort Ward Park playground (photo via City of Alexandria)

As part of a plan to revitalize Fort Ward Park, the City of Alexandria is planning to build a new playground at the site in a more publicly accessible area.

Moving the playground to the southern portion of the site was initially proposed in 2015. An initial design for the new park was released today (Monday) with design expected to continue through the spring and summer. Construction of the new playground is scheduled for Spring 2021.

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Braddock Apartment Complex and Daycare Returns to City Council With Less Retail

By Vernon Miles
Proposed 1200 N. Henry Street rendering (image via City of Alexandria)

(Updated 6/24) A new mixed-use development featuring a ground-floor daycare facility is scheduled to go to the City Council for approval this Saturday (June 20).

There’s extensive redevelopment underway at the northern end of the Braddock neighborhood just south of Potomac Yard. A seven-story residential building with ground-floor retail and the aforementioned daycare is planned for the very northern point of that neighborhood on a triangular lot at 1200 N. Henry Street.

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Defense Contractor Leases Office Building to City for DCHS and Health Department

By James Cullum
4850 Mark Center Drive. (Courtesy photo)

The City of Alexandria has agreed on a 15-year lease for a Mark Center office owned by the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), the nonprofit announced today. The lease, which was signed on May 26, will go in effect when the city’s Department of Community and Human Services and Health Department moves into the property at 4850 Mark Center Drive in February 2023.

The city has an option to buy the property and are interested in exploring that option, city spokesman Craig Fifer told ALXnow.

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Photos: Gun Rights Protestors Rally Outside Alexandria City Hall

By James Cullum
David Britt with his AR-15 at a gun rights protest organized by the Virginia Citizens Defense League outside City Hall, June 13, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Hundreds of gun rights activists met at protested outside City Hall on Saturday, some of them armed to the teeth with handguns, AR-15 assault weapons and even muskets.

The protest was organized by the Virginia Citizens Defense League, and demonstrators rallied against new ordinances proposed by the City of Alexandria to limit the carrying of guns on city property. Alexandria Police were on-hand during the event, and there were a few arguments that broke out between protestors and passersby.

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