News | ALXnow - Part 952

Morning Notes

Published May 28, 2020 at 9:00AM

Developer Gets Financing to Build Apartments in West End — “Monday Properties announced Tuesday it secured a $66.8M construction loan from EagleBank and broke ground on the development at 2000 North Beauregard St. The project is planned to include 300 units in six to seven stories of wood-frame construction atop a two-level concrete podium. The apartments will be wrapped around an internal, 420-space parking garage.” [Bisnow]

Inova to Build Hospital, Considers Alexandria Campus Modernization — “The health system is also looking at options for ways to modernize the current Inova Alexandria Hospital — and noted that ‘all options, from renovating in place to relocation, are under evaluation. Additional information will be made available as this project develops.'” [Alexandria Living]

Alexandrian Writes Book for Kids to Cope With Coronavirus

By James Cullum

Published May 27, 2020 at 5:15PM | Updated May 27, 2020 at 5:40PM

Like many Alexandrians, Gina Flynn has been stuck at home because of the pandemic, and she hasn’t spent time with Amir, her three-year-old grandson living in Philadelphia. She decided to write him a kids’ book called The Imaginary Castle on staying safe at home, coping with the absence of friends and the importance of developing young imaginations.

“He’s an only child and he’s lonely,” Flynn told ALXnow. “A lot of times we don’t think that young kids really understand what’s going on, but they do know something is happening. I think it’s our duty to talk to them and try to explain things.”

ALIVE! Busy Giving Away Food This Week, Urgently Needs Help Packing Groceries

By James Cullum

Published May 27, 2020 at 4:30PM

ALIVE! handed out four bags of food apiece at its drive-thru food distribution at Cora Kelly School and John Adams Elementary last Saturday morning. (Photo via ALIVE!/Facebook)

ALIVE! is providing food at a number of free distributions this week, and needs volunteers to help pack groceries for food-insecure homes in Alexandria with COVID-19 positive residents.

“We need volunteers to pack shelf-stable food to distribute to people in quarantine,” ALIVE! Executive Director Jennifer Ayers told ALXnow. “We’re also ready to go with four food distributions this week.”

Poll: Will You Follow Gov. Northam’s Mask Mandate?

By Vernon Miles

Published May 27, 2020 at 3:20PM

Gov. Ralph Northam announced yesterday that the delayed reopening of Northern Virginia will start on Friday (May 29), but with that came a mandatory mask order for anyone in public places.

“Everyone will need to wear a face cover when you’re inside at a public place starting this Friday,” Northam said at his weekly coronavirus press conference. “That’s at a store, a barbershop, a restaurant, on public transportation, at a government building or anywhere where people can congregate in groups.”

City Council Braces for Playground Fight With Community

By Vernon Miles

Published May 27, 2020 at 2:15PM

With Alexandria health officials expecting the total number of COVID-19 cases to go up during Phase 1 of reopening, the City Council discussed the line between what coronavirus restrictions can be put in place and what can be enforced — particularly when it comes to playgrounds.

During a City Council discussion last night (Tuesday), James Spengler, Director of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, said city playgrounds could not open until Phase 3 of the reopening, which could be in the fall.

Alexandria Man in His 50s Dies of COVID-19, Cases Rise to 1,824

By James Cullum

Published May 27, 2020 at 11:30AM

An Alexandria man in his 50s has died of COVID-19, and there are now 1,824 cases in the city, an increase of 49 new cases since yesterday, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

There are now 42 deaths in the city related to the virus, and the most recent victims were two Alexandria men and a woman. The number of known cases is expected to rise in the city, as 3,000 tests were administered at Cora Kelly School and Landmark Mall on Monday.

Alexandria Man Indicted for Providing Support to Somali Terrorist Organization

By Vernon Miles

Published May 27, 2020 at 10:15AM

A 34-year-old Alexandria taxi driver has been indicted for conspiring and attempting to provide material support to al-Shabaab, a militant group designated operating in Somalia and designated by the United States as a terrorist organization.

Alexandria resident Liban Haji Mohamed, 34, was charged Wednesday by a grand jury at the Alexandria Federal Courthouse.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published May 27, 2020 at 9:00AM | Updated May 27, 2020 at 11:42AM

‘Good. Works. Alexandria’ Giving Event is Today — “Alexandria’s stores and restaurants will give a percentage of their sales to the charities of the customers’ choice. For every lunch or dinner ordered OR purchase made, we will share those profits with clientele’s charity of choice located on the Spring2ACTion website.” [Old Town Business Association]

Here’s What Services Will Open Under Phase 1 — “As the region proceeds through the reopening phases the Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities, City of Alexandria, VA has released the schedule of how recreation services, facilities and programs will be restored.” [Facebook]

Chinese and Malaysian Restaurant in Del Ray Reopens

By Vernon Miles

Published May 26, 2020 at 5:20PM

Del Ray eatery South China Restaurant (1302 Mount Vernon Ave) is now reopened for takeout and delivery.

Staff at the restaurant confirmed that the location reopened yesterday, Memorial Day, with a new menu available online.

Governor Declares Mask Mandate, Says Alexandria Will Open to Phase 1 on Friday

By James Cullum

Published May 26, 2020 at 4:30PM | Updated May 29, 2020 at 1:06PM

A crowded lower King Street on Thursday, May 21, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Northern Virginia will join the rest of the state in reopening its economy on Friday, and that same day all Virginians will have to wear face masks indoors in public, Governor Ralph Northam announced today.

“Everyone will need to wear a face cover when you’re inside at a public place starting this Friday,” Northam said at his weekly coronavirus press conference. “That’s at a store, a barber shop, a restaurant, on public transportation, at a government building or anywhere where people can congregate in groups.”

ACPS Announces Mandatory Summer Learning to Combat COVID-19 Academic Loss

By Vernon Miles

Published May 26, 2020 at 3:30PM

Students learning at home during the COVID-19 shutdown (Photo via ACPS/Facebook)

For Alexandria City Public Schools students this year, summer school is not exactly optional.

ACPS announced last week that students will be expected to participate in a summer learning program to compensate for time lost in classrooms in the latter half of the 2019-2020 academic year. Parents who do not want their children to participate will be required to submit a form explaining why they want to opt-out of the summer program.