News | ALXnow - Part 957

ARHA Leadership Praised After COVID-19 Shutdown

Published June 16, 2020 at 3:15PM | Updated June 16, 2020 at 3:33PM

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.

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

By James Cullum

Published June 16, 2020 at 2:00PM

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.

Torpedo Factory in Old Town Reopens on Weekends

By Vernon Miles

Published June 16, 2020 at 11:45AM

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.”

School Renaming Movement Grows Beyond T.C. Williams

By James Cullum

Published June 16, 2020 at 10:25AM | Updated June 24, 2020 at 10:37AM

(Updated at 10:30 a.m. on June 24. A previous version of the story said that Maury was a slave owner.)

A new effort is underway to rename Matthew Maury Elementary School in Alexandria.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published June 16, 2020 at 9:00AM

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]

New Playground Planned to Help Revitalize Fort Ward Park

By Vernon Miles

Published June 15, 2020 at 5:30PM

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.

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

By Vernon Miles

Published June 15, 2020 at 4:30PM | Updated June 24, 2020 at 4:18PM

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.

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

By James Cullum

Published June 15, 2020 at 3:20PM | Updated June 15, 2020 at 3:43PM

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.

Photos: Gun Rights Protestors Rally Outside Alexandria City Hall

By James Cullum

Published June 15, 2020 at 2:15PM | Updated June 15, 2020 at 2:33PM

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.

Alexandria Restaurant Partners to Host Job Fair to Re-Staff Local Eateries

By Vernon Miles

Published June 15, 2020 at 11:30AM

As Alexandria Restaurant Partners (ARP) starts expanding its restaurant capacity with the city’s phased reopening, the local restaurant group is planning to hire new staff.

ARP is scheduled to host a job fair on Thursday (June 18) from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at Vola’s Dockside Grill & Hi-Tide Lounge (101 N. Union Street).

T.C. Williams High School Seniors Graduate Virtually Amid Pandemic

By James Cullum

Published June 15, 2020 at 10:25AM | Updated June 15, 2020 at 11:25AM

Amiya Chisolm, president of the T.C. Williams High School class of 2020 at her graduation ceremony. (Image via ACPS)

T.C. Williams High School held a graduation ceremony like no other on Saturday, with world champion sprinter Noah Lyles, members of the student body, the superintendent and principal — while most of the school’s 865 graduates never left the comfort of their homes.

The virtual ceremony was the first of its kind in the history of the Alexandria City Public School system, as all schools throughout Virginia were shut down in March for the remainder of a school year that would also be defined by the state of race relations in the country. The graduating class of 2020 was also the largest in T.C. history, according to ACPS.