Woodbine expansion plans (image via City of Alexandria)
The stalled expansion of a nursing home in Alexandria’s Rosemont neighborhood just got a three-year extension from the Alexandria City Council.
The Council has unanimously re-approved a 2022 plan by Woodbine Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center to build a three-story, 31,909-square-foot addition. The development permits expired in October and were held back by increased construction costs and interest rates, Woodbine said in its application.
The conversion of 601 Wythe Street in Old Town from office to residential was approved in 2025 by City Council (via Google Maps)
Alexandria city staff want to establish a standard permitting process for commercial-to-residential conversions.
Amid a struggling office real estate market, the city has seen a number of old office properties convert to residential use over the last several years. The proposal to create a special use permit (SUP) process for the conversions will head to the Planning Commission on Tuesday, Jan. 6.
This recurring Most and Least Expensive Home feature is sponsored by Adrianna Vallario of Compass. Based in the North Ridge area of Alexandria City, Adrianna is more than just a real estate agent – she is a trusted advisor, relocation expert, and community advocate.
In October 2026, 26 detached homes sold, 50 condos sold, and 41 townhomes sold. Detached home sales are down 40% when compared to the same time period last year, condos are down 52%, and townhomes are down 18%.
As seen around Old Town Alexandria and Waterfront Park (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
First Night Alexandria Returning for NYE — “First Night Alexandria will bring hours of live music and performances, family-friendly fun and fireworks to Old Town and Carlyle for New Year’s Eve next week. In its 31st year, the annual holiday festival includes a packed schedule of activities and arts, culminating in a countdown to midnight at the Old Town waterfront.” [ALXnow]
Chamber Releases 2026 Agenda — “The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce has officially released its 2026 Legislative Agenda—their most important advocacy document of the year. Crafted by Chamber members, the agenda reflects the collective voice and priorities of Alexandria’s business community and outlines how the Chamber will advocate on their members’ behalf in the year ahead and beyond.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
Join artist Nora Naranjo Morse (Kha’p’o Owenge ([Santa Clara Pueblo]), creator of Always Becoming, and the community that cares for the museum’s ephemeral outdoor sculpture family, to learn about the project’s evolution over the past two decades, and what the future holds.
Learn about the art of clay, traditions of sustainability in Pueblo building techniques, and more. Visitors can enjoy family-friendly art activities, dance performances by the Zuni Olla Maidens, watch a short film, and multiple opportunities to hear from the artist, her family, and museum experts that have contributed to the care and revitalization of the sculptures.
Here is what’s going on Saturday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.
🌤️ Saturday’s forecast
Expect a partly sunny day with highs near 43 and a north wind between 8-10 mph. Saturday night will be mostly cloudy with lows around 32. The northeast wind around 5 mph will become calm in the evening. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.” – Plutarch
Northern Virginia Fairfax Families for Safe Streets (NoVA FSS) cordially invites you to attend and support our upcoming World Day of Remembrance (WDoR) for Road Traffic Victims.
World Day of Remembrance is an annual event where we honor those whose lives were prematurely ended after being struck by a person driving. This year is particularly painful and sad as we think about the recent death of a 13-year-old Frost middle school student who was struck and killed by a person driving a truck on Pickett Road. We will also honor the nearly 30 other people (as of today’s date) who have been killed on Northern Virginia streets while, walking, biking, or rolling since last year’s day of remembrance.
Overturned vehicle on W. Braddock Road on Dec. 25, 2025 (via Alexandria Firefighters, Inc. IAFF Local 2141/Facebook)
The Alexandria Fire Department rescued two people stuck inside a flipped vehicle in North Ridge on Wednesday.
The vehicle flipped near the intersection of W. Braddock Road and Davis Avenue at around 1:30 p.m. after the driver crashed into a tree. Firefighters rescued the two occupants within 15 minutes, according to AFD dispatches. Both were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Metropolitan Police Department Assistant Chief Carlos Heraud helps launch the 2025 St. Patrick's Day SoberRide effort (via Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments)
Alexandria recorded no traffic fatalities related to impaired driving in 2024 for the second year in a row, according to new data.
Regional deaths connected to impaired driving were down 26% from 2023 to 2024, according to a report by the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) and Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. The report recorded 74 fatalities connected to alcohol- and/or drug-related crashes last year — down from 100 recorded in 2023 and below the five-year average of 90.
The Alexandria courthouse in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)
After a judge dismissed their case last month, plaintiffs in Alexandria’s Zoning for Housing/Housing for All lawsuit have announced a notice of appeal.
At the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade in Old Town, Dec. 6, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)
Firefighters Make Rescue, Battle Holiday Blazes — “A busy holiday for our members. This evening, Engine 206 and Tower 203 arrived first due at a garden apartment fire in Maris Avenue. Yesterday crews worked to extricate one person from an overturned vehicle on West Braddock Road. Crews also assisted Fairfax County on a 2 alarm fire on Little River Turnpike.”[Alexandria Firefighters, Inc. IAFF Local 2141]
Transportation Funding Hangs in Balance — “Virginia’s transportation system is massive, with about 129,000 lane miles of roads and roughly 5,900 miles of rail criss-crossing the commonwealth, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation and a 2022 Virginia Statewide Rail Plan. There’s always some kind of improvement or expansion underway, leaving drivers and commuters wondering when relief will arrive. But before unpacking what projects Virginians can expect in 2026, federal funding looms as a major factor shaping what moves forward — and what does not.” [Virginia Mercury]
Expect sunny skies and a high of 51 today, with northwest winds at 6-14 mph and gusts up to 25 mph. Tonight, there’s a 30% chance of rain and snow from 1am to 4am, followed by a chance of rain after 4am, with temperatures around 35 and light southerly winds. On Christmas Day, the chance of rain continues until 1pm, and the high will be near 53, with winds shifting from south to northwest during the afternoon. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela