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As the old saying goes: when one spa closes, another one opens.

While Windsor of Old Town is closing this month after 43 years in Alexandria, a new business called Spa180 Prestige has opened at 2813 Duke Street. The spa also has a large parking area on-site.

The spa owners told ALXnow the business opened last month but are running “grand opening” specials this month on massages and more.

The spa is offering grand opening specials throughout March, including:

  • Swedish Massage with Hot Stone: $79 for one hour, $99 for 90 minutes
  • Intro Glow Facial: exfoliating, hydrating and lifting facial massage: $89 for one hour
  • Eyelash extension: $90
  • Microblading/Ombre: $550

The spa also offers waxing, group spa-day bookings, body scrubs and more.

Image via Spa180 Prestige/Instagram

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Just Listed in Alexandria

Just Listed highlights Alexandria City properties that came on the market within the past week. This feature is sponsored by the Jen Walker Team (Licensed in VA) of McEnearney Associates REALTORS®.

Welcome Back!

Jen Walker here with The Jen Walker Team! We are a real estate group based out of Alexandria, Virginia. I, along with my rock-star team members, Sue Kovalsky, Micki MacNaughton, Adrianna Vallario and Nancy Lacey, have more than 40 years of experience in real estate and sold over $145 million in 2023.

Welcome to 808 Mount Vernon Ave, a lovely 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home nestled in the heart of Del Ray. From its large, deep, front landscaped yard to its spacious interior and charming backyard oasis, this residence offers the perfect blend of comfort, style, and convenience.

As you enter, you’ll be greeted by a spacious sitting room that sets the tone for the rest of the home. To the left, a step-down office space with large windows awaits, providing an inspiring setting for work or relaxation. The entire home has been freshly painted in neutral tones, creating a bright and inviting atmosphere throughout. Large windows with plantation shutters allow natural light to fill the space, while a coveted first-floor powder room adds convenience for guests. To the right of the entryway, an open floor plan unfolds, featuring generous living, dining, and kitchen areas. The kitchen is a chef’s dream, boasting an oversized island with brass lantern pendant lights, granite countertops, warm Revere raised panel cabinets, and stainless steel appliances. Neutral subway tiles and a built-in desk area add both style and functionality. Just off the kitchen, a sizable pantry with built-in shelving provides ample storage space. French doors from the dining room and kitchen open to a large fenced-in backyard, complete with a stamped concrete patio and wooden pergola, perfect for outdoor entertaining or working from home on warm spring days. Green space and a charming shed complete the backyard.

Head upstairs to the large primary bedroom which can easily accommodate a king-sized bed. The walk-in closet has plenty of storage — rare for Del Ray! The spa-like ensuite bathroom boasts a large shower with frameless glass doors and a striking deep gray double sink vanity. Two additional bedrooms and a spacious hall bath are also found on this level. A conveniently located front-loading LG washer and dryer and linen closet with floating shelves round out this level. Head up to the third floor, where a fourth bedroom awaits. This room is a great guest room but could be used as an office, playroom, or additional living space.

Conveniently located just one block from Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza and Tap, dry cleaners, and a 5-minute walk to the Braddock Road metro, this home offers easy access to all that Del Ray has to offer. Park your car in the large driveway and stroll down The Avenue to enjoy a variety of coffee shops, dining options, shopping, and entertainment. Welcome home to 808 Mount Vernon Ave, where luxury living meets urban convenience!

Open House: Saturday and Sunday from 1-3 p.m.

808 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria 22301 — $1,175,000

Click here for additional Just Listed properties in Alexandria and call The Jen Walker Team to schedule a home tour at 703-675-1566 or email [email protected].

Happy House Hunting!

In our highly competitive Alexandria market, the Jen Walker Team has the insider knowledge to connect you with homes that are not even public yet. With more than 40 years of experience, the Jen Walker Team has the expertise to answer questions, calm fears, and streamline your transaction. Want to see other homes not featured in this article? Contact our team today!

Please note: While The Jen Walker Team provides this information for the community, they may not be the listing agents of these homes. Equal Housing Opportunity.

McEnearney Associates Realtors®, 109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 #WeAreAlexandria

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After 16 months of digging, Hazel the tunnel-boring machine can rest.

Alexandria’s massive RiverRenew Tunnel Program reached a critical milestone on Wednesday with the completion of a 2.2-mile underground tunnel that will divert millions of gallons of raw sewage from flowing into the Potomac River every year.

The $454.4 million program is the largest infrastructure development in Alexandria history and will replace Old Town’s 19th century combined sewer system with a tunnel system, sewer infrastructure and improvements that run their way from Old Town to AlexRenew’s wastewater treatment plant (1500 Eisenhower Avenue).

Mayor Justin Wilson tweeted that it’s a “critical and exciting milestone.”

This doesn’t mean that the project is finished. The deadline was pushed back a year, to 2026, by the Virginia General Assembly due to supply chain issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

AlexRenew now has to build a pumping station with shafts capable of pumping 20 million gallons per day and 180 million gallons per day.

“That’s a lot of electrical components, mechanical components, pumps, valves, that type of equipment,” AlexRenew CEO Justin Carl told ALXnow in a previous interview. “So we want to make sure that we’re accounting for the potential for having delays procuring that equipment as well when we build that pumping station, because we don’t want to have to go back to the GA (General Assembly) a second time to ask for an additional extension.”

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Windsor of Old Town (photo via Windsor of Old Town Salon & Day Spa/Facebook)

Windsor of Old Town Salon & Day Spa, along with the men-focused The Gentlemen’s Quarters, will be closing up shop in Old Town (107 S. Union Street) by the end of this month.

On Facebook, the company said it’s become “too challenging to continue” but that staff from the business will be moving over to Sugar House Day Spa and Salon nearby at 111 North Alfred Street.

“Donna and Stephen Windsor and the rest of our team at Windsor Of Old Town Salon & Day Spa [and] The Gentlemen’s Quarters would like to thank you for 43 wonderful years,” the business owners said on Facebook. “It has been an experience that we will cherish forever. As much as we have loved our time at 107 S. Union St., like many others it has become too challenging for us to continue.”

The company said that the Windsor of Old Town Salon and Spa staff will be starting at Sugar House Day Spa & Salon starting April 1.

“Sugar House is an establishment that has been servicing the Old Town community for over 25 years and we are excited for this new chapter,” the business said in a notice at Windsor of Old Town Salon & Day Spa. “We appreciate your understanding during this transition and we look forward to seeing you again at Sugar House Day Spa and Salon.”

Photo via Windsor of Old Town Salon & Spa/Facebook

Hat tip to Ryan Belmore

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Scholarship Fund of Alexandria Annual Gala & Auction

Do good while having a good time at the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria’s 38th Annual Gala and Auction at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center. The fun begins with a 2-hour open bar reception while mingling with 499 other Alexandrians who

Good Friday morning, Alexandria!

⛈️ Today’s weather: Expect showers with a potential thunderstorm after 2pm, a high near 74, and southwest wind at 7-10 mph. Precipitation chance is 80%, with rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, potentially higher in storms. Friday night will mostly have showers before 8pm, a low of 48, north wind at 9-11 mph, and an 80% chance of precipitation with less than a tenth-inch of new rainfall.

🚨 You need to know

Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is one of three localities in the region using an online tutoring service whose parent company is currently in the U.S. government’s crosshairs, WJLA reported.

It’s a somewhat tenuous connection, but one that’s riled up conservative non-profit Parents Defending Education. The organization also opposes things like critical race theory — the study of how racism is institutionalized in the United States.

Tutor.com is owned by Primavera Capital Group, the same Chinese investment firm that owns TikTok parent company ByteDance. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) recently set his sights on Tutor.com for that connection.

Cotton wrote:

This business relationship is ill-advised, reckless, and a danger to U.S. national security, and the Department should immediately end that relationship… While providing educational services, Tutor.com collects personal data on users, such as location, internet protocol addresses, and contents of the tutoring sessions. As Chinese national security laws require companies to release confidential business and customer data to the Chinese government, we are paying to expose our military and their children’s private information to the Chinese Communist Party.

Tutor.com offers students in those schools districts free access to online tutoring services available 24/7. In ACPS, the services is limited to students in 6th-12th grades. Parents Defending Education included ACPS as one of six school districts in Virginia using Tutor.com.

📈 Thursday’s most read

The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Mar 14, 2024.

  1. Alexandria City Council rejects controversial Del Ray house and ADU proposal (852 views)
  2. Alexandria police still investigating Carlyle shooting that injured two men last month (851 views)
  3. Error at Arlington Water Pollution Control Plant causes Four Mile Run fish kill (531 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on today and this weekend in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

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Here in Alexandria, real estate is a spectator sport. Let’s take a look at some of the most and least expensive condos sold last month (February 2024).

Most expensive condos sold

  1. 1201 N Royal St Unit 404 — Old Town — $1,910,000 (3 beds | 2.5 baths | 1,825 sq. ft.)
  2. 1201 N Royal St Unit 607 — Old Town — $1,840,000 (2 beds | 2.5 baths | 1,730 sq. ft.)
  3. 925 N Fairfax St Unit 701 — Old Town — $1,785,000 (3 beds | 2.5 baths | 1,760 sq. ft.)
  4. 925 N Fairfax St Unit 501 — Old Town — $1,500,000 (3 beds | 2.5 baths | 1,761 sq. ft.)
  5. 600 Second St Unit 202 — Old Town — $1,285,000 (2 beds | 2 baths | 1,768 sq. ft.)

Least expensive condos sold*

  1. 501 N Armistead St Unit T3 — Lincolnia Hills — $200,000 (1 beds | 1 baths | 818 sq. ft.)
  2. 4600 Duke St Unit 814 — Seminary Hill — $200,000 (1 beds | 1 baths | 618 sq. ft.)
  3. 8 S Van Dorn St Unit 502 — Landmark — $205,000 (1 beds | 1 baths | 750 sq. ft.)

*Minimum home value of $200,000 set to exclude certain land sales, retirement condos, properties with expiring ground leases, etc.

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Proposed Del Ray accessory dwelling unit (image via Eustilus Architecture/City of Alexandria)

(Updated 9:20 p.m.) After a prolonged battle between a Del Ray homeowner and his neighbors over a proposed accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and a single-family home, Alexandria’s City Council struck the plans down in a meeting earlier this week.

The plan (docket item 11) was to create a two-story, single-unit ADU to 404 E. Alexandria Avenue along with a single-family home. The unit would be set off the main street on a vacant lot and accessible by a public alley.

The plan drew backlash from neighbors from the start. The Del Ray Civic Association recommended denial of the project and residents spoke at the Planning Commission and City Council meeting, expressing concerns about the tree preservation, emergency access, stormwater management and more.

While the Planning Commission recommended approval for the ADU in a divided 4-3 vote, the City Council was unanimous in their denial.

City Council members said the sum of the concerns added up to the development feeling incompatible with the neighborhood.

“Where I’m really struggling is, when I reviewed this case, it says over and over that in order for the SUP approval it has to be compatible with the surrounding neighborhood,” said City Council member Alyia Gaskins. “And then when you look at the staff report, the language that was used was ‘we’re not aware of any lots without the frontage in Del Ray’, ‘this is the first of its kind on the block’, ‘no other contemporary architectural types’ and ‘it’s unique’. For me, that language begins to pull out some of those pieces… it is different in multiple ways.”

City Council members said they didn’t want to discourage ADU development or even slap down unorthodox buildings, but the Council agreed unanimously that this ADU didn’t fit on that Del Ray lot.

“The request to permit a substandard lot is not in and of itself an extraordinary or unique case,” said City Council member Sarah Bagley, who noted that she was still undecided up until the final vote. “I want to be careful about what we think of as ‘well it’s different… and therefore incompatible.'”

Bagley said there’s likely to be more new and innovative designs coming before the City Council in coming years as buildings are reconfigured to, for example, maximize solar panels on the roof.

Bagley ultimately joined her colleagues on the City Council in a unanimous vote to deny the substandard lot application.

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Cherry blossoms in D.C. (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

The National Park Service tweeted out a bloom watch update: the cherry blossoms are at a phase called ‘peduncle elongation’ — roughly stage 4 of 6 for the blossoms — meaning peak bloom is just around the corner.

Cherry blossom season often evokes a mixed reaction in Alexandrians and others around the region.

On the one hand, it’s a marvel and a visually staggering experience to see the banks of the Potomac lit up in countless pink blossoms.

On the other hand, it has something of a Fleet Week reputation where the locals know to get out of town and avoid the dense tourist crowds.

That bloom is likely to hit peak this weekend or early next week. The Washington Post reported that the “indicator tree” at the Tidal Basin, which typically blooms a week ahead of the others, reached peak bloom this past weekend. During that time, the Tidal Basin will likely be packed with crowds enjoying the colorful bloom.

Of course: Alexandrians don’t have to go to D.C. to enjoy cherry blossom season. There are several events and cherry blossom tours around Alexandria, though many of the latter do involve trips to the iconic cherry blossoms along the D.C. side of the Potomac River.

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The St. Patrick’s Day celebration continues for one more weekend. On Saturday, there will be the Shamrock Smash in Del Ray, and on Sunday, there will be plenty of craic at local pubs and restaurants.

Here’s a roundup of all the events, live music, and entertainment you shouldn’t miss this weekend, cheers! 

Are you organizing an event? Submit events to ALXnow.

FRIDAY, MARCH 15

Things To Do

Live Music & Entertainment

City of Alexandria

  • No events on the City of Alexandria’s calendar

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