ALXnow - Alexandria Now

Published May 14, 2024 at 9:00AM

Old Town Books (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!

⛈️ Today’s weather: Expect showers and potential thunderstorms after 5pm, accompanied by cloudy skies and a high of 72°F. South winds will range between 8 and 11 mph, gusting up to 18 mph, with a 70% chance of precipitation. Rainfall amounts may vary between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, possibly increasing during thunderstorms. Tuesday night features a low of 62°F, a 90% chance of showers, and possible thunderstorms. South winds will clock in at 6 to 10 mph and precipitation amounts could range between a quarter and half of an inch.

News

Judge dismisses suit against 301 N. Fairfax Street residential development in Old Town Historic District

By James Cullum

Published May 13, 2024 at 3:30PM | Updated May 15, 2024 at 10:01AM

A rendering for 301 N. Fairfax Street in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)

After months of contention, an effort to fight approval of a four-story apartment building in Alexandria’s Old and Historic District was dismissed in court on Friday.

The developer, 301 N. Fairfax Project Owner LLC, wants to demolish the existing three-story office building on the property that was built in 1977 and replace it with a 50-foot-tall building with 48 one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments, a 67-space below-grade parking lot and a rooftop terrace.

Opinion

Poll: How often do you bike to work?

By Vernon Miles

Published May 13, 2024 at 2:45PM

A cyclist on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

This Friday (May 17) is Bike to Work Day, an annual event that encourages locals to bike to the office.

The city and community organizations will operate pit stops around the city with giveaways, coffee and more.

News

William Ramsay Elementary School briefly placed on secure status earlier today after man refused to leave

By Vernon Miles

Published May 13, 2024 at 1:40PM

William Ramsay Elementary School (image via City of Alexandria)

William Ramsay Elementary School was briefly placed on “secure the building” status earlier today after a person not permitted to be at the school showed up at the front door and then refused to leave.

The school went into secure status around 10:54 a.m. for approximately 15 minutes, the school said in a release.

News

Bench honoring Martin Luther King Jr. to be donated to Charles Houston Recreation Center in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published May 13, 2024 at 11:00AM

Charles Houston Rec Center (photo via City of Alexandria)

A $5,000 bench honoring Martin Luther King Jr. is being donated to Charles Houston Recreation Center in Old Town.

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association is making the donation in recognition of the civil rights leader, which City Council will approve at its meeting on Tuesday.

News

Alexandria and neighbors want feedback on National Airport noise issue

By Vernon Miles

Published May 13, 2024 at 10:00AM | Updated May 13, 2024 at 10:39AM

At Gravelly Point, a man in a folding chair reads a book as planes land at National Airport (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria is looking to gather more public feedback on an issue that’s impacted Old Town since the popularization of the jet engine: noise from Washington National Airport (DCA).

Alexandria, Fairfax County and Prince George’s County have hired Vianair Consulting to spearhead a collaborative effort with members of the community and staff from various airport agencies to recommend changes to DCA airspace and flight procedures.

News

Notes: New smart signal technology on Duke and Van Dorn streets could cut down on travel time

By ALXnow.com

Published May 13, 2024 at 8:50AM

Traffic backup heading eastbound along Duke Street (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Good Monday morning, Alexandria!

☀️ Today’s weather: Expect patchy fog until 8am, followed by a mostly sunny day with a high near 76. A light south wind will increase to 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Monday night will be partly cloudy, with a low around 59, and a south wind of 6 to 8 mph.

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By ALXnow.com

Published May 10, 2024 at 4:00PM | Updated May 10, 2024 at 11:59PM

(via Operation Deploy Your Dress/Facebook)

It was another busy week in Alexandria, with a near disaster for Alexandria City High School students attending prom averted by local parents and a non-profit called Operation Deploy Your Dress.

There was also a fairly lighthearted interaction between local restaurant Hard Times and the Board of Architectural Review.

It was also a week for interactive maps helping to visualize both the city’s past and future: with one showing where neighborhoods were build on racially restrictive covenants and another showing the impact sea level rise will have on the city.

The most-read stories this week were:

Last-minute prom dress fiasco averted at Alexandria City High School (10383 views)
Hard Times Cafe sails through zoning hearing with one city request: don’t change the chili (7337 views)
Helicopter and K9s called in for early morning police pursuit of wanted suspect in Braddock neighborhood (6180 views)
City taking feedback on plans to overhaul King Street near Bradlee Shopping Center (5055 views)
New map shows how sea level rise would impact Alexandria (4806 views)
‘Kings Row’ redevelopment on King Street in Old Town headed to Planning Commission (4380 views)
Check out the mayor’s pictures of Alexandria City High School’s new Minnie Howard Campus (2364 views)

News

Carr Properties says construction starting this year on Old Town North development and dance nonprofit home

By Vernon Miles

Published May 10, 2024 at 2:55PM | Updated May 10, 2024 at 7:57PM

901 N. Pitt Street rendering (image courtesy The Carr Companies)

(Updated 7:50 p.m.) An anticipated new development in Old Town North could be kicking off in the next few months.

Austin Flajser, President and CEO of The Carr Companies, said development is getting started on preparing to start development on 901 N. Pitt Street, with the project construction starting later this year.