Amazon has given $200,000 to ACT for Alexandria’s COVID-19 response fund as part of a $1 million donation that the company is making to the region.

“The funds received by ACT will be used to support the nonprofits providing services to Alexandrian’s who are hardest hit by the COVID-19 outbreak,” ACT CEO Heather Peeler told ALXnow.

“The human service needs, economic impact and strains on our critical services will be with us long into the future,” Mayor Justin Wilson said. “We have a resilient community and this contribution will help bring our City and our resident back stronger than ever.”

On Saturday, the Alexandria City Council allocated $100,000 in matching emergency funds to the ACT Now COVD-19 Response Fund with a goal of raising $200,000 so that nonprofits in the city can apply for and receive grants.

Council also approved an allocation of $20,000 to ALIVE! to buy bulk food equivalent to 17,000 meals. ALIVE! is currently working with the city and buying food to support the city should deliveries need to be made to people under quarantine without food reserves at home.

The full press release is below the jump:

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There are nearly half as many homes available for sale in Alexandria as the year before, according to city officials.

A complicated mix of reasons is behind the decline, but one reason looms above others: Amazon.

“Amazon announced its arrival one year ago,” said David Howell, executive vice president for McEnearney Associates. “Since then, we’ve seen 46% fewer listings in Alexandria and 44% in Arlington… The inventory began to shrink literally the day after the announcement.”

At a City Council retreat on Saturday, marking the launch of the budget cycle, City Manager Mark Jinks highlighted the scarcity of homes for sale in Alexandria.

“Active listings a year ago were 450,” Jinks said. “There are only 208 active listings in June 2019. There’s not a lot of inventory on the market for people to purchase. There’s a lot of speculation about what that means. Are people not selling because they think they’ll be able to get more? Are people not purchasing because they can’t? There’s so much uncertainty.”

Jinks explained to the Council that many homeowners who might otherwise be selling their properties are holding out in hopes that Amazon will increase the home value.

“Do I sell my home now or wait another couple years with Amazon coming will I get ten percent more or 20 percent more?” Jinks asked, hypothetically. “It’s a lot of speculation for what may or may not happen. There is not a lot of property for sale and a lot of speculation about why.”

Both Howell and Jinks said there are other factors at play both nationally and locally.

“Interest rates are low and the region is growing,” Jinks said. “There’s a demand for residential, as we’ve seen, but we’re not seeing price appreciation. At almost any other time like this, we would have seen single-family homes and townhomes move up appreciably, and we haven’t seen it. Some of the speculation is that people with student loan debt [make it] harder for people to afford the ownership market.”

While student loan debt could keep people from buying homes, Howell said he doubted that would impact the sellers. More likely, Howell said it’s a result of some after-effects of the housing bubble burst a decade ago.

“The big lesson is people aren’t selling for speculative reasons after the bust,” Howell said. “Appreciation is more modest and sustained because people are buying where they want to live rather than using the home as an ATM. People are staying put.”

Howell also said many of those homeowners were able to lock in low mortgage rates.

“We will see a sustained low inventory over time,” Howell. “That’s true nationally, but in Arlington and Alexandria especially.”

File photo

Alexandria is taking another look at the future of Arlandria and Del Ray and how those communities can weather the planned urbanization of the “National Landing” area.

This fall, the city is launching its community engagement for plans to update the 2005 Mount Vernon Avenue Business Plan and the 2003 Long-Term Vision and Action Plan for the Arlandria Neighborhood. The city cites the nearby arrival of Amazon, the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, and the North Potomac Yard Metro station as looming developments that could start to change the character of the residential and commercial communities to the west.

Neighbors and organizations in and around the area are invited to offer feedback to help identify the most important community issues and start to build a framework for the new plans — which will start taking shape next year.

At a joint meeting of Arlington and Alexandria, city officials recognized that there was frequent difficulty in getting responses from communities most prone to the effects of gentrification, so several of the outreach events are focused on going out into the community and interviewing residents rather than relying on those residents and business leaders to come to meetings.

The first event will be this Saturday, Nov. 9, from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Simpson Field (500 E. Monroe Avenue). City staff will be out at the field talking with local residents and will move up and down Mount Vernon Avenue to speak with people in stores and markets, according to the city’s website.

Additional outreach events are planned throughout November and December.

A community conversation for Arlandria is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 21, from 6-8 p.m. at Cora Kelly Elementary School (3600 Commonwealth Avenue). The meeting will be held in Spanish with English translation available.

A similar meeting for Del Ray is scheduled for Dec. 12 from 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. at Mount Vernon Community School (2601 Commonwealth Avenue), this one in English with Spanish translation available.

Staff photo by Jay Westcott

This week’s Q&A column is sponsored and written by Jillian Keck Hogan of Jillian Keck Hogan Real Estate Group and McEnearney Associates Realtors®, the leading real estate firm in Alexandria. To learn more about this article and relevant Alexandria market news, contact Jillian at 703-951-7655 or email [email protected]. You may also submit your questions to McEnearney Associates via email for response in future columns.

Question: We have been reading all the headlines, but what really is the “Amazon Effect”?

Answer: The buzz of Amazon is something we have all been hearing and there is some truth to the stories being published, BUT as it relates to real estate, the effects are very situational with price point, condition and location.

We have been reading all the same publications, and we completely understand if all the news is making you a bit nervous as to when the best time will be to purchase or sell your home. Home prices have been increasing, but that is true of every year since 2010. There is a good chance you might be competing on a listing against another buyer, but that has been a possibility over the last 9 years, as well.

Here is a bit of advice from our COO, David Howell, at McEnearney Associates, Inc.: “Sell when you are ready to sell, and buy when you are ready to buy.”

The Most Competitive Markets

Now, competing as a purchaser is always a possibility in any price point. This is driven by a seller’s strategy. Some sellers can choose to market their home under the going market price in order to move a home sooner versus later. This does not mean the sellers are in distress or the property is falling apart. Sellers do this at times just to make their move easier and faster.

The Amazon Effect — in this case, the comparatively low number of homes on the market — has been the most notable in Alexandria and Arlington in price points under $900,000.

What Does That Mean?

Virginia selling tactics and competition have been progressively picking up, following the trend we see with the D.C. market having grown hotter and hotter over the last 5-7 years with increased new construction. With many agents in our area being licensed in D.C. and Virginia, the strategies to win out on a competing situation used in Virginia began to mimic what D.C. licensed agents had been doing for years: Escalating in price, waiving inspections (or completing them before the offer was submitted), and taking on more risk during the appraisal contingencies.

Sellers have a bit more control in negotiations and receiving multiple bids on their home over list price. As a buyer, this could mean that you write a few more offers, but do know that this does not mean you have to “overpay” for a home.

Overall

The Amazon Effect is nothing that our DMV has not seen before. If you are looking to purchase under the $900,000 price point, be assured that it is very possible to buy a great home at a great price when going in with a strong strategic offer. And sellers in this same price point, be sure to still give your home all the best finishing touches to show well and review your neighborhood comparable sales before selecting your final price.

No, home prices have not doubled — but you are in a very fortunate position to be getting some of the highest prices ever in your neighborhood and you can receive offers with less contingencies which otherwise could have cost you more money.

If you would like a question answered in our weekly column or to set up an appointment with one of our Associates, please email: [email protected] or call 703-549-9292.

McEnearney Associates Realtors®, 109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. www.McEnearney.com Equal Housing Opportunity. #WeAreAlexandria

In a rare joint meeting of top Alexandria and Arlington officials, the two communities laid the foundation for a closer collaboration on affordable housing.

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson and the City Council met with the Arlington County Board last night (Tuesday) at Arlington’s Gunston Community Center after Wilson’s proposal to meet on a flotilla of lashed-together kayaks in Four Mile Run was shot down. There was very little set in stone at the meeting, but the gathering allowed both organizations to set priorities for policy goals as they prepare for Amazon’s HQ2, the new Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, and a new George Mason University School of Computing.

“The work around Potomac Yard is different and groundbreaking,” Wilson said. “If we’re not intentional and deliberate, things will just happen to us. We have a chance to get ahead of things. I’m hoping to set a course that our staff can get to work on all of these policy areas.”

“I’m very excited for this step,” Wilson continued. “This is the start of a journey for us and there are a lot of folks rooting for us.”

There was some early discussion of new governing bodies being established to facilitate collaborative efforts across local boundaries. Arlington County Board Chair Christian Dorsey raised the possibility of establishing a community development corporation — a 501c3 with he described as being capable of a great deal of flexibility. The idea, however, was tabled for the time being.

“There are a few different concepts that have been tried elsewhere and have been put in place in our respective communities,” said Dorsey. “We can have a variety of governance models with a broad representation of stakeholders. There is an endless number of configurations we can use and get all the benefits of an independent nonprofit.”

For the most part, the two governing bodies mingled seamlessly — though frequent, joking barbs were traded back and forth, with Arlington at one point threatening to annex Del Ray. Both organizations shared almost identical concerns about the upcoming arrival of Amazon, particularly on the headquarters’ impact on local affordable housing.

Councilwoman Redella “Del” Pepper said many of Alexandria’s most vulnerable populations feel that the loss of affordable housing in the region is a foregone conclusion and some were starting to flee Alexandria before rising costs pushed them out.

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Good Friday morning, Alexandria!

🌧️ Today’s weather: Showers are possible after 2pm, accompanied by cloudy skies and a high near 65°F. The southeast wind will be around 7 mph, and there’s a 30% chance of precipitation. Moving into Friday night, showers remain a possibility, with mostly cloudy conditions and a low around 54°F. The southeast wind will slow down to 6 mph before becoming light and variable, and the chance of precipitation increases to 50%.

🚨 You need to know

Del Ray’s annual GardenFest celebration is on on Sunday. The event will be held from noon to 5 p.m. at the Nicholas A. Colasanto Baseball Field (next to 2700 Mount Vernon Ave).

The free outdoor event is hosted by the Del Ray Citizens Association (DRCA), and will have free native tree seedlings and vegetable and herb seed packets to give away, in addition to booths, seminars, and interactive demonstrations about all things gardening. The event will also host the city’s Ellen Pickering Award in Environmental Excellence.

According to DRCA, this year’s booths include:

• The Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia plant clinic
• Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, who will bring seed cleaning equipment and give a talk introducing basic seed-saving techniques, the organic seed-saving movement, and the importance of seed-saving in the urban setting
• The Wildlife Rescue League, with a wildlife match game for kids and pinecone bird feeder kits
• The Northern Virginia Beekeepers Association
• Love & Carrots, a company that provides assistance to people who would like to grow healthy food in their yard, porch, patio, eatery, balcony, or rooftop
• Tree Stewards of Arlington & Alexandria, volunteers who take the lead to enhance a sustainable urban forest through volunteer activities and public education programs
• Organic Edible Gardens, a sustainable garden design, build and maintenance company specializing in creating edible and ecologically-sustainable  landscapes that sustain and regenerate local ecosystems while providing material and aesthetic benefits to people
• The Alexandria Beautification Commission, announcing the Alexandria Beautification Awards and providing sustainability tips
• The Genius Genus, a local business offering a wide selection of houseplants, vacation plant care services, and tips and resources to help you create a thriving indoor jungle
• The Warwick Village Citizens Association, which will highlight the five City parks and many gardens in their neighborhood and the seed and seedling exchanges that they host each year, and will share information about their “No Bite Summer Initiative,” offering demos on how to build non-toxic mosquito traps and how to sign-up to participate in their initiative this year
• Friends of Duncan Library, who will host garden story-time for kids
• The Del Ray Farmers Market
• Several City of Alexandria divisions, including Alexandria’s Office of Climate Action, Resource Recovery Division, Stormwater Management Program, and the Office of Environmental Quality / Sanitation

📈 Thursday’s most read

The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Apr 18, 2024.

1. Alexandria considering big plans for properties next to Eisenhower Avenue Metro station (1870 views)
2. LGBTQ+ pop-up bar ‘Pride on the Avenue’ to open next month in Del Ray (996 views)
3. Alexandria police want $20K to monitor crime in real-time (632 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

• 1:00 pm Friday: Character Building Workshop
• 10:00 am Saturday: Old Town Alexandria Historic Home and Garden Tour Kicks Off Spring Tradition
• 👉 10:00 am Saturday: Del Ray Kitchen Confidential Design Tour
• 11:00 am Saturday: Garden Day Tours
• 1:00 pm Saturday: Miracle League Games
• 5:00 pm Saturday: ReFashion Show
• 👉 7:00 pm Saturday: Pro Coro Alexandria – To the Sea

Good Thursday morning, Alexandria!

🌤️ Today’s weather: The weather will be partly sunny with temperatures reaching a high of around 77°F, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 6 to 9 mph. In the evening, expect increasing clouds and a low temperature around 49°F, with an east wind at the same speed of 6 to 9 mph.

🚨 You need to know

Alexandria City Public Schools is looking for public feedback on its weapons abatement program. The metal detectors have been in place in Alexandria City High School and the city’s secondary school locations, and the school system is conducting a survey on the pilot that will end at 11:59 p.m. on Friday.

According to ACPS:

The Department of Facilities and Operations, Office of Safety and Security at Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is administering a survey on the current pilot weapons screening equipment program that is open through Fri., April 19, 2024. As shared during the February 22, 2024, School Board meeting, the weapons screening equipment program started in May 2023 and has been ongoing at all secondary school locations (not including the K-8 schools).

This survey is an opportunity for all stakeholders (students, staff, families and community members) to provide thoughts and feedback on the pilot program. The results of this survey will help inform the formal staff recommendation to the School Board regarding the future of the weapons screening equipment program in ACPS.

The last ACPS survey on the subject was conducted in March 2023 — two months before the pilot program started. There were more than 4,000 respondents, with about 85% supporting some form of weapons abatement.

📈 Wednesday’s most read

The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Apr 17, 2024.

1. Notes: Old Town North building sold for $15.4 million to be turned into mixed-use apartment building (2655 views)
2. Alexandria City Council approves new ‘neighborhood’ at former Vulcan Materials site (1191 views)
3. Mystic BBQ & Grill opens on Lee Street in Old Town (862 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

• 1:00 pm: Purple Star School Designation Workshop
• 6:00 pm: ART + WINE + CHEESE at Nepenthe Gallery – New Works by Gary Fisher
• 6:00 pm: Author Ta;l: Your Daughter, Your Advocate

Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!

🌧️ Today’s weather: Expect showers between 9am and 3pm, with increasing clouds and a high near 72°F. South wind will be 6-8 mph and a 40% chance of precipitation. On Wednesday night, showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11pm, with a low around 59°F. Southeast wind around 6mph will become northwest after midnight, with a 60% chance of precipitation. New rainfall of less than a tenth of an inch is expected, while higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.

🚨 You need to know

An Old Town North property was officially sold in February, and its new owner plans to start construction of an eight-story mixed-use building with 250 multifamily units, an underground parking garage, a restaurant and an arts/cultural anchor on the ground floor, according to the Washington Business Journal.

The property was bought by an affiliate of Carr Properties in February for $15.4 million, according to city property records. The owner is named 901 N. Pitt Street, LLC, which is a mix of The Oliver Carr Company and Carr Holdings II LLC, and the company was granted a special use permit to develop on the property in 2022.

The building on the 69,000 square-foot property was built in the 1980s, and the new building would grow to 250,000 square feet. One tenant, nonprofit dance studio CityDance has signed a lease for space in the building, according to the Washington Business Journal. Additionally, Carr Properties is developing the project with SK+I Architecture and interior designer Streetsense LLC.

📈 Tuesday’s most read

The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Apr 16, 2024.

1. Man held without bond after dog allegedly executed in West End apartment (1121 views)
2. One-third of Alexandria’s workforce works from home (923 views)
3. Local organization forms to push Alexandria back to district/ward elections (686 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

• 1:00 pm: The Caregiver | Caregiving Workshop
• 👉 5:00 pm: Vintage Night Market
• 5:30 pm: Meet the AWLA & Adoptable Animals

Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!

🌤️ Today’s weather: Expect a mostly sunny day with a high temperature near 75 degrees and a light northeast wind shifting to the south at around 6 mph in the afternoon. On Tuesday night, there’s a 40% chance of showers after 2 am, with mostly cloudy skies and a low around 57 degrees accompanied by a south wind of approximately 6 mph.

🚨 You need to know

The wait is over for ice cream lovers, because it’s Free Cone Day at Ben and Jerry’s.

There’s no strings attached. Since 1979, the ice cream shop has handed out free ice cream cones one day a year, and that day has come.

The Old Town shop is located at 103 S. Union Street, and staff said that it’ll be busy today.

More than a million scoops will be handed out today around the world, according to Ben and Jerry’s.

📈 Monday’s most read

The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Apr 15, 2024.

1. CVS set to close in Taylor Run off Duke Street (2021 views)
2. Notes: Fundraiser for motorcyclist killed on Duke Street raises thousands (1258 views)
3. No arrest after fistfight leads to gunfire in Lincolnia (1055 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

• 👉 7:00 pm: Celtic Corridor in Concert at the Lyceum

It was quite a week in Alexandria.

It seems that nearly all of Monday’s news was overshadowed by the eclipse. Hundreds of bespectacled residents turned out at Ben Brenaman Park to witness the cosmic event.

Out top story this week was on the four-year-old autistic student at Jefferson-Houston Elementary School who walked away from the school and was found barefoot in a tunnel near the King Street Metro station. The head of school and academic principal were subsequently placed on administrative leave, and the child’s mother told us that she was thankful for her daughter’s safe return, but that she won’t be returning her to Jefferson-Houston.

On Tuesday, we also reported about a new seven-story residential development proposal in the Landmark area. A developer filed a permit to redevelop 6101 and 6125 Stevenson Avenue, which is currently an office building and parking lot, into a seven-story residential apartment building with 270 units, a 340-space parking garage and amenity space.

City Council has a full docket at their meeting this Saturday, and will vote on raising fees for ambulances, stormwater utilities and late car tax payments. Council will also consider the proposed residential redevelopment of the Vulcan Materials site in the West End.

The most-read stories this week were:

1. Jefferson-Houston Elementary School administrators put on leave after autistic 4-year-old walked away from school (14934 views)
2. Notes: City cancels eclipse viewing party in Old Town, but there’s another party at Ben Brenman Park (12016 views)
3. JUST IN: 23-year-old Alexandria motorcyclist identified after fatal crash on Duke Street (9870 views)
4. Motorcyclist dies after crash with DASH bus on Duke Street (6063 views)
5. New seven-story residential development pitched for Landmark neighborhood (4766 views)
6. Amazon Fresh in the Potomac Yard Shopping Center is still happening (4676 views)
7. Police: Man released after getting stuck in harness on Seminary Road Bridge over I-395 (4258 views)
8. Alexandria man charged with forcible sodomy and attempted rape in Old Town (3519 views)
9. Del Ray bar Hops N Shine wants live outdoor music 10+ hours a day (3201 views)
10. Alexandria’s Planet Fitness evacuated after emailed bomb threat (2930 views)

Have a safe weekend!