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Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!
🌧️ Today’s weather: Showers are likely mainly before 8am, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 76. A southwest wind will blow at 5 to 7 mph, and there is a 60% chance of precipitation. New precipitation amounts will be less than a tenth of an inch. On Wednesday night, there is a slight chance of showers before 2am, with mostly cloudy skies and a low around 61. A southeast wind will blow at 3 to 5 mph, with a 20% chance of precipitation.
🚨 You need to know
For the third consecutive year, Alexandria City High School’s Titan Robotics team won the FIRST Impact Award on Saturday at the Chesapeake District Championships in Petersburg, Virginia. The win means that the team will now compete at the 2024 FIRST Championship in Houston, Texas, from April 17-20.
Titan Robotics’ robot, iBeam, got tenth place out of the 54 teams at the District event. The team is a nonprofit, student-led club at Alexandria City High School.
“But, robotics isn’t all about the robot, it is also about inspiration, teamwork, collaboration, and giving back to the community,” the team said in an email. “The Impact Award is given to teams that reflect the values and embody the mission of FIRST Robotics to transform the culture in ways that will inspire the highest levels of respect for science and technology while encouraging more youth to become leaders in these areas.”
📈 Tuesday’s most read
The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Apr 9, 2024.
- Jefferson-Houston Elementary School administrators put on leave after autistic 4-year-old walked away from school (2232 views)
- New seven-story residential development pitched for Landmark neighborhood (1476 views)
- Amazon Fresh in the Potomac Yard Shopping Center is still happening (1197 views)
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
- 6:30 pm: Iconic Chateau Montelena Tasting
Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!
⛈️ Today’s weather: Showers are possible from 2pm to 5pm, followed by potential showers and thunderstorms after 5pm. Expect mostly cloudy conditions and a high of 78°F. Winds will remain calm before turning south at 6 mph in the afternoon, with a 30% chance of precipitation. Tonight, showers and thunderstorms may continue, bringing cloudy skies, a low of 59°F, and a south wind at 6 mph. The chance of precipitation increases to 50%.
🚨 You need to know
Tired of paying such a high electric bill? From now until June 30, the city is holding its annual Solarize Alexandria program that provides residents a free assessment for their property to install home solar power systems.
“During this period, Alexandria homeowners can sign up to receive a free solar satellite assessment of their property and discounted prices from vetted solar system installers,” the city said in a release.
According to the city:
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Solarize Alexandria! Solarize Alexandria is part of the broader Solarize Virginia program, a grassroots, community-based outreach initiative managed by the state non-profit Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP). LEAP provides ongoing customer support and education throughout the Solarize process.
Find out more at solarizeva.org.
📈 Monday’s most read
The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Apr 8, 2024
- Notes: City cancels eclipse viewing party in Old Town, but there’s another party at Ben Brenman Park (6127 views)
- Alexandria’s Planet Fitness evacuated after emailed bomb threat (1702 views)
- Police: Man released after getting stuck in harness on Seminary Road Bridge over I-395
(1568 views)
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
- No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.
Over the last few days, Alexandrians have endured an asteroid impact, the tremors of a distant earthquake, and now: a solar eclipse.
At a viewing party at Ben Brenman Park, hundreds of Alexandrians came together to observe the eclipse through special glasses.
Fidelis Msacky watched with his fiancee Tanya Borachi.
The couple live nearby and bought their viewing glasses on Amazon.
“What’s cool for me is how the next eclipse is so far away,” said Msacky. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event that we can experience.”
Borachi said that the turnout for the cosmic event at the park was uplifting.
“People really went all-out,” she said. “That’s really cool to see everybody out here watching this.”
Ready to witness a breathtaking celestial event?
Watch the 2024 total solar #eclipse live with us. https://t.co/0dMwJLSBL6
— NASA (@NASA) April 8, 2024
James Cullum and Vernon Miles contributed to this story
Good Monday morning, Alexandria!
🌤️ Today’s weather: Expect mostly sunny skies with a high around 68 and a light southeast wind, which will shift to the south and increase to 5-10 mph in the morning. By Monday night, the sky will become mostly cloudy and the temperature will drop to a low near 52, with a south wind at 3-7 mph.
🚨 You need to know
Alexandria canceled its eclipse viewing party today at Old Town Pool.
Not to worry.
There’s still an eclipse viewing party today at Ben Brenman Park, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
“Eclipse viewing glasses will be provided (one per group) while supplies last,” according to Alexandria Library. “Maximum coverage occurs at 3:20 p.m.”
In case of inclement weather, the event will occur inside the Charles E. Beatley Library with NASA’s live feed of the event.
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
- 1:30 pm: Eclipse Viewing Party
- 1:30 pm: Solar Eclipse Viewing Party
Steven Peterson is like no other Democrat running for office in Alexandria, and he wants to be the mayor.
From his opinions on racial undertones killing the Potomac Yard arena deal to wanting to reverse a slew of zoning reforms approved last year by City Council, one thing is crystal clear: Peterson is unfiltered.
“My father used to tell me ‘Only the lead dog has a good view,'” Peterson said. “I have no interest in becoming a city councilperson. I don’t want to be one of six. I want to be in spheres of influence.”
A newcomer in the small world of Alexandria politics, the “semi-retired” real estate developer decided before Christmas to run against Vice Mayor Amy Jackson and City Council Member Alyia Gaskins in the June 18 Democratic Primary for mayor.
“This is not a stepping stone for me in the future like it might be for Gaskins and Jackson,” Peterson said. “If I believe in something, you might not like my opinion, but you’re gonna know why.”
As for what he wants to accomplish in office, Peterson gave a simple, Reagan-esqe answer.
“I want people to be able to say, I have a better quality of life now than I had three years ago when Peterson started,” he said. “I don’t care if you’re a janitor or a billionaire. Everyone wants a better quality of life.”
Peterson is the son of legendary real estate developer Milton Peterson, founder of Peterson Companies and longtime chair of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. The family is firmly Republican, and Peterson Companies is one of the largest private developers in the region. The company managed the development of National Harbor, and Steven Peterson, in fact, was the project manager in that particular large-scale development.
“I learned a hell of a lot from the guy,” Peterson said of his father. “He had a big following. He had a big ego, but he also knew how to get the best out of people to come to a consensus.”
He also spent $30,000 on a “polling study” to determine his chances in the election. The phone poll was conducted in March, according to multiple sources.
“After conducting a $30,000 polling study on various issues that involve the city, I was surprised that the issue of crime was not higher on people’s agenda,” Peterson said. “There was somewhat of a feeling as though, ‘Well, if my car wasn’t stolen or I wasn’t personally robbed, it’s not high on my agenda.’ Well, I can assure you that the fact overall crime was up 30% in 2023 and car thefts were up 58% will be a major mandate on my agenda.”
On April 4, the filing deadline date, Peterson submitted the necessary signatures and paperwork to officially run for mayor. Incidentally, he doesn’t want to be identified as a Democrat, or a Republican, despite running in the June 18 Democratic primary. He also says, if elected, he’ll take on the job full-time and donate his salary to the Alexandria Police Foundation.
“I don’t want to be seen as a Republican or a Democrat,” Peterson said. “I want to be seen as a guy who cares about the issues and wants to create solutions based upon the problems.”
Peterson takes pride in having declared himself as the first mayoral candidate to go against the recently failed Potomac Yard arena deal. The “about” page of his campaign website is exclusively devoted to his opposition of the plan to move the Washington Wizards and Capitals from D.C. to Alexandria. He also likes to joke that Jackson followed his lead when he openly opposed the arena.
“Amy Jackson did the Michael Jackson Moonwalk,” he said. “The reason she did the Moonwalk backwards? Maybe it was that Peterson is totally against it. I was like, ‘Oh my god, I’m reading the tea leaves. I gotta go against it.'”
Peterson says that there were racial undertones at play between Senate Pro Tempore Louise Lucas (D-18), the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Republican Governor Glen Youngkin during the General Assembly’s consideration of the proposal. Lucas effectively killed the House of Delegates’ Potomac Yard arena bill in committee, denying Youngkin the chance to include it in the fiscal year 2025 budget.
According to Peterson, “The undertones of the racial issue with Lucas being the first Black (woman) with power in the State of Virginia, she’s the first one that comes out and says, ‘I’m the first one and I’m not gonna screw this up. I’m not gonna let Youngkin screw this up. I’m not going to be saying, ‘I was the first Black woman in power and I screwed it up. I’m not going to allow that.’ And I respect that decision.”
On the future of the 12-acre Potomac Yard property, Peterson echoed the latest sentiments of landowner JBG Smith CEO Matt Kelly, who recently told the Washington Business Journal that the area could turn into a tech corridor.
“Good real estate is always gonna find a good use eventually, right?” Peterson said. “It’s just not gonna be an arena. You’ve got a nice site that is located right near Metro, less than five miles from the world’s capital. You’re in a pretty good position, and you got companies like Amazon that want to move here. Why? There’s a reason why Virginia Tech put a billion dollars in, because you got good Metro, you got a good infrastructure, you got a quality citizen base for employment.”
Peterson is already anticipating attacks from his new political rivals.
“They’re gonna take their shots at me and say, ‘He’s a Republican, he’s a rich developer,'” Peterson said. “I don’t think Republican or Democrat, whether it’s crime, affordable housing and smart growth, whether it’s responsible land use. We have budgetary issues that we have to address as we move forward.”
Peterson is often accompanied on the campaign trail by his wife, Martha Shaw Peterson, and the pair have seven children. He’s lived in the city for 25 years, during which time he’s been a member of multiple boards, including the boards of St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School, the Inova Alexandria Hospital Foundation, and Middlebury College in Vermont. He also has a degree in liberal arts from Middlebury College.
Peterson wants to reverse last year’s overhaul of zoning ordinances, including Council’s citywide elimination of single family zoning. The zoning reforms were seen by Council as a way to increase affordable residential development in the city.
“They basically took up the Constitution of Virginia and said to hell with it,” Peterson said. “I would go back to the where we were (the city’s previous zoning policies prior to the Council action) and I will talk to about the citizenry about this.”
Peterson says that public distrust of Council has opened an opportunity for his leadership. While he has nothing against City Manager Jim Parajon, he says that Wilson runs the city like a dictator.
“What I’ve ever seen over the last six, eight months is not the way I would run the city,” Peterson said. “As a former developer, I don’t like the way he just comes in and mandates from the top down. There’s not my style, and that’s not what I’m going to do if I’m the mayor, and I think that’s gonna resonate with people.”
Peterson said Parajon seems to be a fiscally disciplined businessman.
“You’re dealing with an $850 million budget,” he said. “You got to spread that money around somewhere and everyone has their hand out, right? And I think that by the mere fact Wilson’s got a big ego, and he runs that city, as I’ve said, like a dictatorship, and he won’t mess around with him (Parajon) too much, which leads me to believe that he’s pretty successful at what he does.”
Still, Peterson echoes the sentiments of other candidates who criticise an imbalance in the city’s tax revenue structure.
“Twenty years ago, 50% of the residential taxes were paying for the budget,” he said. “Now it’s 82% are paying the $850 million budget. That’s not good, smart, responsible government. You just can’t put it on the citizens.”
Three days before filing his candidacy, Peterson emailed ALXnow a statement on his various political positions. That full statement is below the jump. Read More
The Potomac Yard arena’s demise has been met by mixed emotions from public officials, and even landowner JBG Smith.
Now that the Washington Wizards and Capitals are definitely not coming to Alexandria and will stay in D.C., a proverbial question mark looms over the 12-acre property.
JBG Smith released a scathing message after Alexandria backed out of the deal on March 27, and then lightened up in a recent interview with the Washington Business Journal. Now CEO Matt Kelly says that the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus will be the anchor for the area, and that with Amazon HQ2 nearby in Crystal City, Potomac Yard will become a tech corridor.
Mayor Justin Wilson said that the economic benefits of the arena and entertainment district could have funded a number of city priorities, including a potential reduction of personal property taxes for residents. He wasn’t so optimistic on the future of the property, and called the city leaving the deal “perhaps the most negative financial event for our schools, public safety and human services in recent history.”
“Regardless of your perspective on the North Potomac Yard proposal, it held the potential to dramatically reshape Alexandria’s economy, easing the burden on our residential taxpayers and enabling expanded investment in critical services to our residents, as well as yielding new land for a school, open space and committed affordable housing,” Wilson wrote in his April newsletter.
The initial agreement was hailed by Republican Governor Glen Youngkin as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it was vigorously supported by Wilson and Ted Leonsis, the billionaire owner of both teams.
News of the proposal broke on Dec. 13, surprising even D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who was in the midst of negotiating with Leonsis to keep both teams at the Capital One Arena. Youngkin proudly announced the deal onstage at Potomac Yard, flanked by U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D), Leonsis, Kelly, Stephanie Landrum of the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership and the entire City Council.
But the sudden nature of the deal, as well as a short, three-month public relations campaign by the city and Monumental Sports, had little effect in Richmond. A House of Delegates bill establishing a stadium authority to issue $1.5 billion in taxpayer-funded bonds was stopped in the Senate Appropriations Committee by Sen. Louis Lucas (D-18), and the city left the negotiating table on March 27.
Leonsis has since turned back to D.C., where both teams will likely remain for decades.
The Coalition to Stop the Arena at Potomac Yard loudly protested the project.
“Economic development that benefits all residents of Alexandria and the Commonwealth can only happen with transparent input from the citizens who will be affected,” said Andrew Macdonald, a former Alexandria vice mayor and co-founder of the Coalition. “Backroom deals negotiated in secret and sprung on the citizens at the last minute must not be standard operating procedure in Alexandria or anywhere else ever again.”
Happy Thursday, Alexandria!
⛈️ Today’s weather: Expect isolated showers between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms that could produce small hail. The day should be partly sunny with a high temperature near 57. Tonight, there’s a 30% chance of isolated showers between 8 and 11 p.m., with a low temperature of 39.
🚨 You need to know
What’s going to happen with the 12-acre property at Potomac Yard since the arena and entertainment district plans evaporated?
In an exclusive interview with the Washington Business Journal, Matt Kelly, the CEO for landowner JBG Smith, said that he doesn’t know exactly what will go into the space now, but that the arena deal highlighted the “attractiveness” of the property, which is next door to the Potomac Yard Metro station.
Kelly’s statements follow a scathing condemnation from the company immediately after the deal officially died.
Kelly said that JBG Smith’s 2020 plans to build six office buildings with ground floor retail on the arena will likely be scrapped due to a dwindling office market. He also said that Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus and Amazon’s HQ2 in Crystal City will open opportunities for “tech uses” in the space.
The statement contradicts a more dire message from Mayor Justin Wilson, who recently wrote in his April newsletter that the arena failure will likely result in a period of stagnation for the property.
Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!
⛈️ Today’s weather: Expect showers and possible thunderstorms after 8am, with potential heavy rain and a high of 59 degrees. East winds will blow at 8-13 mph, gusting up to 20 mph, with a 100% chance of precipitation and new rainfall amounts between half and three-quarters of an inch. Tonight, there’s a 50% chance of showers before 2am, and it will be mostly cloudy with a low around 41 degrees. West winds will reach 6-13 mph, gusting up to 21 mph.
🚨 You need to know
(Updated 3:45 p.m.) Mediterranean restaurant La’Baik held its grand opening this weekend.
The restaurant at 2309 Mount Vernon Avenue is owned by the Abdel-Hay family and serves falafel, gyros, shawarma and more, along with coffee.
La’Baik opened where Stomping Ground was. The restaurant briefly converted into a taco restaurant called Rubia’s Tacos, which then closed earlier this year.
La’Baik is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 11 a.m.-8 p.m., and Thursday through Sunday from 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
Photo via La’Baik/Instagram
📈 Tuesday’s most read
The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Apr 2, 2024.
- Sign ordinance update tackling longstanding sign complaints from Alexandria businesses (1621 views)
- Powerball ticket worth $1 million sold in Mount Vernon (1618 views)
- City of Alexandria hosting eclipse viewing party in Old Town (985 views)
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
- No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.
Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!
⛈️ Today’s weather: Expect showers before 2pm, transitioning to a chance of showers and thunderstorms from 2pm-5pm, and increasing to likely showers with potential thunderstorms after 5pm. The high temperature will be near 57°F with an east wind of 6-10 mph. There is an 80% chance of precipitation, with new rainfall amounts ranging from a quarter to half an inch. Tuesday night, anticipate showers, possible thunderstorms, and patchy fog with a low around 50°F. The east wind will continue at 8-10 mph, and the precipitation likelihood rises to 90%, with the same range of new rainfall amounts predicted.
🚨 You need to know
One family will win a monument to Alexandria’s infinite capacity for pettiness.
As part of Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) of Northern Virginia’s Tiny Home, Big Heart Playhouse Fundraiser, custom home builder Alair Alexandria built a scale model of the Hollensbury Spite House built into an alley at 523 Queen Street, Zebra reported.
The original 7’6″ wide home is less than 350 total square feet. Local legend is the homeowner in the adjacent property built the home after he got tired of people loitering in the alley
The new playhouse is only slightly less wide, 6’9″, and also contains multiple stories with an artificial grass backyard. The construction was sponsored by Andrea Courduvelis of Sotheby’s International Realty.
Those who want a chance at winning the home can donate $10 to SCAN.
Photo via SCAN of Nothern Virginia/Facebook
📈 Monday’s most read
The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Apr 1, 2024.
- In wake of Potomac Yard arena implosion, Alexandria mayor says area will stay the same for ‘quite some time’ (2548 views)
- Notes: Pizza and cocktail bar opening this week in Old Town (1973 views)
- Alexandria adding protection to four bike lanes, including Seminary Road and King Street (1091 views)
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
- No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.
Good Monday morning, Alexandria!
⛈️ Today’s weather: Expect showers and potential thunderstorms before 10 a.m, followed by scattered showers and patchy fog until 3 p.m. Cloudy conditions with a high near 62, with southeast winds shifting to northeast in the afternoon. Precipitation chances at 70% and rainfall between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. For Monday night, scattered showers and thunderstorms will occur before 8 p.m., followed by showers from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., with a low around 49. Northeast winds at 5 to 7 mph, with 80% precipitation chances and new rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch.
🚨 You need to know
After over twenty years of working in Alexandria restaurants, Alexandria Living Magazine reported that Tara Hopkins is launching her own restaurant where Faccia Luna was.
Frankie’s Kitchen and Cocktail Bar is a new bar with pizza and cocktails at 823 S Washington Street scheduled to open on Wednesday, April 3.
Alexandria Living Magazine reported that Hopkins and her husband had always wanted to open their own restaurant, and the timing worked when the broker for Faccia Luna reached out.
While an argument could be made that Alexandria has too many pizza places, an ALXnow poll back in 2024 found that most respondents said there’s not enough good pizza in the city.
Image via Frankie’s Kitchen & Cocktail Bar/Instagram
📈 Friday’s most read
The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Mar 29, 2024.
- Notes: Cash-strapped Metro selling off property in Eisenhower neighborhood (3591 views)
- Hard Times on King Street could temporarily close to undergo extensive internal renovations (1831 views)
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
