Alexandria City Council | ALXnow

Alexandria YMCA asks city to keep parking lot open amid Eugene Simpson Stadium Park redevelopment

Published July 2, 2025 at 1:45PM | Updated July 2, 2025 at 5:38PM

Staff at the YMCA at 420 E. Monroe Avenue say that the redevelopment of the Eugene Simpson Stadium Park will impact the nonprofit (via Google Maps)

A sweeping redevelopment promises to bring fresh amenities and improved access to Eugene Simpson Stadium Park, but staff at the Alexandria YMCA say that the project will have a severe impact on the nonprofit.

Plans presented at a recent community meeting reveal that 53 city-owned parking spaces in front of the YMCA, located at 420 E. Monroe Avenue, have been designated as a construction area. The actual construction of the project, which was unanimously approved by the City Council in 2023, is scheduled to begin this month and is expected to be completed by September 2026, with a phased reopening of the park starting in August 2026.

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Alexandria Fire Chief reports dramatic turnaround in employee retention after first year

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 2, 2025 at 10:15AM

Alexandria Fire Department Update on July 1, 2025 (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria Fire Chief Felipe Hernandez Jr. delivered an upbeat assessment of the department’s transformation during his first year in office, reporting significant improvements in employee morale and retention that have addressed longstanding staffing challenges.

Speaking to City Council Tuesday night (July 1), Hernandez said the department’s monthly attrition rate has dropped from 3.3 employees to 1.1 over the past year, with four former employees returning to work. The 10-year average attrition rate stands at 2.1 employees per month.

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State of Health presentation reveals major disparities between Alexandria neighborhoods

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 2, 2025 at 9:00AM

State of Health Presentation. (screenshot)

The Alexandria Health Department presented findings from its comprehensive community health assessment to the Alexandria City Council Tuesday night (July 1), revealing stark health disparities between neighborhoods and outlining plans for a more targeted approach to community health improvement.

Dr. David Rose, Director of the Alexandria Health District and Alexandria Health Department, told the council that the extensive assessment revealed “large differences in health between our neighborhoods” and calls for collaboration “with the people most impacted to move the needle on health outcomes.”

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Alexandria outlines economic development roadmap following community summit

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 1, 2025 at 9:20PM | Updated July 2, 2025 at 5:55AM

Alexandria Economic Summit on May 8, 2025 (Staff photo by Ryan Belmore)

The Alexandria City Council received a comprehensive update on Tuesday night regarding the city’s May Economic Summit and the ongoing development of a strategic framework that will guide economic development efforts over the next five years.

Tracye McDaniel, President of TIP Strategies, presented findings from extensive community engagement efforts that reached over 840 community touchpoints through 75 roundtables or one-on-one interviews, 35 participants in pre-summit events, 530 survey respondents, and more than 200 summit participants at the May 8 event held at the Westin Alexandria.

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Here’s what’s open and closed in Alexandria on July 4

By James Cullum

Published July 1, 2025 at 1:30PM

A street lined with American flags in Old Town, Alexandria. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s government offices will be closed on Friday, July 4, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t have a good time.

Here’s what you need to know about city services on Independence Day.

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City Council looks to continue funding Alexandria Health Department’s Healthy Homes Action Plan

By James Cullum

Published June 30, 2025 at 10:15AM

Alexandria Health Department (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

The Alexandria Health Department lost dedicated federal COVID-19 grant funding earlier this year, and now the City Council will vote on a proposal for various health initiatives.

AHD is requesting one-time funding of $120,510 from the city to support the city’s Healthy Homes Action Plan for the current fiscal year, in addition to community health outreach, continued resource funding for immigrant and refugee programs, and expansion of the ALX Breathes program. The Healthy Homes program brings together dozens of city organizations to recommend home improvements.

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Rail project and major development highlight Tuesday’s City Council Meeting

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 28, 2025 at 3:30PM

Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

A major rail infrastructure project and a 450-unit development highlight Tuesday’s packed Alexandria City Council agenda, with several other significant funding and infrastructure items also up for consideration.

Council will consider authorizing temporary construction easements to the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority for the Alexandria Fourth Track Project, a nearly six-mile rail expansion designed to boost passenger capacity and reduce regional traffic congestion.

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Alexandria Living Legend Gayle Reuter is retiring, and sticking around Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published June 26, 2025 at 7:40PM | Updated June 27, 2025 at 7:09PM

Del Ray's Gayle Reuter speaks at the mayoral campaign kickoff for Alexandria City Council Member Alyia Gaskins Jan. 28, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Gayle Reuter is retiring.

The news will travel fast around Del Ray, where the Alexandria Living Legend has lived and volunteered for decades. For the last five years, she’s also worked full-time as the accreditation manager for the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office (ASO).

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Alexandria City Council approves moral obligation for housing authority’s $56 million senior housing acquisition

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 25, 2025 at 6:09AM

Alate Old Town, 1112 First Street (via Facebook)

Alexandria City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to provide a moral obligation backing the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s plan to acquire The Alate senior living facility for $56 million using Virginia Resources Authority bonds.

The 7-0 vote authorizes ARHA to purchase the 110-unit building at 1122 North First Street to relocate age-eligible residents from the deteriorating Ladrey Senior High-Rise at 300 Wythe Street. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has terminated operating support for Ladrey and issued vouchers to relocate its 168 residents.

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Alexandria City Council receives update on proposal to use DASH buses for high school student transportation

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 24, 2025 at 10:00PM | Updated June 25, 2025 at 8:10PM

A DASH bus in Old Town Alexandria (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Alexandria City Council received a comprehensive update on Tuesday night (June 24) regarding a proposal to transition Alexandria City High School students from traditional school buses to the city’s DASH public transit system. City Manager James Parajon recommended a three-phase implementation, beginning in the 2026-27 school year.

The initiative, which has been under study for five months through a joint City Council and School Board subcommittee, aims to provide student transportation that is safe, reliable, effective, and efficient while supporting environmental goals and potentially reducing costs.

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Alexandria Archaeological Commission honored by City Council with ‘Commission of the Year Impact Award’

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 24, 2025 at 7:56PM

Members of the Alexandria Archaeological Commission (AAC) pose for a photo with Alexandria City Council during the presentation of the Annual Commission of the Year Impact Award on June 24, 2025.

The Alexandria Archaeological Commission received the city’s 2025 Commission of the Year Impact Award at Tuesday night’s (June 24) City Council meeting, recognizing the group’s 50 years of work preserving and protecting archaeological artifacts throughout Alexandria.

Councilman John Chapman presented the award to the commission, which was established in 1975 as the first archaeological commission in the country. The recognition celebrates both the commission’s milestone anniversary and its ongoing impact on the city’s historical preservation efforts.