Alexandria City Council | ALXnow

CEO of ARHA says deal to buy senior apartment building in Braddock neighborhood is ‘serendipity’

Published June 10, 2025 at 1:20PM

Alate Old Town, 1112 First Street (via Facebook)

With 167 senior residents and a police officer being forced out of the Ladrey Senior High-Rise by the end of the year, Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority CEO Erik C. Johnson says there’s actually an opportunity to capitalize on the situation.

“This comes down to whether or not the city is going to support seniors the way that we want to support seniors,” Johnson told ALXnow. “We’re not asking the city to finance it, nor is the city taking a first position loss in the event that something goes wrong.”

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FIREWORKS: Celebrate Alexandria’s birthday on the waterfront on July 12

By James Cullum

Published June 10, 2025 at 12:30PM

Alexandria's 275th birthday celebration along the waterfront in Old Town, July 13, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Get your lawn chairs ready, because Alexandria’s birthday celebration is right around the corner.

On Saturday, July 12, the city will celebrate its 276th and the U.S.’s 249th birthdays along the waterfront at Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison Street). The free party includes food trucks, live performances by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, appearances by the town crier, poet laureate, and Mayor Alyia Gaskins, as well as cupcakes for thousands of attendees.

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‘I will punch back’ against Trump administration, Stoney says in Alexandria as Dem primary nears

By James Cullum

Published June 7, 2025 at 5:46PM | Updated June 18, 2025 at 6:05AM

Levar Stoney, one of six candidates running for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor on June 17, speaks at a meet-and-greet in Old Town, June 7, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

With only 10 days left until the June 17 Democratic primary, former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney stopped in Alexandria Saturday afternoon for a meet-and-greet with some of his most influential Northern Virginia supporters.

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Alexandria Soccer Association donating bench shelters worth $60K to these city parks

By James Cullum

Published June 6, 2025 at 2:45PM

Coach Fredy Martinez speaks to participants of the Community Youth Empowerment Program's summer soccer program at AlexRenew's Limerick Field, July 26, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Things are about to get a little cozier for Alexandria soccer players.

The Alexandria Soccer Association is providing the city with eight bench shelters (four sets of two), valued at $58,520, to be installed at the soccer fields at Ben Brenman Park (4800 Brenman Park Drive) and Limerick Field (1800 Limerick Street). On Tuesday (June 10), the City Council will consider accepting the KWIK Goal bench shelters and authorizing City Manager Jim Parajon to finalize the donation.

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Housing, Pride Month, and Torpedo Factory on tap for Alexandria City Council’s June 10 meeting

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 6, 2025 at 12:00PM

The Alexandria City Council in session on March 11, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council is set to tackle a wide-ranging agenda during its upcoming Legislative Meeting on Tuesday (June 10). The meeting, which begins at 5:30 p.m., will be held in the Council Chamber (301 King Street) with options for electronic participation.

The meeting’s docket includes consideration of numerous grant applications, ordinances, and appointments to various boards and commissions throughout the city.

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Alexandria to participate in Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week, Clean the Bay Day

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 3, 2025 at 1:30PM

Clean the Bay Day (via Chesapeake Bay Foundation)

Alexandria is set to celebrate Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week from June 7 to June 15, 2025.

The city plans to participate in the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Clean the Bay Day, an annual event dedicated to preserving the bay’s ecosystem.

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Alexandria’s City Hall grows 26% in new development plans

By James Cullum

Published May 30, 2025 at 12:45PM

Alexandria City Hall preliminary site development plan (via City of Alexandria)

The preliminary development site plan for the renovation of Alexandria’s City Hall, Market Square Plaza, and underground parking garage is heading to the Planning Commission.

The city wants to increase the gross floor area at City Hall from an existing 122,171 square feet to 153,332 square feet (a 26% expansion), while maintaining the size of Market Square plaza at 2,975 square feet and the 234-space parking garage at 91,562 square feet.

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Alexandria City Council discusses strategic priorities, extends Torpedo Factory leases

By Ryan Belmore

Published May 27, 2025 at 9:00PM | Updated May 28, 2025 at 5:19AM

Alexandria City Council presented a proclamation recognizing May as Sex Education Month (screenshot)

The Alexandria City Council met Tuesday evening (May 27) for a Legislative Meeting, where they discussed and voted on several key initiatives, including lease extensions for Torpedo Factory artists, funding for Inova Alexandria Hospital, and updates to the city’s strategic priorities framework.

The meeting began with proclamations recognizing Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Sex Education Month.

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Alexandria City Council’s second Town Hall set for June 12

By Ryan Belmore

Published May 27, 2025 at 3:30PM

Alexandria City Council approves the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, April 30, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Mark your calendars for June 12, as the Alexandria City Council gears up for its second town hall of the year. The event takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Charles Houston Recreation Center Gymnasium (901 Wythe St).

Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley, and all council members will be on hand to chat about issues affecting residents and share updates on upcoming projects and initiatives.

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Alexandria City Council to consider transportation funding, hospital support, and lease extensions for Torpedo Factory artists

By Ryan Belmore

Published May 22, 2025 at 1:45PM

The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council will address a wide range of issues at its upcoming legislative meeting on Tuesday (May 27), including transportation funding requests, financial support for Inova Alexandria Hospital, and lease extensions for artists at the Torpedo Factory Art Center.

The meeting, scheduled for 5:30 p.m., will take place in the Council Chamber at 301 King Street. Participants can participate in person or remotely via Zoom.

News

Developer wants extension to build seven-story apartment building across from the Braddock Road Metro station

By James Cullum

Published May 21, 2025 at 2:30PM

The developer behind a seven-story apartment building in the Braddock area is asking the city for an extension of its developmental special use permit (via City of Alexandria)

The developer of a seven-story, 180-unit apartment building across the street from the Braddock Road Metro station is asking the city for an extension of its development special use permit.

West Street Acquisitions says a number of important steps have been made on the one-acre project at 727 N. West Street, which was denied by the City Council in March 2021 and then approved two months later. After some delays, including a legal battle with a neighbor citing city regulations prohibiting the Council from reviewing a denied application for a year, work on the four-year-old project has been slow, and the development special use permit is about to expire.