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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Episcopal High School’s plan to install 47 light poles between 40 and 100 feet in height got unanimous backing by the City Council on Saturday (May 17).
The private high school at 1200 N. Quaker Lane will serve as a training site for a team participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the school is planning on adding 10 lights to three northern fields for that purpose on the property — the track field, the practice field, and the Hummel Bowl. Neighbors with the Seminary Hill Association, however, told City Council they were under the misapprehension that the scope of the project was limited to just those 10 lights, instead of what was presented to Council — a largely undefined plan allowing the school to erect dozens of light poles of varying heights on its other outdoor athletic fields and courts over the next decade.
Alexandria’s City Council is gearing up for its City Council Public Hearing on Saturday (May 17).
Among the docket items is a Public Hearing, Second Reading, and Final Passage of an Ordinance that would eventually ban gas-powered leaf blowers within city limits. The proposed change to noise regulations aims to address both quality of life and environmental concerns.
Facing a $3.25 million budget shortfall, Alexandria City Public Schools is planning on saving a good chunk of it by not giving staff a 1% market rate adjustment.
According to a budget memo, the school board will review the following at a work session tonight (May 15). In the memo, ACPS staff laid out the following budget adjustments before the Board approves the final FY 2026 Combined Funds (Operating, Grants & Special Projects, and School Nutrition Services) Budget:
After coasting through the Planning Commission, plans to modernize George Mason Elementary School are heading to City Council for this Saturday (May 17).
Alexandria City Public Schools is hoping to cut the ribbon on the new two-story building in the summer of 2027. The project will keep the original 1939 building, although ACPS plans to demolish a majority of the existing school and replace it with a two-story structure for a capacity of 670 students and 80 teachers and staff.
The Alexandria City Council has taken the first legislative step toward banning gas-powered leaf blowers, citing significant environmental and noise concerns. On Tuesday, the council voted 5-1 on the First Reading of an ordinance that would prohibit the use of gas-powered leaf blowers throughout the city.
The proposed ban includes an 18-month phase-out period for the community, while city government departments would transition away from gas-powered equipment within one year.
Alexandria City Council celebrated 30 graduates from its Spring 2025 City Academy program at its Legislative Meeting on Tuesday (May 13).
Councilor John Taylor Chapman presented a proclamation honoring the graduates who completed a seven-week course. The program gives participants hands-on experience with city services and staff.
