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Two-term Alexandria School Board Member Jacinta Greene vies for City Council

By James Cullum
Alexandria City Council candidate and School Board Member Jacinta Greene and her supporters marching in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Old Town, March 2, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Jacinta Greene says that her two three-year terms on the Alexandria School Board have prepared her for City Council.

Greene faces 10 opponents for the six City Council spots in contention for the June 18 primary. She’s running against four incumbent City Council Members, against a fellow School Board Member, two candidates who are running for their second chance at the nomination after losing in 2021, and some newcomers. She’s raised about $50,000 for her campaign, and as of June 5 has about $31,000 in the bank, according to recently released quarterly finance reports.

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Months after going silent, planned Heritage project in Old Town could be saved by new bond funding

By Vernon Miles
Rendering of Block 1 of the Heritage Project, via City of Alexandria

A stalled development project in Old Town, called The Heritage, could be getting a boost from the city’s housing authority to get it over the finish line.

The City Council is docketed to consider a resolution “authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds by the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) for the Heritage at Old Town Redevelopment Project.”

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Alexandria leadership considering salary increase for incoming City Council

By Vernon Miles
The Alexandria City Council at it's March 12, 2024 meeting (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council and mayor could be getting a pay increase, though the pay in Alexandria is still dramatically less than other Northern Virginia jurisdictions.

Currently Alexandria’s mayor earns $41,500 annually, while council members and the vice mayor earns $37,500. Despite how busy the City Council jobs are, most members of council still keep other full-time jobs. Mayor Justin Wilson, for example, is also the senior director of supplier management at Amtrak.

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Alexandria City Council candidates announce how they will tackle climate change

By James Cullum
Waterfront Park along the Potomac River in Alexandria, with National Harbor and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in the background (staff photo by James Cullum)

A majority of Alexandria’s Democrat candidates for City Council rank climate action high on their priority lists.

A number of candidates recently expressed their opinions in a Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions and Build Our Future questionnaire.

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While short term rental complaints are low, Alexandria leaders say that might not tell the whole story

By Vernon Miles
Short-term rental listings in Alexandria on AirBnB (image via AirBnB)

For as much controversy as there can be around short-term rentals — businesses like Airbnb  that rent out homes to visiting guests — a city report said there have been relatively few complaints about them in Alexandria.

In a report to the City Council last week, Land Use Services Division Chief Tony LaColla noted that there are 460 short-term rentals registered in Alexandria and 265 estimated unregistered units.

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PHOTOS: More than 800 Alexandria City High School seniors graduate at GMU’s EagleBank Arena

By James Cullum
ACHS graduate Torenzo Ricks hugs executive principal Alexander Duncan III onstage at GMU's EagleBank Arena, June 1, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

More than 800 Alexandria City High School students walked the stage at today’s graduation at George Mason University’s EagleBank Arena.

ACHS executive principal Alexander Duncan III said that the day marked a defining moment in the lives of the 841 graduates.

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Alexandria City Council candidates end primary debates with ‘Zoning for Housing’ spat

By James Cullum
Jonathan Huskey speaks at the ADC's City Council candidate debate, May 30, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s controversial zoning overhaul punctuated the final Democrat City Council candidate forum before the June 18 primary.

Anti-Potomac Yard arena candidate Jonathan Huskey didn’t mince words on his opinions against citywide Zoning for Housing/Housing for All overhaul that eliminated single family zoning and allows developers to build homes with up to four units on any property.

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City Council amends outreach policy for creating Business Improvement District in Old Town

By James Cullum
Enjoying the weather and outside seating on lower King Street in Old Town. (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council unanimously approved new outreach guidelines for the potential creation of a Business Improvement District (BIDs) in Old Town on Tuesday night.

Without buy-in from 60% of impacted property owners, previous efforts to get BIDs started in Old Town failed. Consequently, City Council on Tuesday night approved the amended rules stipulating that property owners will now be sent petitions via certified mail, and that their non-response within 30 days will be counted just as if they vote in opposition.

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Alexandria OK’s nearly $300K loan to Wesley Housing for dilapidated Arlandria properties

By James Cullum
Wesley Housing has acquired the six-building Parc Square Apartments in Arlandria (via Wesley Housing)

It’s been two years since Wesley Housing acquired the affordable Parc Square Apartments complex in Arlandria, and repairs have proved more extensive than anticipated.

On Tuesday night, City Council approved (without discussion) a $291,300 loan to the affordable housing community for the partial renovation of eight units in the five-building, 66-unit complex.

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PHOTOS: City leaders cut ribbon at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus

By James Cullum
Current and former Alexandria leaders at the ribbon cutting for Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus (staff photo by James Cullum)

After two years under construction, city leaders cut the ribbon today on Alexandria City High School’s new Minnie Howard Campus.

The $190 million project for the 343,000-square-foot, five-story satellite campus can hold up to 1,600 students — double the capacity of its 1950’s-era predecessor. The building will be home to six career and technical education academies, which administrators say will allow students to pursue their interests.

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POLL: How many dogs should be allowed to live in Alexandria households?

By James Cullum
Darth Vader walks his dog at the Del Ray Halloween Parade on Sunday, October 30, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

How many dogs should be allowed to live in Alexandria households?

Since 1995 it’s been illegal to own more than three dogs in Alexandria. The ordinance was passed with cat hoarding in mind, however, and the limit on cats as pets is remaining unchanged at four.

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