City Council | ALXnow

Del Ray residents decry tree removal at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park

Published June 22, 2023 at 3:30PM

Del Ray residents form a chain around a tree in Eugene Simpson Stadium Park in Del Ray, June 22, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A number of Del Ray residents locked arms around an oak tree slated for removal at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park in Del Ray on Wednesday, only days after City Council approved a plan to renovate the park.

Gisele McAuliffe, a 30-year Del Ray resident, says that the city’s approved plan to renovate the park will come at too great a cost — the removal of 40 trees. The age of the trees is in dispute, as the city says the oldest trees on the property were planted in the 1940s, while McAuliffe and her friends measured the trees and claim they are upward of 100 years old.

Opinion

Poll: Do you support replacing Simpson Park’s fields with synthetic turf?

By Vernon Miles

Published June 22, 2023 at 1:30PM

Simpson Park overhaul plans (image via City of Alexandria)

Eugene Simpson Stadium Park is going from natural turf to artificial turf, and feelings in the community seem decidedly mixed.

At a meeting this past Saturday, the City Council voted unanimously in favor of a new plan that will replace the field with synthetic turf. Sentiment in the public hearing was mixed, with some concerned about issues like creating a heat island and others saying the synthetic turf will make the fields more usable.

News

Alexandria City Council settles turf war over Simpson Park

By Vernon Miles

Published June 21, 2023 at 3:50PM

Simpson Park overhaul plans (image via City of Alexandria)

Eugene Simpson Park is getting a set of synthetic turf fields as part of a broader overhaul with city leaders saying the added usability outweighs the detriments of the artificial grass field.

At a meeting this past Saturday, the City Council unanimously voted in favor of a large-scale renovation (item 20) to eugene Simpson Stadium Park (426 East Monroe Avenue).

News

Arlandria bar Hops N’ Shine emerges from City Council battle with mixed results

By Vernon Miles

Published June 20, 2023 at 3:50PM | Updated June 21, 2023 at 3:02PM

Map of Hops N' Shine and associated outdoor space (image via City of Alexandria)

(Updated 3 p.m.) After taking a beating at the Planning Commission, Arlandria bar Hops ‘N Shine (3410 Mount Vernon Avenue) came out of a City Council meeting a little better off.

The bar faced some intense criticism from the Planning Commission over racking up violations of the bar’s zoning conditions, mainly for allegedly continuing to utilize outdoor spaces for trivia nights even after being told to stop by the city.

News

Permit filed for Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Alexandria’s West End

By James Cullum

Published June 20, 2023 at 1:30PM

A special use permit has been filed to run a Tropical Smoothie Cafe at 424 S. Pickett Street (via Facebook)

Tropical Smoothie Cafe could soon be coming to Alexandria’s West End.

Owner Oubab Khalil filed a special use permit (SUP) on June 12 to run the restaurant at the space at 424 S. Pickett Street. The final day for public comments is July 6 before it goes to the Planning Commission and then City Council.

News

Rainbow crosswalks and new Pride artwork could be coming to Old Town next year

By Vernon Miles

Published June 15, 2023 at 3:45PM

City Council member Kirk McPike (image via City of Alexandria)

By next June, Alexandria could have more Pride-themed decorations around town, including rainbow crosswalks and artwork in the new pedestrian zone.

At a City Council meeting earlier this week, City Council member Kirk McPike urged city staff to take another look at adding a rainbow crosswalk to King Street and Pride-themed art in the pedestrian zone.

News

Alexandria leaders boiling mad over watered down stream restoration projects

By Vernon Miles

Published June 15, 2023 at 1:45PM | Updated June 15, 2023 at 4:19PM

Taylor Run (photo via City of Alexandria)

The first time the Taylor Run and Strawberry Run restoration projects went to City Council, some in the community were angry. The second time around, it’s city leaders that are angry.

The core of the problem seems that, in an effort to appease everyone involved, Alexandria ended up with a solution that accomplishes virtually nothing when it comes to Strawberry Run.

News

Covid funding could help restore ‘Green Book’ lodging in Parker Gray

By Vernon Miles

Published June 14, 2023 at 1:35PM

1022 Pendleton Boarding House (image via City of Alexandria)

The owners of an Alexandria rooming house could have gotten a significant paycheck from developers for the property, but the home owner is working with the city to keep it affordable.

At a City Council meeting last night, the Council unanimously authorized to pay $1.95 million from the city’s American Rescue Plan Act grant funding to renovate and preserve a rooming house at 1022 Pendleton Street.

News

City to consider naming park in Old Town after local open space advocate Judy Guse-Noritake

By James Cullum

Published June 12, 2023 at 2:30PM

Braddock Interim Park at 600 N. Henry Street in Old Town (via Google Maps)

The Alexandria City Council on Tuesday will consider naming a one-acre park in Old Town after a local champion of parks, Judy Guse-Noritake.

The open space, a few blocks from the Braddock Road Metro station at 600 N. Henry Street, is currently named Braddock Interim Park. After the city acquired the land in 2010, it developed the property as part of the Braddock Metro Neighborhood Plan with gathering areas, a ping pong table, a bocce ball court, horseshoe pits and seating.

News

Potomac River could rise by two feet on Alexandria waterfront by 2050

By Vernon Miles

Published May 25, 2023 at 11:15AM

Heidi DeuPree and Keith Harmon canoeing down Union Street in Old Town, Friday, October 29, 2021. (staff photo by James Cullum)

If you think it floods a lot in Old Town now, just wait until 2050.

During a City Council meeting earlier this week, Matthew Landes, division chief for project implementation, said current projections estimate a two-foot increase in sea elevation, meaning the city will need to install some type of flood mitigation if it wants to keep Old Town from being consistently underwater.

News

What to do if your Confederate-honoring Alexandria street gets renamed?

By Vernon Miles

Published May 24, 2023 at 2:45PM

Forrest Street, named for Nathan Bedford Forrest (image via Google Maps)

As the city works through plans to systemize the renaming of streets honoring Confederate leaders, some Alexandrians could be taking a trip to the DMV or the bank.

One of the questions going into the renaming process has been: what will that mean for locals living on those streets? Ahead of the renaming process coming back for a public hearing in October, city staff put together a guide to what locals will and won’t have to change.