City Council | ALXnow

Morning Notes

Published February 25, 2021 at 9:00AM

Virginia Rolls Back Some Restrictions on Dining, Outdoor Gatherings — Effective Mar. 1, Virginians will be able to buy and drink alcohol at restaurants, food courts, breweries, distilleries, and wineries until they are required to close at midnight. The changes to the current executive order come amid declining rates of hospitalizations and infections and rising vaccination rates in the Commonwealth, Northam said during a press conference this morning (Wednesday).” [Reston Now]

Alexandria Black History Museum Launches Online Exhibition — “Following George Floyd’s murder on May 25, 2020, the Alexandria Black History Museum (ABHM) requested that Alexandria residents share their thoughts, artwork, and more. ABHM wanted to document the Alexandria community’s response of this tragic event and preserve it for future generations. An online exhibition featuring the items received so far launched recently on the Historic Alexandria Online portal. The items collectively are called the Black Lives Remembered Collection.” [Zebra]

News

Agenda Alexandria Budget Discussion Turns Wary Eye to Future Tax Rate Balance

By Vernon Miles

Published February 24, 2021 at 3:50PM | Updated February 24, 2021 at 4:07PM

In the latest Agenda Alexandria conversation, local business and civic leaders came together to discuss the highs and lows of the recently proposed City Manager’s budget.

The budget included a proposed tax rate reduction, but City Council candidate Bill Rosssello challenged the overly sunny narrative about the reduction.

News

Patrick Moran, Son of Former Congressman Jim Moran, is Running for City Council

By James Cullum

Published February 22, 2021 at 4:30PM | Updated April 15, 2026 at 12:03PM

An earlier version of this article referred to a court case against Patrick Moran, but the case has been sealed in D.C. court.

Earlier: Patrick Moran, son of former Northern Virginia Congressman and Alexandria Mayor Jim Moran, announced Saturday that he is running for City Council.

News

City Council Unanimously Approves Controversial Heritage Project

By Vernon Miles

Published February 22, 2021 at 3:45PM

A long public hearing — and extended public debate in online forums and city meetings — over the controversial Heritage project ended with an unanimous vote approving the project.

Many on the City Council expressed reservations, including issues of size, increased traffic and additional burden on schools. Ultimately, however, the addition of new affordable housing units was an offer the Council felt it couldn’t refuse.

News

Black History: Sen. Mark Warner Gets ‘Manumission’ Tour in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published February 22, 2021 at 1:30PM | Updated February 22, 2021 at 5:23PM

Virginia U.S. Senator Mark Warner (middle) gets a Manumission Tour from Alexandria City Councilman John Taylor Chapman, Feb. 22, 2021. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner has lived in Old Town for 35 years, and on a freezing Monday morning he learned about the lives of enslaved and free Blacks via a tour with Alexandria City Councilman John Taylor Chapman.

“We have to tell the whole story — the good, the bad, the ugly,” Warner told ALXnow. “I’ve lived in Alexandria for 35 years and I’m hearing some of these stories for the first time.”

News

ALXnow’s Top Stories of the Week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published February 19, 2021 at 3:30PM

Exercising near the closed Potomac River Generating Station in Alexandria near the Potomac River (staff photo by James Cullum)

It was a cold and snowy week in Alexandria.

Our top story this week was on plans to redevelop the GenOn power plant in Old Town North. It looks like deconstruction of the plant will start in 2023 and developers are looking at converting it into an urban, mixed-use property with housing.

News

Staff Proposes Overhaul of George Washington Masonic Temple Intersection

By Vernon Miles

Published February 19, 2021 at 10:15AM | Updated February 19, 2021 at 11:12AM

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial, as viewed from the King Street metro station (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

The intersection near the George Washington National Masonic Memorial is a mess, and city staff are hoping to give the traffic-logged crossing an overhaul to make things run a little more smoothly.

There are three alternative plans presented for the access street that runs parallel to the west of Callahan Drive. Staff’s recommendation is to convert the lane into a one-way, southbound street that allows traffic headed down to Duke Street a left turn before the main intersection.

News

Local Facebook Watchdog Former Administrator Bill Rossello Announces Run for City Council

By Vernon Miles

Published February 18, 2021 at 1:45PM | Updated March 1, 2021 at 11:53AM

(Updated at 12:15 p.m. on 2/25/21) Bill Rossello, one of the early members and administrators of the 2,200-member-strong Bring Integrity Back to Alexandria Facebook group, has announced that he will be running for City Council in the June 8 Democratic primary.

Rossello, who works as principal at Greenhouse Consulting LLC according to his LinkedIn profile, has been active in neighborhood advocacy for a few years, but said in earlier interviews that the Seminary Road debate was when he really threw himself into it.

News

Alexandria’s Waiting List Grows to 36K+, Could Be Summer Until Vaccine Widely Available

By James Cullum

Published February 17, 2021 at 11:30AM | Updated February 17, 2021 at 11:59AM

It might take until the summer until the COVID-19 vaccine is widely available in Alexandria, according to Mayor Justin Wilson.

With just 2,000 vaccine doses expected to be received weekly in the city and more than 36,000 residents on the waiting list, Wilson asked for patience over the weekend on Facebook. He also said that CVS pharmacies are being given a small supply of the vaccine.

News

Reduced Real Estate Tax Rate Proposed in Upcoming City Budget

By Vernon Miles

Published February 17, 2021 at 10:45AM

Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

For all the earlier talk of doom and gloom early in the coronavirus financial forecasts, City Manager Mark Jinks’ proposed FY 2021 budget seems relatively painless.

As laid out by Jinks, the operating budget is a 1.9% proposed increase over last year’s, with a 2 cent real estate tax rate reduction, no major service reductions, and fully funds the proposed school CIP and operating budget.

News

Torpedo Factory Overhaul Heads to City Council Next Month

By Vernon Miles

Published February 16, 2021 at 2:30PM

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

A plan to reinvigorate the Torpedo Factory is headed to the City Council for review early next month after a quick introduction last Tuesday.

The city took over the Torpedo Factory Art Center in 2016 and relations with the artists in the facility have sometimes been tense, with disagreements over how leases should be handled and some artists expressing frustrations at ongoing rent during the pandemic.