City Council | ALXnow

PHOTOS: Thousands gather for Alexandria’s 276th Birthday Bash at Oronoco Bay

Published July 13, 2025 at 6:15AM | Updated July 14, 2025 at 10:29AM

The grand finale of Alexandria's birthday celebration at Oronoco Bay Park, July 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria celebrated its 276th and the U.S.’s 249th birthday in style along the Potomac River at Oronoco Bay Park on Saturday (July 12).

Thousands attended the annual event. For about four hours, the park was turned into a maze of beach blankets, lawn chairs, and barefoot kids with lightsabers and bubble guns. Flanked onstage by City Council and city staff, Mayor Alyia Gaskins and Poet Laureate Maria Cristina Donoso made brief remarks before the program was turned over to the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, which wrapped up in time for a spectacular fireworks show (see video below).

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Alexandria Health Department gets $120K from City Council after losing federal grant

By James Cullum

Published July 3, 2025 at 5:30PM

Alexandria Health Department (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

City Council has released more than $120,000 in reserve funding to the Alexandria Health Department.

On Tuesday (July 1), Council approved the one-time funding to support the city’s Healthy Homes Action Plan, immigrant and refugee resource programs, and expansion of the ALX Breathes program. AHD lost the funds, which were from a federal COVID-19 grant earlier this year.

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Expired Landmark Overlook project in Alexandria’s West End gets three-year extension

By James Cullum

Published July 3, 2025 at 1:45PM

Landmark Overlook would transform the corner of South Wilkes Street and Stephenson Avenue into a mixed use property with hotels or office buildings, two-level stacked condominium units, apartments and retail. (Image via City of Alexandria)

The Alexandria City Council, this week, approved the three-year extension of an expired plan to build hundreds of residential units in Alexandria’s Landmark area.

The three-year development special use permit for the 8-acre Landmark Overlook project expired in February. Council initially approved the plan in 2022 by West End Development Associates to build 450 residential units in seven townhomes and two multifamily apartment buildings on the eight-acre site at 5901, 5951, and 5999 Stevenson Avenue and 2 South Whiting Street.

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Alexandria YMCA asks city to keep parking lot open amid Eugene Simpson Stadium Park redevelopment

By James Cullum

Published July 2, 2025 at 1:45PM | Updated July 2, 2025 at 5:38PM

Staff at the YMCA at 420 E. Monroe Avenue say that the redevelopment of the Eugene Simpson Stadium Park will impact the nonprofit (via Google Maps)

A sweeping redevelopment promises to bring fresh amenities and improved access to Eugene Simpson Stadium Park, but staff at the Alexandria YMCA say that the project will have a severe impact on the nonprofit.

Plans presented at a recent community meeting reveal that 53 city-owned parking spaces in front of the YMCA, located at 420 E. Monroe Avenue, have been designated as a construction area. The actual construction of the project, which was unanimously approved by the City Council in 2023, is scheduled to begin this month and is expected to be completed by September 2026, with a phased reopening of the park starting in August 2026.

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Here’s what’s open and closed in Alexandria on July 4

By James Cullum

Published July 1, 2025 at 1:30PM

A street lined with American flags in Old Town, Alexandria. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s government offices will be closed on Friday, July 4, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t have a good time.

Here’s what you need to know about city services on Independence Day.

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AlexWest Small Area Plan wins top award

By James Cullum

Published June 30, 2025 at 3:15PM

Traffic backup heading eastbound along Duke Street (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria’s plan for the development of its West End just won a top award from the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA).

After years of discussion, the City Council adopted the AlexWest Small Area Plan last December. With the massive WestEnd mixed use development working to unveil several new buildings, and Inova at Landmark poised to open in 2028, the plan recommends significant expansion of Dora Kelley Nature Park, a new public park adjacent to the Winkler Botanical Preserve, and a new park at the corner of Seminary Road and N. Beauregard Street.

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City Council looks to continue funding Alexandria Health Department’s Healthy Homes Action Plan

By James Cullum

Published June 30, 2025 at 10:15AM

Alexandria Health Department (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

The Alexandria Health Department lost dedicated federal COVID-19 grant funding earlier this year, and now the City Council will vote on a proposal for various health initiatives.

AHD is requesting one-time funding of $120,510 from the city to support the city’s Healthy Homes Action Plan for the current fiscal year, in addition to community health outreach, continued resource funding for immigrant and refugee programs, and expansion of the ALX Breathes program. The Healthy Homes program brings together dozens of city organizations to recommend home improvements.

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Alexandria Living Legend Gayle Reuter is retiring, and sticking around Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published June 26, 2025 at 7:40PM | Updated June 27, 2025 at 7:09PM

Del Ray's Gayle Reuter speaks at the mayoral campaign kickoff for Alexandria City Council Member Alyia Gaskins Jan. 28, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Gayle Reuter is retiring.

The news will travel fast around Del Ray, where the Alexandria Living Legend has lived and volunteered for decades. For the last five years, she’s also worked full-time as the accreditation manager for the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office (ASO).

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City staff want Alexandria City High School kids on DASH buses starting in fall 2026

By James Cullum

Published June 20, 2025 at 11:15AM

School buses on W. Braddock Road on Dec. 10, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

City staff are recommending a phased transition to replace school buses for Alexandria City High School students with DASH buses.

The City Council asked staff in January to consider the transition for ACHS, Virginia’s largest high school with multiple campuses and over 4,500 students. Staff have returned with the recommendation for a three-phase approach that would kick off in the fall of the 2026-2027 school year.

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Development of Robinson Terminal North, the last open area on the waterfront, gets green light

By James Cullum

Published June 17, 2025 at 6:15PM | Updated June 17, 2025 at 7:01PM

Plans for Robinson Terminal North (via City of Alexandria)

Robinson Terminal North, the last untapped area of Alexandria’s waterfront, just got unanimous approval for redevelopment by the City Council.

Property owner Rooney Properties wants to convert the 3.2-acre, two-block site into two mixed-use buildings with 73 luxury apartments, three restaurants, and more than an acre of open space along the Potomac River at historic West’s Point.

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Alexandria Police request to access ACPS student records taken off the table

By James Cullum

Published June 17, 2025 at 12:30PM

Alexandria Police at Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus. (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Police Department (APD) has removed from consideration a controversial request that would have granted school resource officers direct access to student records, according to Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS).

Following the grilling of Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire by the City Council, the School Board unanimously voted last Thursday to extend the soon-to-expire two-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) between ACPS and the police. The six-month extension means that Alexandria City High School and the city’s middle schools will continue with their assigned school resource officers as is, while the details of the draft MOU are ironed out.