City Council | ALXnow

Morning Notes

Published April 24, 2020 at 9:00AM | Updated April 24, 2020 at 9:29AM

The Four Mile Run Stream in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Restaurant Partners Reopening Two More Locations in May — “Alexandria Restaurant Partners will reopen two of its restaurant concepts, Riverside Taco Company and Vola’s Dockside Grill, on May 5.” [Patch]

Del Ray Cafe Gets PPP Loan, Hiring Back Employees — “Our PPP loan came through and we’re bringing back our employees! Starting tomorrow, Friday, April 24th, we will be offering Brunch for carryout every day from 9am-2:30pm. Order from our modified Brunch menu on our website www.delraycafe.com.” [Facebook]

News

Alexandria Dedicates $671K in CARES Act Funds to Rent Assistance

By Vernon Miles

Published April 22, 2020 at 3:15PM

Andrew Adkins, an affordable housing neighborhood in Braddock (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

The City Council voted on Saturday to direct $671,570 in federal funding to provide rent assistance for low-income families in Alexandria.

The catch, however, is that this funding will be used for rental assistance only for those living in the city’s assisted housing developments, like those managed by Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, and including non-profits and set-aside affordable units the city received through the development process.

News

Tenants and Supporters Protest for Rent Freeze at Southern Towers

By Vernon Miles

Published April 20, 2020 at 2:00PM | Updated April 20, 2020 at 4:41PM

Updated 4:40 p.m. — Adhering to proper social distancing protocol, tenants and other supporters rallied outside of Southern Towers in cars making slow circles through the parking lot with signs and chants of “No pay! No Rent!” and “No job! No Rent!”

“How are people going to be able to make a rent deferral plan work?” asked Sarah Jacobson, organizing director for UNITE HERE Local 23 DC, a food service workers union operating out of D.C. “Even if people went back to 100% employment tomorrow, that would be challenging. Uber drivers won’t be getting the kind of pay they had before.”

News

City Council Approves Potomac Yard Entrance and Moves Forward on Budget

By James Cullum

Published April 20, 2020 at 11:35AM | Updated April 20, 2020 at 6:05PM

There will be no tax increase on the city manager’s proposed fiscal year 2021 budget, as the City Council swept through its budget public hearing on Saturday, paving the way for approval next Wednesday, April 29.

Council also unanimously approved the plan for the construction of the southern access to the Potomac Yard Metro station. The access will be a bridge that connects to the northern entrance, and will open at the same time as the station in March 2022.

News

City Requests Federal Funds for Planned Affordable Housing Complex in Fairlington

By James Cullum

Published April 16, 2020 at 5:15PM

A conceptual rendering of The Waypoint at Fairlington (Image via Wesley Housing)

The Fairlington Presbyterian Church is another step closer to building an affordable housing complex in its parking lot.

City officials announced Thursday they will submit a request early next month for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HOME Investment Partnerships funds for The Waypoint at Fairlington — a four-story, 51,000-square-foot development at 3846 King Street.

News

City Council Unanimously Approves Call for Rent Freeze

By Vernon Miles

Published April 16, 2020 at 4:30PM

Southern Towers residents wait for the bus. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council unanimously approved Councilman Canek Aguirre’s call for a rent freeze at its meeting this week.

The resolution calls on state and federal officials to put a potential moratorium on rents and mortgages and to suspend the reporting of negative credit information by credit bureaus to protect people’s credit scores.

News

City Council Moves Into Accelerated Budget Process

By Vernon Miles

Published April 15, 2020 at 11:50AM

The City Council reviewed a substantially cut-back $753.3 million fiscal year 2021 operating budget at its meeting Tuesday night, and are now working through a months-long process that must be approved by April 29.

There were few budget surprises at the meeting, as the information was presented last week. The budget is 5.8% lower than the $800 million operating budget Jinks proposed before the COVID-19 pandemic, and includes $46.6 million in cuts to the operating budget and $140.6 million in the capital budget.

News

City Councilman Calls for Freeze on Rents, Mortgages and Negative Credit Reporting

By Vernon Miles

Published April 14, 2020 at 10:30AM

Alexandria Councilman Canek Aguirre

Councilman Canek Aguirre is docketed at tonight’s City Council meeting to introduce a resolution calling for state and federal officials to put a potential moratorium on rents and mortgages and to suspend the reporting of negative credit information by credit bureaus to protect people’s credit scores.

Aguirre said in a press release that the aim of the resolution is protect renters, homeowners, small businesses, and landlords struggling to make ends meet.

News

Governor’s Order Authorizes Alexandria to Remove Confederate Statue

By Vernon Miles

Published April 13, 2020 at 5:15PM | Updated April 13, 2020 at 6:44PM

Once again, the Confederacy has been handed a defeat in Richmond that sends ripples up to Alexandria.

Alexandria has debated and put plans in place for the Appomattox statue at the intersection of Prince and S. Washington Streets for years, but state law stood in the way of actually making any progress toward removing it.

News

Rent Strike Showdown at Southern Towers as City Leaders Push for Compromise

By Vernon Miles

Published April 10, 2020 at 11:30AM

The Sherwood apartment building at Southern Towers in Alexandria's West End. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

While residents at Southern Towers are preparing to strike, city leadership is caught in the middle of trying to negotiate a ceasefire before things escalate.

Residents at the West End apartment complex, many of whom have service industry jobs and were recently laid off due to the pandemic, have begun organizing for a strike wherein they refuse to pay their rent, WAMU first reported.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published April 10, 2020 at 9:00AM | Updated April 10, 2020 at 10:49AM

A couple shop at Greenstreet Gardens at 1721 Braddock Road. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Vice Mayor Volunteers For ACPS Food Giveaway — “I’m putting my food manager’s license to good use this week in coordinating the preparation of school meals at TC. Thanks to a rock-star team of Alexandria City Public Schools employees, Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities employees, and Volunteer Alexandria volunteers, we distributed more than 1700 meals yesterday.” [Facebook]

Police Hosting Virtual Story Time Tonight — “Great news! Every Friday evening APD will be starting a new initiative–APD #VIRTUALStorytimes at 7PM. This Friday join Sgt. Morgan as she reads “Little Blue Truck” by Alice Schertle. Do you have any book recommendations you wish to see us read???” [Twitter]