city government | ALXnow

City to discuss proposed improvements to Powhatan Park in Old Town

Published October 22, 2025 at 4:30PM

Powhatan Park at 1010 Douglas Street in Old Town (via Google Maps)

Alexandria is hosting an open house next month to discuss proposed improvements to a park in the northeast area of Old Town.

Plans to redevelop the 1.5-acre Powhatan Park (1010 Douglas Street) have been in the works for more than a decade. At 11 a.m. on Nov. 1 (Saturday), the city will host the event at the park to discuss three redevelopment options of “medium” importance — creating an ADA-compliant plaza with an entrance at the end of Douglas Street, repaving pathways ,and installing a shade structure and game tables.

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Alexandria hosting community meeting on Flood Resilience Plan

By James Cullum

Published October 22, 2025 at 5:45AM

Flooding in Old Town on May 9, 2022, staff photo by James Cullum

Alexandria will host a community meeting next month on the development of the city’s Flood Resilience Plan.

The city will host the meeting from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 10 (Monday), at Patrick Henry Recreation Center (4653 Taney Avenue), and online via Zoom. In the meeting, the city will discuss findings from a recent survey on flooding impacts throughout Alexandria, draft flood model results, and a community vulnerability analysis.

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Del Ray to host free Halloween bike ride Sunday

By James Cullum

Published October 17, 2025 at 11:06AM

There's a free Halloween-themed bike ride through Del Ray on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025 (via Facebook)

There’s a free family-friendly Halloween-themed bike ride in Del Ray on Sunday, Oct. 19.

Riders will be able to see all of the spectacularly spooky decorations throughout the neighborhood. The six-to-seven-mile ride goes from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and is hosted by the Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. More details are below.

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Alexandria hosting public meeting on improvements to Douglass Memorial Cemetery

By James Cullum

Published October 15, 2025 at 4:30PM

Douglass Memorial Cemetery following flood damages in 2021 (photo courtesy Michael Johnson)

Alexandria will provide an update later this month on stormwater solutions for the historic, and flood-prone, Douglass Memorial Cemetery (1421 Wilkes Street).

The city says that the cemetery, named after abolitionist Frederick Douglass, faces flooding and drainage problems, and that grave markers have been damaged. After two years of developing a plan to mitigate flooding and repair grave markers, the city will present an update on the project on Oct. 29 (Wednesday) from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Lloyd House (220 N. Washington Street).

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Alexandria launching invasive species management program

By James Cullum

Published October 6, 2025 at 12:45PM

Japanese honeysuckles are an invasive species (via Facebook)

Starting this month, Alexandria will begin eradicating invasive plants in the Wilkes Street Tunnel and at several city parks.

Residents and visitors can expect some temporary fencing around affected areas, as the city will be making herbicide treatments and other “control” methods. Some of the invasive species that will be eradicated include Japanese honeysuckle, tree of heaven, English ivy, mimosa trees, and Oriental bittersweet.

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Metro chase death, hidden bathroom camera, homicide arrests lead this week’s top stories

By James Cullum

Published October 3, 2025 at 3:30PM

Suspected fare evaders captured chasing a man, who tried to elude them by jumping onto the tracks of the Potomac Yard Metro station before being struck by a train (via MTPD)

Welcome to Friday, Alexandria. Here’s a look at the top stories of the week.

ALXnow’s top story this week is on the man who was struck by a train at the Potomac Yard Metro station on September 22 and later died at George Washington University Hospital. Metro Transit Police stated at the time that the man had trespassed onto the tracks, and an investigation revealed that he was being chased by two alleged fare evaders: a 17-year-old female and an 18-year-old female, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

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Playa Bowls seeks to open Old Town location

By James Cullum

Published October 2, 2025 at 1:15PM

A Playa Bowls franchise has submitted paperwork to open at 1229 King Street in Old Town (via Facebook)

A Playa Bowls franchise just submitted paperwork with the city to open at 1229 King Street in Old Town.

The quick-service restaurant will sell “fruit bowls, oatmeal bowls, smoothies, and juices for takeout and pickup,” according to the special use permit (SUP) filed with the city. The chain was founded in New Jersey in 2014, and there are now more than 300 Playa Bowls locations nationwide, with the nearest one in Arlington, located at 2055 15th Street.

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Proposal to build 3 townhomes on vacant lot in Old Town heading to BAR

By James Cullum

Published October 1, 2025 at 4:30PM

A proposal to build townhomes at 806 N. Columbus Street in Old Town is heading to Alexandria's Board of Architectural Review, Oct. 16, 2025 (via City of Alexandria)

A proposal to build three four-story townhouses on a vacant lot in Old Town is scheduled to be reviewed by the city’s Board of Architectural Review later this month.

Land use attorney Ken Wire is requesting a concept review from the BAR to develop the townhomes at 806 N. Columbus Street, located near the intersection with Madison Street and two blocks east of N. Patrick Street (Route 1). The proposal is scheduled to head to the BAR on Thursday, October 16.

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7-story, 402-unit apartment building on Mark Center Drive heads to Planning Commission

By James Cullum

Published September 29, 2025 at 12:00PM

A proposal to redevelop a vacant lot at 4880 Mark Center Drive into a multi-unit apartment building heads to the Alexandria Planning Commission on Nov. 6, 2025 (via City of Alexandria)

A proposal to build a seven-story residential multi-unit building with 402 units in Alexandria’s West End is scheduled to be heard by the Planning Commission on Thursday, Nov. 6.

Maryland-based Bozzuto Development Company is presenting the plan to redevelop the vacant four-acre lot at 4880 Mark Center Drive, which is bounded by the Winkler Botanical Preserve and near the Seminary Road exit to Interstate 395.

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Alexandria’s proposed tallest building heads to Planning Commission in November

By James Cullum

Published September 25, 2025 at 6:00PM

Concept for a 365-foot-tall apartment building at 2425 Mill Road in Alexandria's Carlyle neighborhood (via Red Fox Development Co.)

A proposal to build a 365-foot-tall residential building with up to 775 units and 40,000 square feet of ground-floor retail in Alexandria’s Carlyle neighborhood is heading to the Planning Commission. If approved, the project could result in the tallest at-grade building in the city.

The three-acre mixed-use development at 2425 Mill Road includes up to 775 residential units and 40,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. Aldie-based Red Fox Development will present the proposal to the Planning Commission on Nov. 6.

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45-unit apartment building proposed for empty office near King St. Metro station

By James Cullum

Published September 25, 2025 at 3:13PM

1625 Prince Street in Old Town (via Google Maps)

A proposal to turn a vacant office building into a 45-unit apartment building at 1625 Prince Street in Old Town.

Applicant 1625 Prince Street LLC is asking the city for a parking reduction, as well as modifications to the tree canopy and minimum side yard requirements. The building is less than 1,000 feet from the King St.-Old Town Metro station, was constructed in 1990 and bought by the American Society for Industrial Security in 1997, according to city property records. The proposal will go to the Planning Commission on Nov. 6.