city government | ALXnow

City Council to consider nonprofit lease renewals, receive Torpedo Factory operator proposals

Published May 11, 2026 at 3:45PM

Casa Chirilagua at 4109 Mount Vernon Avenue (via Facebook)

Alexandria City Council will consider extending leases to allow nonprofits and other programs to keep operating at its meeting on Tuesday (May 12).

City Council will consider setting a public hearing for Saturday (May 16) on a new five-year lease agreement with nonprofit Casa Chirilagua at 4109 Mount Vernon Avenue in Arlandria, as well as three-year lease extensions for the Alexandria Boxing Club at Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe Street) and the Child and Family Network Centers at Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center (25 West Reed Avenue).

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School Board approves changes to agreement with Alexandria Police Department

By James Cullum

Published May 11, 2026 at 9:15AM

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

The Alexandria City School Board unanimously approved an amended memorandum of understanding with the Alexandria Police Department last Thursday (May 7) to provide school resource officers at the city’s high school and two middle schools.

The previous MOU between ACPS and APD, approved in June 2023, was set to expire June 30. The school system continued using the 2023–2025 MOU, which was extended several times while the new agreement was being revised. The updated MOU was approved without discussion and now goes to City Council for approval.

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Developer cancels rooftop deck in Old Town office-to-residential conversion

By James Cullum

Published May 8, 2026 at 8:30AM

720 N. Fairfax Street in Old Town North (via Google Maps)

Plans for a roof deck in an Old Town office-to-apartment conversion project need to be canceled, according to paperwork recently filed with the city.

The building’s owner wants to convert the 1970s-era office building at 720 N. St. Asaph Street into a 12-unit multifamily apartment building with ground-level commercial space. Previous plans also called for a roof deck, which the current building would not be able to support, according to a special use permit amendment application.

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Sandy Marks swearing-in next week will create Alexandria’s first woman-majority City Council

By James Cullum

Published May 7, 2026 at 3:45PM

Democrat Sandy Marks claims victory in the City Council special election (via James Minichello Photography)

Incoming City Councilwoman Sandy Marks’ swearing-in is scheduled next week, creating Alexandria’s first woman-majority council in the city’s 277-year history.

Marks will be sworn into office before City Council’s meeting on Tuesday, May 12, at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive), following her special election win on April 21. Marks’ entry will signal the seven-member council’s first-ever woman majority, which includes Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley and Councilwoman Jacinta Greene.

Around Town

Alexandria’s annual community cookout series launches today

By James Cullum

Published May 7, 2026 at 10:00AM

Community Cookouts (via City of Alexandria)

The 19th annual Alexandria Community Cookout series launches today (Thursday), bringing weekly events with free food, activities and giveaways across the city.

More than 50 city agencies and nonprofits are participating in the weekly cookouts, which are expected to reach thousands of Alexandria residents this spring and summer. The first cookout, delayed by yesterday’s weather, will take place on its rain date today at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center from 6-7:30 p.m.

Around Town

Croatian stamp exhibit unveiled in Alexandria as city prepares to host Team Croatia during World Cup

By James Cullum

Published May 5, 2026 at 2:45PM

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

Rare Croatian stamps will be on display at the Torpedo Factory Art Center this week as part of a cultural exchange with Croatia, as Alexandria is expected to host the country’s national soccer team base camp during the 2026 World Cup.

The exhibit marks the first time that the stamp collection, “Discover Croatia: A Journey Through Tiny Windows of History,” has been moved outside of its home country. The exhibit by the Croatian Post and the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs was unveiled yesterday (Monday) at a ceremony with Croatian Ambassador to the U.S. Pjer Šimunović and Mayor Alyia Gaskins.

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Stinging criticism leveled against proposed beekeeping regulations in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published May 5, 2026 at 1:45PM

A bee at Windmill Hill Park in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

A new proposal to regulate beekeeping in Alexandria is creating some buzz as it heads to the Planning Commission tonight (May 5).

The Planning Commission is slated to consider new rules that would limit the number of hives allowed on properties, create 5-to-10-foot setbacks for those hives, and allow beekeeping equipment as accessory structures.

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ACPS seeks former proposed arena space in Potomac Yard for school bus parking lot

By James Cullum

Published April 29, 2026 at 3:45PM

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

Alexandria City Public Schools is asking the city for permission to use a temporary parking lot in Potomac Yard — once part of the former arena proposal — for school buses this summer.

ACPS filed a special use permit application with the city asking to temporarily use a 45,000-square-foot lot for three months at 3331 Exchange Avenue in the Potomac Yard neighborhood. The property was pitched in 2023 as a new $2 billion home for the Washington Wizards and Capitals before losing support in Alexandria and fizzling out with lawmakers in Richmond.

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Office of Historic Alexandria proposes fee changes for museums and services

By James Cullum

Published April 28, 2026 at 11:15AM

The Alexandria Lyceum (staff photo by Airey)

The Office of Historic Alexandria is proposing a host of fee changes to offset the rising cost of running museums, maintaining historic sites and providing programming.

City Council will consider the proposal at its meeting Wednesday (April 29), the same night the city’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget will receive final approval.

News

City Council axes Sunday paid parking proposal, increases other parking fees

By James Cullum

Published April 23, 2026 at 2:15PM

Parking meter in Old Town (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Alexandria City Council torpedoed City Manager Jim Parajon’s plan for paid metered parking on Sundays, but balanced a $726,000 shortfall by raising parking meter fees from $1.75 to $2.75 and parking ticket fines from $40 to $55.

Last week, City Council directed Parajon to consider a number of alternatives to his Sunday parking plan. After deliberation, a majority of members endorsed Option E at Tuesday night’s add/delete work session, as the final touches are being put on the city’s $977 million Fiscal Year 2027 Budget. The move will generate $1.1 million in funding — covering an approximately $726,000 shortfall from removing the Sunday parking fee proposal and adding about $329,000 to the city’s general fund.

News

Alexandria School Board members push City Council for staggered term reforms

By James Cullum

Published April 20, 2026 at 12:15PM | Updated April 20, 2026 at 5:29PM

Alexandria School Board meeting in 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City School Board members are asking the public to help push for reforms to the nine-member board, including staggered elections, higher salaries and more.

The clock is ticking, School Board Members Ashley Simpson Baird and Kelly Carmichael Booz wrote in a recent blog post. The pair wrote that City Council must act this year by beginning a process to amend the City Charter — a change that would need to go to the Virginia General Assembly’s 2027 session for approval.