city government | ALXnow

Inova Alexandria Hospital at Landmark breaks ground

Published September 30, 2024 at 5:15PM

Alexandria and Inova leaders break ground at Inova at Alexandria at Landmark, Sept. 30, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Inova Alexandria Hospital at Landmark broke ground today, marking a momentous occasion for the city’s West End.

When completed, the 1.1 million square-foot project at the former Landmark Mall (just off Interstate 395 at Duke Street) will include a 569,000 square-foot hospital center with 192 beds, a 111,000 square-foot cancer center, an 83,000 square-foot specialty care center and a retrofitted 550-space parking garage. A 1,488-space below-grade parking garage is also planned with at least 19 parking spaces set aside for electric vehicle charging.

News

Alexandria officially declared safe haven for LGBTQ+ community

By James Cullum

Published September 26, 2024 at 9:00AM

Pride flag (photo via Sophie emeny/Unsplash)

Alexandria is now a safe haven for the LGBTQ+ community.

City Council, on Tuesday night, unanimously approved Council Member Kirk McPike’s resolution directing the city attorney and city manager to take legal and other measures to curtail discriminatory efforts on the national, state and local levels from Republican politicians against LGBTQ+ residents.

News

Alexandria’s credit reaffirmed by AAA bond rating

By James Cullum

Published September 25, 2024 at 1:15PM

Security guard Destin Davis waves at City Hall at 301 King Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s credit is still good.

On Tuesday, the city announced that S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service reaffirmed its ‘AAA’ bond rating. The move means that Alexandria can get low-interest rates from bond investors to provide funding for expensive capital improvement projects.

News

4,800 tickets issued monthly by speed cameras in three Alexandria school zones

By James Cullum

Published September 25, 2024 at 9:00AM | Updated September 25, 2024 at 11:43AM

Speed cameras (via ACPS)

An average of 4,800 speeding tickets are being issued every month in three Alexandria school zones, and the city’s school system will soon look for locations for future speed cameras.

The data was presented at a joint City Council/School Board Committee meeting at City Hall on Monday (Sept. 23).

News

Alexandria Sheriff’s Office wants $10K hiring bonuses for 15 new deputies

By James Cullum

Published September 20, 2024 at 9:00AM

An Alexandria Sheriff's vehicle (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office is asking City Council for $150,000 to pay for the hiring bonuses of 15 new sworn deputies.

There’s a shortage of 22 sworn positions within ASO, and the office relies on retired deputies to fill in coverage gaps. City Council will review the proposal at its meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 24.

News

Fraud alert issued after users ‘targeted’ in Alexandria permit center scam

By James Cullum

Published September 19, 2024 at 4:05PM

The Alexandria Permit Center is located in the Redella S. “Del” Pepper Community Center at 4850 Mark Center Drive (via City of Alexandria)

The city issued a fraud alert yesterday after fake invoices were sent to customers using the Alexandria Permitting and Land Use System (APEX).

The city’s sent out an email on Wednesday (Sept. 18) stating that APEX users were being targeted. The city only allows permit applications through the system, and the city said that fake invoices are being mailed to customers.

News

Alexandria to be ‘safe haven’ for LGBTQ+ community in City Council resolution

By James Cullum

Published September 19, 2024 at 1:15PM | Updated September 19, 2024 at 1:44PM

The Alexandria City Council at it's March 12, 2024 meeting (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s City Council will vote next Tuesday night on making the city a safe haven for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning community.

The all-Democrat City Council will vote on a resolution to protect the LGBTQ+ community’s equal protection rights under the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment.

News

Tammy Mann announces departure as CEO of the Campagna Center

By James Cullum

Published September 18, 2024 at 1:20PM

Tammy Mann is stepping down as president and CEO of the Campagna Center (via Facebook)

After more than a decade at the helm, Tammy Mann is stepping down as president and CEO of Campagna Center.

Mann made the announcement in a press release this morning, and said that she will effectively leave the nonprofit on April 30, 2025.

News

Alexandria wants input for new 15-year housing master plan

By James Cullum

Published September 16, 2024 at 11:15AM

Sanse project (image via City of Alexandria/Housing Alexandria)

Alexandria is embarking this month on the creation of 15-year plan to tackle affordable housing issues. Once approved, the Housing 2040 Master Plan will give City Council and staff goals, strategies and direction on the city’s housing plans.

Housing affordability and zoning issues have been key issues in the upcoming City Council election on Nov. 5. Alexandria contended with a 62% decline in market-affordable rental units in the city between 2000 and 2021.

News

City Council asks staff to develop pilot to extend pedestrian zone to 200 block of King Street in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published September 12, 2024 at 10:55AM

The 200 block of King Street in Old Town, Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria city staff have been ordered to evaluate turning the 200 block of King Street into a pedestrian zone.

Mayor Justin Wilson and City Council Member John Taylor Chapman asked staff to create a pilot program to turn the 200 block of King Street into a pedestrian zone. The move would effectively eliminate cars from the main thoroughfare next door to City Hall’s Market Square (301 King Street) all the way down to the waterfront.

News

City Council to consider financing deal to keep Arlandria affordable housing project on track

By James Cullum

Published September 6, 2024 at 9:30AM

The Mount Vernon-Glebe Arlandria Project is located near the intersection of Mount Vernon Avenue and W. Glebe Road (via City of Alexandria)

City Council will soon consider a proposal to approve $10 million in bond financing to fund development of the massive Mount Vernon-Glebe Arlandria Project that city staff consider to be Alexandria’s “highest housing priority.”