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City Council amends outreach policy for creating Business Improvement District in Old Town

By James Cullum
Enjoying the weather and outside seating on lower King Street in Old Town. (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council unanimously approved new outreach guidelines for the potential creation of a Business Improvement District (BIDs) in Old Town on Tuesday night.

Without buy-in from 60% of impacted property owners, previous efforts to get BIDs started in Old Town failed. Consequently, City Council on Tuesday night approved the amended rules stipulating that property owners will now be sent petitions via certified mail, and that their non-response within 30 days will be counted just as if they vote in opposition.

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Alexandria OK’s nearly $300K loan to Wesley Housing for dilapidated Arlandria properties

By James Cullum
Wesley Housing has acquired the six-building Parc Square Apartments in Arlandria (via Wesley Housing)

It’s been two years since Wesley Housing acquired the affordable Parc Square Apartments complex in Arlandria, and repairs have proved more extensive than anticipated.

On Tuesday night, City Council approved (without discussion) a $291,300 loan to the affordable housing community for the partial renovation of eight units in the five-building, 66-unit complex.

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PHOTOS: City leaders cut ribbon at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus

By James Cullum
Current and former Alexandria leaders at the ribbon cutting for Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus (staff photo by James Cullum)

After two years under construction, city leaders cut the ribbon today on Alexandria City High School’s new Minnie Howard Campus.

The $190 million project for the 343,000-square-foot, five-story satellite campus can hold up to 1,600 students — double the capacity of its 1950’s-era predecessor. The building will be home to six career and technical education academies, which administrators say will allow students to pursue their interests.

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POLL: How many dogs should be allowed to live in Alexandria households?

By James Cullum
Darth Vader walks his dog at the Del Ray Halloween Parade on Sunday, October 30, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

How many dogs should be allowed to live in Alexandria households?

Since 1995 it’s been illegal to own more than three dogs in Alexandria. The ordinance was passed with cat hoarding in mind, however, and the limit on cats as pets is remaining unchanged at four.

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Mayor proposes increasing number of dogs (and not cats) allowed in Alexandria households

By James Cullum
A dog takes the back seat in the Arlandria neighborhood of Alexandria. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Despite being one of the dog-friendliest cities in the country, it’s been illegal for Alexandria residents to own more than three dogs and four cats for decades. Now Mayor Justin Wilson is asking city staff to present a proposal that will increase the number of dogs allowed to live in a single household.

The limit on dog ownership goes back to 1995, but it was never about the dogs, Wilson said. The ordinance was approved by City Council to keep cat owners from hoarding feline companions.

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Goodwin House asking Alexandria for $65 million in tax-exempt bond financing

By James Cullum
Resident at Goodwin House, via Goodwin House/Facebook

City Council will consider signing off on issuing $65 million in tax-exempt bond financing to nonprofit senior communities in Alexandria and Falls Church.

The bonds for Goodwin Living were approved by the Industrial Development Authority of the City of Alexandria.

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Alexandria needs political diversity on City Council, says lone Republican candidate

By James Cullum
Republican City Council candidate Celianna Gunderson (courtesy photo)

Can Republican Celianna Gunderson shake up the Alexandria City Council with a win this November?

While she’s still learning the issues, Gunderson says that she would not have voted to approve a recent 2.5-cent tax increase.

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Alexandria’s Interim Fire Chief stops plan to replace fire engines with ambulances

By James Cullum

Alexandria Interim Fire Chief Jim Schwartz has put a departmental redeployment on hold that would have replaced fire engines with ambulances.

Former Alexandria Fire Department Chief Corey Smedley announced his AFD Forward plan in September. The plan would have replaced fire engines at Station 204 (900 Second Street) in Old Town North and Station 205 (1210 Cameron Street) in Rosemont. Using 2022 data, AFD found that 72% of their calls for service (out of more than 27,000 incidents) were medical and rescue-related, while just 15% were fire alarm and fire-related.

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New Alexandria survey asks residents how they handle extreme heat

By James Cullum
Playing at the sprayground at Potomac Yard Park (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria wants to know how residents beat the heat during the hottest months of the year.

The city is conducting a 30-question survey with George Mason University to “examine the impact of extreme heat on potentially vulnerable populations in urban areas,” according to a release.

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Massive penalty increase for zoning violations proposed in Alexandria

By James Cullum
The proposed penalty increase for zoning violations in Alexandria (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria residents and businesses are facing a large increase in financial penalties for zoning violations.

On Saturday, City Council will consider a recommendation by City Manager Jim Parajon and the Department of Planning and Zoning to increase violations by hundreds, and, in some cases thousands of dollars.

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