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Del Ray residents converge over Preservation Virginia’s ‘endangered’ designation

By James Cullum
Residents hear about Preservation Virginia's declaration of Del Ray in its annual list of endangered communities, May 18, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

About 50 people gathered in Del Ray early Thursday evening to decry increased development and to hear about a recent “endangered” designation within the neighborhood.

Preservation Virginia recently designated The Town of Potomac — once an independent and racist town and now a sub-neighborhood within Del Ray — in its annual list of endangered historic sites. The Town of Potomac was created in 1908 as a white-only community in Arlington County. It was annexed into the Alexandria in 1930, after which it “ceased to exist,” according to the city.

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Alexandria Black History Museum director to lead city’s new African American History division

By Vernon Miles
Audrey Davis, executive director of the Alexandria Black History Museum, speaks at the Walk the Walk 2020 event at Alexandria's African American Heritage Park, August 27, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Audrey Davis, executive director of the Alexandria Black History Museum (902 Wythe Street), has been tapped to lead the city’s new African American History division of the Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA).

Davis has been a leader in the city’s efforts to preserve Black history in Alexandria, starting as a part-time curator with the city in 1993. The city has made significant strides in recent years to better present the city’s Black history, from the opening of the Freedom House Museum to guided tours of the Parker-Gray neighborhood.

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Alexandria considers extension of public comment period for controversial zoning for housing plan

By James Cullum
What two additional stories looks like on a 45-foot-tall structure. (Via City of Alexandria)

After a request from the Del Ray Citizens Association, Alexandria is leaning toward extending a public comment period by two months after it releases its controversial zoning for housing plan later this year.

The massive plan would upend a number of zoning ordinances. One of them is a bonus height amendment that would incentivize developers to add affordable housing to projects in exchange for two additional stories of construction in areas where height limits are 45 feet or more.

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Alexandria City Council wants to incentivize locals and businesses to get private security cameras

By James Cullum
Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Personal security cameras, speed cameras in school zones, summer youth employment programs and eviction prevention funding are just a few of the final additions included in the fiscal year 2024 budget by the Alexandria City Council on Tuesday.

Council approved funding a $20,000 program to encourage businesses and homeowners with a “small incentive” to set up security cameras to deter crime, as well as increase their coordination with the Alexandria Police Department.

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Washington’s Birthday parade bleachers to become new athletic accessory for Alexandria

By Vernon Miles
Martha and George Washington (Brian Hilton) at the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 20, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A set of bleachers built for the 2023 George Washington Birthday Parade earlier this year could end up at an Alexandria athletic field.

At a City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 25, the city is scheduled to accept the donation of the bleachers from the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association.

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May 19 announced as opening date for Potomac Yard Metro station

By James Cullum
(Left to right) Alexandria Vice Mayor Amy Jackson, WMATA CEO Randy Clarke, Mayor Justin Wilson and City Council Member Canek Aguirre at a media tour of the Potomac Yard Metro Station on April 19, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

After more than a year of delays, the Potomac Yard Metro Station will open on Friday, May 19, Mayor Justin Wilson announced today.

Wilson made the announcement alongside Randy Clarke, general manager and CEO of the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority. He said that the city has been pushing to make the station a reality for more than a generation.

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Alexandria Police start rollout of body-worn camera program

By James Cullum

(Updated at 4:49 p.m.) The Alexandria Police Department officially rolled out its body-worn camera program today, with the goal of outfitting 30 officers per month.

Full deployment is expected by January, and officers will immediately begin using the cameras after eight hours of training.

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Del Ray residents want deferral of controversial zoning plan to desegregate Alexandria

By James Cullum
What two additional stories looks like on a 45-foot-tall structure. (Via City of Alexandria)

A controversial proposal to expand Alexandria’s housing availability is running into opposition in Del Ray.

The Del Ray Citizens Association (DRCA), on Wednesday, will vote on asking the city to extend the timeline for its Zoning For Housing/Housing For All initiative. City leaders say that the massive plan essentially desegregates Alexandria, and includes an incentive for developers to build affordable housing up to 70 feet in height in areas where height limits are 45 feet or more.

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Massive Montgomery Center redevelopment heads to City Council this month

By James Cullum
Bird's eye view of the Montgomery Center proposal (via City of Alexandria)

A massive plan to demolish the Montgomery Center in Old Town North unanimously passed through the Alexandria Planning Commission on Thursday night.

The two-acre project would demolish the 1970s-era shopping center and replace it with an eight-story 350,000-square-foot apartment building with 327 residential units, more than 25,000 square feet of retail and a 13,300-square-foot performance venue for up to 600 patrons.

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