city government | ALXnow

Despite COVID-19 Contractor Impacts, Potomac Yard Metro Station on Track for Spring 2022 Opening

Published January 27, 2021 at 1:15PM

Alexandria is on schedule to see the Potomac Yard Metro station open in spring 2022, despite letters sent to the city from the contractor that work has been impacted by COVID-19.

“The contractor does continue to submit letters stating that there have been some impacts due to COVID-19,” Daphne Kott, the city’s Design Division Chief, reported to City Council on Tuesday night. “They have not made any formal requests for any time extensions, but again these are letters with potential delays and we’re just trying to be transparent that these are occurring.”

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City Council Endorses Police Review Board Option, Plan Going Out for Community Review

By James Cullum

Published January 20, 2021 at 4:45PM

The Alexandria City Council has chosen a hybrid approach as its preferred option for a Community Police Review Board. It’s a contentious move that, if approved next March, will allow independent civilian oversight over multiple aspects of the police department.

In a 4-3 vote last week, Council chose option “C” out of the four alternatives presented by staff. Each of the options will now be presented to the community in a two-month-long public feedback process that will ultimately lead to a council decision in March. The dissenting votes were cast by Mayor Justin Wilson, Councilwoman Amy Jackson and Councilwoman Del Pepper.

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Alexandria Sheriff Joins Outraged Chorus, City Council Defers Plan to Double Stormwater Utility Fees

By James Cullum

Published January 13, 2021 at 4:45PM | Updated January 13, 2021 at 5:02PM

Alexandria City Hall (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne joined his neighbors in criticizing City Council’s plan to double the stormwater utility fee, and asked at last night’s meeting that the matter be deferred to give the community more time.

Lawhorne, who lives in Del Ray, said that his home flooded multiple times last year and is frustrated with what he called a lack of progress to solve the problem. A number of heavy rainstorms in 2020 resulted in dangerous flooding situations, revealing a besieged stormwater management system that left many homes damaged throughout the city. There were more than 500 requests for service through the City’s 311 system due to extreme rain events this year, according to a city memo.

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Alexandria City Councilman Seifeldein Calls for Closure of Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center

By James Cullum

Published January 12, 2021 at 4:30PM

Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria City Councilman Mo Seifeldein wants the underutilized 60-year-old Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center to shut down.

Staff from the City of Alexandria, Arlington County and Falls Church will make recommendations over the next several months on how to proceed with the building at 200 S. Whiting Street in the West End, which houses youth with serious offenses and behavioral issues from the three jurisdictions.

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City Restarts Search for Expanded Broadband Opportunities

By Vernon Miles

Published January 11, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated January 11, 2021 at 10:48PM

With the pandemic forcing more daily activities like work and school to go virtual, Mayor Justin Wilson said the city is doubling down on efforts to provide broadband options for Alexandria residents.

Expanding internet options beyond Comcast has been a several-year project for the city that’s hit a few bumps in the road.

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Mayor: New Phase of Vaccine Opens to 1/4 of Virginians

By Vernon Miles

Published January 11, 2021 at 10:50AM

After receiving approval from the state, Mayor Justin Wilson announced on Twitter than Alexandria is moving into the next phase of vaccine distribution.

The new wave of distribution, listed as 1B, opens up the vaccine to several new essential professions. Healthcare workers were able to recieve the vaccine under phase 1A.

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Alexandria Launches Free COVID Testing Kiosks

By Vernon Miles

Published January 6, 2021 at 11:45AM | Updated January 6, 2021 at 4:11PM

(Updated 4:10 p.m.) As part of a continued effort to provide widespread COVID-19 testing, the City of Alexandria and Alexandria Health Department are launching a partnership with private testing company Curative to provide free COVID testing kiosks.

The city said the new kiosks will replace community testing the city has been engaging in since last July.

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BREAKING: Landmark Mall to be Redeveloped as Inova Medical Campus

By Vernon Miles

Published December 22, 2020 at 4:15PM

The City of Alexandria announced today that it has reached an agreement with Inova Health System and the Landmark Mall property owners to create a new hospital campus and mixed-use development at Landmark Mall.

The new campus would relocate the existing hospital on Seminary Hill and expand to over 2,000 healthcare workers. Construction could begin as soon as 2023 with the first parts of the campus coming online in 2025.

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Alexandria Announces One-Stop-Shop for Online Affordable Housing Assistance

By Vernon Miles

Published December 21, 2020 at 10:30AM

Andrew Adkins, an affordable housing neighborhood in Braddock (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Starting on New Year’s Day (Jan. 1) the City of Alexandria joining in the relaunching an online program aimed at helping locals get better access to housing support.

The new 2021 Northern Virginia Housing Expo will focus on offering workshops related to COVID-19 related housing issues, location options, where to buy or rent, improving credit scores, energy efficiency and more.

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New Oakville Triangle Plan Sails Through City Council Approval

By Vernon Miles

Published December 15, 2020 at 11:45AM

Proposed Inova facility in the Oakville Triangle (image via City of Alexandria)

New plans for the Oakville Triangle received an overwhelmingly positive reception from the City Council at the public hearing on Saturday and unanimous approval.

Plans for the Oakville Triangle include a new Inova HealthPlex and other land use changes. Plans presented to the City Council show dramatically scaled back retail and office space in the area compared to what was approved in 2015.

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Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 10, 2020 at 9:00AM

Waterfront Shipping Container Bar Starts to Take Shape — “On Monday morning, the shipping containers were moved from the barge to the pier for a portion of the restaurant.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

Drop Boxes Announced for Medication Disposal — “Unwanted medication can be dropped off at one of these 3 locations. Do not flush unwanted medications down the toilet or drain.” [Twitter]