city government | ALXnow

Morning Notes

Published November 19, 2019 at 8:00AM

Taking out the trash in Old Town (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Carpenter’s Shelter Getting Amazon Donation — “A nonprofit that is building a $2 million facility for the homeless in Old Town Alexandria says it has reached its fundraising goal after receiving $300,000 from Amazon, Inc… The donation from Amazon is the latest example of how the retail giant is trying to be a good corporate citizen in Northern Virginia.” [Washington Post, Patch]

Digital Plaudits for City — “Alexandria has been ranked the fourth top digital city of its size in the United States, according to the 2019 Digital Cities Survey… This is the 15th consecutive year Alexandria has been ranked in the top 10, including two years in first place.” [City of Alexandria]

News

City Council Could Open New Senior Housing Option in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published November 15, 2019 at 2:00PM

Alexandria could open up new zoning options in the city for “continuum of care” facilities that would offer local seniors a new option to age in place.

While elder care homes, group homes for the elderly, nursing homes and hospice care are all included in sections in the zoning code, staff said in a report that there’s no definition for senior facilities that offer a “range of care options from independent living to assisted living, with or without memory care services, within one facility.”

News

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published November 15, 2019 at 8:00AM

Residential Parking Permit Changes in the Works — “Changes to the city’s residential parking permit program are underway and both residents and businesses are concerned about what the proposed changes could mean… The most controversial change, which staff has since removed from its list of recommended changes, would have eliminated the three-hour parking option for non-permit holders in RPP districts.” [Alexandria Times]

Port City Brings Home Gold Medal — “Several Northern Virginia craft brewers brought home medals from the 2019 Great American Beer Festival, including two gold medals… Port City Brewing in Alexandria won a gold medal for its German Pilsner in the Kellerbier or Zwickelbier category.” [WTOP]

News

Public Citizens Sought for Vacant Boards and Commissions in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published November 14, 2019 at 10:35AM

A voter leaves City Hall after casting a callot (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

If you’ve ever wanted to get more involved in city governance, now is your chance.

There are several vacancies for boards in Alexandria. Many have certain requirements, like being a member of the Planning Commission or a representative of an impacted group, many groups also have public members who represent the community and are not required to be affiliated with any particular group.

News

Alexandria Invites Bids for Construction of Fiber Network

By Vernon Miles

Published November 12, 2019 at 3:15PM | Updated March 15, 2024 at 2:39PM

The City of Alexandria is inviting companies to bid for the construction of a municipal fiber network, putting the city one step closer to breaking the current monopolies on television and telephone services in Alexandria.

News

City Announces Housing Summit to Review Affordable Housing Progress

By Vernon Miles

Published November 12, 2019 at 11:45AM

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

Alexandria’s Office of Housing has announced the 2020 Housing Summit to examine the current status of affordable housing in the city.

The event is scheduled for Jan. 11 at the Lee Center (1108 Jefferson Street) from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. The main goal of the event is to review the progress of the 2013 Housing Master Plan.

News

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published November 8, 2019 at 8:10AM

Chicken Butcher Suit Costly for City — “The city of Alexandria has paid an outside law firm $49,573 so far to help it fight an ongoing lawsuit about a halal chicken butchery that’s scheduled to open in an industrial area of the city.” [Washingtonian]

Alexandria Winter Shelter Now Open — “The City’s Winter Shelter at 5701-D Duke St. will open today at 7pm, and transportation is available. Please share with anyone who needs a safe and warm place to stay.” [Twitter]

News

Decline in Alexandria Housing Supply Could Extend Past Amazon Dip

By Vernon Miles

Published November 7, 2019 at 3:20PM

For Sale sign (file photo)

There are nearly half as many homes available for sale in Alexandria as the year before, according to city officials.

A complicated mix of reasons is behind the decline, but one reason looms above others: Amazon.

News

With Amazon on the Horizon, City Begins Update to Arlandria and Del Ray Plans

By Vernon Miles

Published November 7, 2019 at 9:30AM

Del Ray North (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria is taking another look at the future of Arlandria and Del Ray and how those communities can weather the planned urbanization of the “National Landing” area.

This fall, the city is launching its community engagement for plans to update the 2005 Mount Vernon Avenue Business Plan and the 2003 Long-Term Vision and Action Plan for the Arlandria Neighborhood. The city cites the nearby arrival of Amazon, the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, and the North Potomac Yard Metro station as looming developments that could start to change the character of the residential and commercial communities to the west.

News

Alexandria’s Capital Bikeshare Plans Have a Flat Tire

By Vernon Miles

Published November 6, 2019 at 3:20PM

Matt Neumann with Capital Bikeshare checks bikes on King Street in Old Town Alexandria. (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

The Capital Bikeshare’s expansion in Alexandria has hit some serious snags that has resulted in at least a two-year delay in the arrival of new stations.

In 2017, the City of Alexandria approved 10 new Capital Bikeshare stations, which would have included a push into the West End and Potomac Yard. The plan was to install them in 2018, according to the Washington Post, but that didn’t happen. Then the city’s FY 2020-29 Capital Improvement Program cited summer 2019 as the proposed completion date, but that hasn’t happened either.

News

Democratic Control of Virginia Legislature Reignites Alexandria Self-Governance Questions

By Vernon Miles

Published November 6, 2019 at 9:30AM

Voting at Douglas MacArthur School (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

It’s an early Christmas for Alexandria leadership, with Democrats taking control of the Virginia legislature opening the door for efforts to assert local control of several key policy questions.

Virginia is a Dillon Rule state, which means that localities like Alexandria can only exercise powers expressly granted by the state. In practice, Mayor Justin Wilson said this leaves localities forced to seek approval from the state for basic city policy questions, particularly on fiscal issues. Under a Republican majority, Alexandria struggled to have many of its legislative priorities addressed.