city government | ALXnow

Facing financial decline, Alexandria releases new draft plan for economic growth

Published November 21, 2025 at 3:45PM

A 'Shop Local' sign in the 200 block of King Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Facing a decline in job growth, a struggling commercial real estate market and a climbing population, today (Friday) Alexandria released the draft of its first economic development strategy in nearly two decades.

The 63-page ALX Forward draft plan makes a number of recommends to reverse negative trends, including leveraging economic opportunities in Old Town North, Eisenhower East, the West End, and Potomac Yard; retaining local businesses and attracting high-growth industries like artificial intelligence firms; and strengthening support for the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

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Alexandria earns sixth consecutive ‘perfect score’ on LGBTQ+ equality index

By Katie Taranto

Published November 20, 2025 at 9:15AM | Updated November 20, 2025 at 1:20PM

Alexandria’s 8th Annual Pride Fair at Market Square on Saturday, June 28, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

For the sixth year in a row, Alexandria has received a “perfect score” from an annual evaluation of United States cities by a national LGBTQ+ rights nonprofit.

Alexandria earned a maximum score of 100 points on its Municipal Equality Index scorecard from the Human Rights Campaign, the city announced yesterday (Wednesday). The score accounts for factors like non-discrimination laws, protections for LGBTQ+ employees and fair enforcement of the law.

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Alexandria staff zero in on options to prevent displacement and preserve affordable housing

By Katie Taranto

Published November 18, 2025 at 3:45PM

As seen at the 204-unit affordable housing apartment complex Samuel Madden Homes, Nov. 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

City staff laid out numerous possible policies for preserving affordable housing in Alexandria and preventing tenant displacement at a meeting yesterday (Monday).

The city is seeking to update its 12-year-old Housing Master Plan with solutions to address needs over the next 15 years. In a virtual seminar on the Housing 2040 Master Plan, Housing Program Manager Tamara Jovovic and other staff members discussed dozens of possibilities based on input from stakeholders, literature reviews, public meetings and a survey of roughly 1,200 residents.

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New city assessment deems West End watersheds ‘vulnerable’ to flooding

By Katie Taranto

Published November 12, 2025 at 11:45AM

Holmes Run (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A new flooding assessment and map have identified watersheds in the West End as some of Alexandria’s most vulnerable flood zones.

Areas considered most at-risk of flooding include the Potomac waterfront, Four Mile Run and Hooffs Run — as well as new additions like Holmes Run, Cameron Run and Backlick Run, according to a map shared by Flood Resilience Plan (FRP) project leaders at a meeting Monday night.

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Alexandria plans budget cuts across all departments amid economic uncertainty

By James Cullum

Published November 3, 2025 at 3:45PM

The Alexandria City Council budget retreat, Nov. 1, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Faced with uncertainty from the government shutdown and federal layoffs, Alexandria City Manager Jim Parajon says the city is facing a relatively flat Fiscal Year 2027 budget.

Parajon is asking all city departments for a 1% budget cut and 1.5% in growth for Alexandria City Public Schools. During Saturday’s annual City Council budget retreat, he said the city is “not in a negative situation” — but rather, aiming to adjust its sails in turbulent economic times.

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Who is on the ballot and where to vote in Alexandria on Election Day tomorrow

By Katie Taranto

Published November 3, 2025 at 1:45PM

Voting at Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library in Alexandria's West End, Nov. 5, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Races for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and members of the House of Delegates are all on the ballot in Alexandria tomorrow.

The city’s voters are also poised to re-elect incumbent Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter and Sheriff Sean Casey, both of whom are running unopposed.

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Old Town North developments to be highlighted in annual walking tour

By James Cullum

Published October 30, 2025 at 10:00AM

Plans for Robinson Terminal North (via City of Alexandria)

An annual walking tour with Old Town North’s Urban Design Advisory Committee this month will highlight several new developments in the area.

During the walk on Wednesday, Nov. 12, city staff will provide participants with information on the mixed-use development project at Robinson Terminal North, redevelopment of the Montgomery Center and the Ladrey Apartments, among other developments.

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Alexandria to host open house on N. Columbus Street sewer project

By James Cullum

Published October 29, 2025 at 2:00PM

The 600 block of N. Columbus Street (via Google Maps)

Alexandria is hosting a pre-construction open house for the upcoming N. Columbus Street sanitary sewer project in Old Town West.

Construction on the $1 million project is expected to begin in December at the 600 block of N. Columbus Street and last until November 2026. City plans entail disconnecting the area’s sewer line from the combined sewer and connecting to a separated sewer line.

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Alexandria accepting public feedback on recreation programs until Saturday

By James Cullum

Published October 28, 2025 at 5:30PM

Tony 'Da Beast' Suggs (on right) teaches at Charles Houston Recreation Center, July 9, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria is asking for public feedback on its recreation programs.

A program interest survey is open to the public until Saturday, Nov. 1. It asks respondents about their recreational interests, their usage of city recreation centers and parks, and what offerings could be expanded or improved by the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities.

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Alexandria City Council hosting town hall Nov. 5

By James Cullum

Published October 23, 2025 at 4:45PM

The Nannie J. Lee Memorial Recreation Center at 1108 Jefferson Street in Old Town (via Google Maps)

The Alexandria City Council will host a town hall meeting on Nov. 5 (Wednesday) at the Nannie J. Lee Memorial Recreation Center (1108 Jefferson Street) in Old Town.

“Members of the Alexandria City Council will be present to speak about the issues impacting you and your family. You can also get the latest news on upcoming projects and initiatives in Alexandria,” the city said in a release.

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Alexandria City Council sets Nov. 1 budget retreat

By James Cullum

Published October 23, 2025 at 3:30PM

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

The Alexandria City Council will open its budget season with an annual retreat in the West End on Saturday, Nov. 1.

The meeting will be held in-person in the first-floor community conference room of the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive) from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Council will receive a revenue forecast, expenditure overview and a preliminary budget gap from city staff, as well as a presentation from Alexandria City Public Schools and other city departments.