construction | ALXnow

Thieves target Inova at Landmark construction site for copper wire

Published October 8, 2026 at 2:45PM

Inova Alexandria Hospital at Landmark, April 13, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Police Department is investigating the theft of copper and security wire from the Inova Alexandria Hospital at Landmark construction site.

No arrests have been made, but around 4:15 p.m. on Aug. 30, the senior superintendent of Clark Construction reported a burglary to APD. Just 10 minutes before, at 4:05 p.m., surveillance footage showed a white U-Haul cargo van drive into the construction site and two male suspects enter one of the hospital buildings under construction, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

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Years in the making, new Del Ray spray park is now open

By James Cullum

Published September 10, 2026 at 12:15PM

The Colasanto Interactive Fountain at 2700 Mount Vernon Avenue (staff photo by James Cullum)

The long-awaited Del Ray Gateway/Colasanto Interactive Fountain opened today (Sept. 10) at 2700 Mount Vernon Avenue, according to the city.

“The Colasanto Spray Park project is complete and is open for community enjoyment,” the city said on the project webpage. “The final utility connections were completed in late August.”

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Alexandria looks to relieve businesses hurt by City Hall and Market Square renovation

By James Cullum

Published September 9, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated September 9, 2026 at 4:53PM

City Hall renovations (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria is looking for ways to relieve businesses from the years-long renovation impacts of City Hall and Market Square in Old Town.

With parking temporarily halted on the streets next to the property at 301 King Street, sidewalks closed and the sound of continual construction, businesses in a one-block radius of the building are feeling the effects.

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Parker-Gray garage conversion to three-story townhome heads to City Council

By James Cullum

Published September 3, 2026 at 2:45PM

911 B and C Pendleton Street highlighted in red in the Parker-Gray Historic District (via City of Alexandria)

A small property in the Parker-Gray Historic District used as a storage and garage space could soon be converted into a new townhome.

The owner of 911 B and C Pendleton Street is asking the city to approve converting the 1,445-square-foot property into a 35-foot-tall, three-story townhome with a rooftop garden.

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Alexandria officials mark major milestone in George Mason Elementary reconstruction

By Emily Leayman

Published September 3, 2026 at 9:15AM

Topping out at George Mason Elementary School (via ACPS/Facebook)

Alexandria officials gathered yesterday (Sept. 2) to mark the topping out of the reconstructed George Mason Elementary School, the latest of Alexandria City Public Schools’ modernization projects.

Monday’s topping out ceremony represented the installation of the final structural steel beam on the school. The school at 2601 Cameron Mills Road in the North Ridge neighborhood is being rebuilt to address capacity needs and replace an aging facility, according to ACPS. Built in 1939, the school was renovated before in 1949 and 1977.

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Property owner wants to build six townhouses in Old Town bank parking lot

By James Cullum

Published August 24, 2026 at 2:45PM

The parking lot of 330 N. Washington Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

The owner of an Old Town office building is asking the city for permission to modify its parking lot to make space for six three-story townhomes.

Merion Group, the owner of 330 N. Washington Street, will present plans to the Board of Architectural Review on Wednesday, Sept. 16. The building is home to a Wells Fargo bank, and Merion Group wants to eliminate two of the three drive-thru banking aisles to make way for six three-story townhomes with rear-loading parking garages and rooftop terraces.

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Long-awaited splash pad to open in Del Ray in early September, city says

By James Cullum

Published August 20, 2026 at 3:45PM

The Colasanto Interactive Fountain at 2700 Mount Vernon Avenue (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria intends to open a long-awaited spray park in Del Ray early next month.

The Del Ray Gateway/Colasanto Interactive Fountain will open the week of Sept. 7, with operations continuing through October, the city told ALXnow in an email. The park is located at the triangle-shaped park at the corners of Mount Vernon and Commonwealth Avenues.

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Van Metre buys land for 110 townhomes at Alexandria’s WestEnd development

By James Cullum

Published August 18, 2026 at 2:45PM

A rendering of the 110-Townhome development at 5801 Duke Street in the WestEnd development (via Van Metre Homes)

Fairfax-based Van Metre Companies announced today (Aug. 18) the acquisition of a 110-townhome development site at Alexandria’s sprawling WestEnd development.

Van Metre bought the property last month for an undisclosed amount. On blocks L and M of the development at 5801 Duke Street, the three-level townhomes will feature front and rear terraces with private parking garages.

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Sidewalk closure for City Hall renovation project extended through rest of July

By Emily Leayman

Published July 10, 2026 at 12:30PM

Construction progress at City Hall and Market Square, June 25, 2026 (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Pedestrians will have to keep taking a detour when walking around Alexandria City Hall and Market Square.

The city government extended the north sidewalk closure in front of City Hall along King Street between N. Royal and N. Fairfax Streets through July 31. The sidewalk has been closed since June 15 for City Hall and Market Square renovations.

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Ribbon cut on Alexandria’s massive RiverRenew sewer system overhaul

By James Cullum

Published July 1, 2026 at 11:45AM

The RiverRenew ribbon cutting on July 1, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria leaders cut the ribbon today (Wednesday) on RiverRenew, the city’s largest infrastructure project in history.

The project replaces Old Town’s 19th-century combined sewer system with a 12-foot-wide, two-mile-long waterfront tunnel system and sewer infrastructure to divert approximately 120 million gallons of raw sewage from flowing into the Potomac River every year.

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King Street closure for VRE work at Alexandria Union Station to begin tomorrow

By Emily Leayman

Published June 17, 2026 at 9:15AM

At Alexandria Station in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

A road closure and pedestrian detour for a Virginia Railway Express rail project around Alexandria Union Station (110 Callahan Drive) will resume starting tomorrow (Thursday).

King Street will be closed between Russell Road and Daingerfield Road starting 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18 until around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 24. Commonwealth Avenue will remain open with an alternating single lane directed by flaggers. Sunset Drive will remain open. A detour is available via Callahan Drive, Duke Street and Diagonal Road.