construction | ALXnow

City hosting pre-construction meeting for median project on Route 1 in Old Town

Published May 8, 2026 at 9:45AM

Blueprint of the S. Patrick Street Median Improvement Project in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria will host a pre-construction meeting on Monday (May 11) ahead of several months of planned construction on a section of Route 1 in Old Town.

The city says that its South Patrick Street Median Improvement Project will “improve pedestrian safety and improve connectivity between the Southwest Quadrant neighborhood and Old Town Alexandria east of South Patrick Street (US Route 1).” The project, totaling nearly $4.3 million, is expected to break ground on June 1 and wrap up in late January 2027, according to a meeting description.

News

Developer wants to keep pump house at former power plant site in Old Town North

By James Cullum

Published May 5, 2026 at 3:45PM

View from the proposed pump house roof deck at the former PRGS site in Old Town North (via HRP Group)

HRP Group wants to keep the pump house at the former coal-fired Potomac River Generating Station property in Old Town North, representatives said during meeting last night (Monday).

The developer rolled out the plan for Blocks B and C of the sprawling project in an hour-and-a-half-long Zoom meeting. The development is spread across six blocks, and entails the full deconstruction of the former power plant, replacing it with more than 10 acres of public open space, as well as mixed-use apartment and retail buildings.

News

City Council to hold public hearings on Sunday parking fees, more budget decisions

By James Cullum

Published April 17, 2026 at 3:45PM

An Alexandria parking enforcement vehicle (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Council has a full docket at its upcoming meeting Saturday as final budgetary decisions approach.

City Council will conduct a number of public hearings, including setting the real estate and personal property tax rates for the next fiscal year, additions and deletions to City Manager Jim Parajon’s proposed $977 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget, an increase to the stormwater utility fee, new parking fees and the addition of paid metered parking on Sundays.

News

VRE to host info session on May weekend construction at Alexandria Union Station

By Katie Taranto

Published April 14, 2026 at 3:45PM

Alexandria Union Station sign (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Construction is coming to Alexandria Union Station during multiple weekends next month, prompting some single-block road closures.

During three weekends in May, the Virginia Railway Express will be directing improvements at Alexandria Union Station and working to replace the King & Commonwealth bridges. The projects at 110 Callahan Drive will result in some “limited weekend work” and single-block road closures, VRE said in an announcement.

News

Community meeting lined up for power plant site’s mixed-use plan in Old Town North

By James Cullum

Published April 14, 2026 at 1:45PM

The overall view of Block B looking west along the Potomac River, at the former Potomac River Generating Station (via City of Alexandria)

The owner of the dilapidated former Potomac River Generating Station in Old Town is hosting a community meeting next month on mixed-use redevelopment plans for part of the site.

HRP Group‘s virtual community meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, May 4 from 6-7 p.m. Under discussion will be the special use permits for Block B and Block C (both submitted in July 2025), as well as open space along the waterfront and Norfolk Southern rail corridor.

Around Town

McDonald’s closes Van Dorn Street location to build second drive-thru lane

By James Cullum

Published April 9, 2026 at 2:45PM

McDonald's at 505 S. Van Dorn Street closed for repairs on April 7, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The McDonald’s at 505 S. Van Dorn Street in the Landmark/Van Dorn corridor closed this week to build a second drive-thru lane.

The second drive-thru lane was approved unanimously by the Planning Commission and City Council last year and will replace an existing loading area, which will be moved to the front of the building, according to a presentation from McDonald’s.

News

Alexandria asks NVTA for nearly $37M to fund transportation projects

By James Cullum

Published April 2, 2026 at 1:45PM

Traffic backup heading eastbound along Duke Street (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria is seeking more than $36 million to fund two transportation projects as part of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority‘s six-year program.

The total funding amount in NVTA’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026-2031 Six Year Program is $1.265 billion. Alexandria’s share includes $15 million for bus rapid transit improvements in the second phase of the Duke Street Transitway, and $21.86 million for pedestrian and bicycle improvements at Eisenhower Avenue and S. Van Dorn Street. NVTA adopts its six-year program every two years, allocating regional tax revenues to multimodal transportation projects.

News

JUST IN: WMATA pitches Braddock Road Metro changes to allow for potential development

By James Cullum

Published March 23, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated March 23, 2026 at 3:58PM

Braddock Road Metro station proposal (via WMATA)

Big changes are being proposed for the Braddock Road Metro station that could pave the way for mixed-use development.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced today (Monday) that it will hold a public hearing next month on a proposal to demolish the kiss-and-ride area in front of the Braddock Road Metro station, replace it with a new plaza and redirect the bus loop. The kiss-and-ride lot would be replaced with short-term pick-up and drop-off parking spaces on Braddock Road adjacent to the station.

News

Townhouse development pitched on vacant lot, barbershop site in Parker-Gray

By James Cullum

Published March 18, 2026 at 2:45PM

Rendering of new development proposed for 724, 726 and 728 N. Patrick Street in the Parker-Gray District (via City of Alexandria)

A proposed conversion of a vacant lot and a one-story barbershop in the Parker-Gray Historic District into five four-story townhomes is headed to city review.

Eric Bernstein and Kirby Holdings are proposing to build the homes at 724, 726 and 728 N. Patrick Street, located at the intersection with Madison Street. The Alexandria Board of Architectural Review will conduct a public hearing on the concept review proposal at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, at Charles Houston Recreation Center, which is directly across the street from the site.

News

Alexandria residents fuel 3.4% rise in tax base, new assessments show

By James Cullum

Published February 27, 2026 at 12:15PM | Updated February 27, 2026 at 12:36PM

A street lined with American flags in Old Town, Alexandria. (staff photo by James Cullum)

The gap between Alexandria’s residential and commercial tax bases continues to grow, with residents shouldering more of the city’s tax burden, according to the city’s released real estate tax assessments.

As of Jan. 1, Alexandria’s overall tax base increased by 3.4% in value, or nearly $1.7 billion, to reach $51.4 billion in 2026. The city’s residential tax base increased by 4.4% in value, or $1.4 billion, while the commercial tax base gained $334.8 million in value, up 1.9%, and the non-locally assessed tax base declined by $20.5 million, dropping 2.8%.

News

Nonprofit requests extension for 91-unit affordable housing redevelopment in Arlandria

By James Cullum

Published February 26, 2026 at 3:31PM | Updated February 27, 2026 at 12:21PM

Elbert Avenue Apartments (via Google Maps)

Housing nonprofit Community Lodgings, Inc. (CLI) is asking for an extension to redevelop an existing 28-unit affordable apartment building in the Arlandria neighborhood with more housing.

CLI is planning to construct a six-story, 91-unit affordable apartment building at 3908 Elbert Avenue, more-than tripling the amount of units the property currently has. The nonprofit, which received approval for the project in February 2023, previously said in its application that it wouldn’t have been able to break ground before the expiration of its development special use permit, which passed yesterday (Wednesday).