The owner of an iconic commercial building in the heart of Old Town wants to convert the second floor from commercial to residential space.
The special use permit (SUP) request is going before the Alexandria Planning Commission on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Building owner Jemals 628 Newco LLC wants to convert the 6,700-square-foot second floor of the building at 628 and 622 King Street into five studio and six one-bedroom apartments.
Without getting into specifics, Alexandria’s new Mayor Alyia Gaskins says that the city has to be intentional and take “big, bold swings at economic development.”
More than 80% of the city’s revenue comes from residential real estate taxes, versus about 19% from commercial properties. The issue was a major political conversation from council candidates leading up to the Democratic primary in June and general election last month.
The School Board approved the Alexandria City Public Schools fiscal year 2026-2035 Capital Improvement Budget on Thursday (Dec. 19), and plans currently call for millions in non-capacity projects next year.
The Board voted 8-0 with one abstention in approving Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt’s proposed $346 million CIP budget, which is $75 million (28%) more than what is currently approved by the city.
The Alexandria School Board on Thursday unanimously directed the superintendent to start a naming process for the athletic field complex at Alexandria High School’s Minnie Howard Campus, and to consider naming it in honor of former Mayor Kerry Donley.
The field complex is under construction until summer 2025. It includes a synthetic turf field for lacrosse, field hockey and soccer, as well as basketball and futsol courts, bleachers and a walking path.
After nearly three years of construction, Inova Health Center — Oakville will be unveiled in a ribbon cutting on Thursday (Oct. 31).
The $300 million Oakville Triangle project at the corner of Swann Avenue and Richmond Highway includes more than 1 million square feet of residential space dedicated to apartments and townhomes, the new 93,000-square-foot health center (400 Fannon Street) with a comprehensive emergency room and 55,000 square feet of retail.
Virginia Tech will open its Innovation Campus on the first day of classes on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
The school is still lining up speakers for the ribbon cutting in late February, and the exact date for that event hasn’t been lined up, according to Franki Fitterer, the campus director of communications and marketing.
The Alexandria School Board approved the “Option A – Open Heart” concept for the modernization of George Mason Elementary School.
While the Board voted 7-2 for Option A, it was a contentious vote that saw two abstentions from Members Jacinta Greene and Abdel Elnoubi, who both said that the Board and ACPS staff did not do their “due diligence” in finding the best options to replace the 85-year-old school. They are also both running for City Council in November.
Inova Alexandria Hospital at Landmark broke ground today, marking a momentous occasion for the city’s West End.
When completed, the 1.1 million square-foot project at the former Landmark Mall (just off Interstate 395 at Duke Street) will include a 569,000 square-foot hospital center with 192 beds, a 111,000 square-foot cancer center, an 83,000 square-foot specialty care center and a retrofitted 550-space parking garage. A 1,488-space below-grade parking garage is also planned with at least 19 parking spaces set aside for electric vehicle charging.
Alexandria’s credit is still good.
On Tuesday, the city announced that S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service reaffirmed its ‘AAA’ bond rating. The move means that Alexandria can get low-interest rates from bond investors to provide funding for expensive capital improvement projects.
City Council will soon consider a proposal to approve $10 million in bond financing to fund development of the massive Mount Vernon-Glebe Arlandria Project that city staff consider to be Alexandria’s “highest housing priority.”
Two developments that could further transform Alexandria’s Mark Center area will be unveiled next month.
The Beauregard Design Advisory Committee will get a first glimpse on Sept. 9 of the multi-use developments at 1900 N. Beauregard Street and 4880 Mark Center Drive. The meeting will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. at Patrick Henry Recreation Center (4653 Taney Avenue).
