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Poster lampooning Potomac Yard development calls on Washington Commanders to move to the area

By James Cullum
A new poster in Potomac Yard lampooning development by calling for the Washington Commanders football team to come to the area (courtesy photo)

Updated at 2:45 p.m. New posters are lampooning the recent announcement that the Washington Capitals and Wizards are moving to Potomac Yard by demanding one more thing — for the Washington Commanders to also move to the neighborhood.

“BUILD THE STADIUM COMPLEX,” headlines the five posters, which say, “We must act fast! This mega complex will be suitable for (football, basketball and hockey stick emojis) and T Swift concerts. The streets of Del Ray will become sanctuary for riotous celebrations of multiple championships. We must not lose out to suburban Maryland!! Let’s make our suburb great again!”

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Alexandria’s Smoot Lumber yard closing today after 200 years in business

By James Cullum
Ed King has worked at Smoot Lumber for 27 years and is being laid off (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated at 11:45 a.m.) After more than 200 years in business, Alexandria’s Smoot Lumber yard is shutting down today.

The Alexandria-area supplier of mouldings, doors and windows has been a staple for local builders since it was founded in 1822, and now its owner Builders FirstSource says that customers should visit its lumber yards in Manassas, Manassas Park, Springfield and in Waldorf, Maryland.

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Alexandria gets perfect score in equity index and reaffirmed AAA bond rating

By James Cullum
Dining in Old Town. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

All arguments aside, Alexandria’s equity standards and economic prospects have been declared sound.

Yesterday, the city announced that S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service reaffirmed Alexandria’s ‘AAA’ bond rating. The city has maintained the designation since 1992, and it equates to a good credit rating for the city to get low-interest rates from bond investors to provide funding for multiple projects.

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Alexandria homebuilder joins Canadian company, becomes 100th office in franchise

By James Cullum
Alair Northern Virginia & DC Partners (left to right) Matthew Bowe, Partner, Alair Hunt Country; Chad Hackmann, Regional Partner Alair Arlington; Matt Bieschke, Partner, Alair Alexandria (via Darcy Troutman Photography)

(Updated 11/16) An Alexandria homebuilder has joined a Canadian development company, and has become their 100th office in North America.

Matt Bieschke, Owner of Carbon Design Build, opened his business more than a decade ago in Alexandria. Last week, Alair announced that Bieschke agreed to join the Alair franchise as a partner, establishing Alair Alexandria. Alair was founded in 2007, and also owns Alair Arlington and Alair Hunt Country.

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ARHA seeks building height approvals for affordable apartment project in Old Town North

By James Cullum
Proposed massing for the Ladrey High-Rise (via ARHA)

The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority is asking the city to approve new height limits for its proposed redevelopment of Ladrey High Rise in Old Town North.

ARHA has plans to demolish the existing 11-story, 170-unit affordable apartment building at 300 Wythe Street, which houses seniors and residents with disabilities, as well as its former headquarters at 600 N. Fairfax Street.

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Alexandria’s polarizing Zoning For Housing plan unanimously endorsed by Planning Commission

By James Cullum
A packed house in Alexandria Council Chambers for the Planning Commission's vote on the controversial Zoning for Housing proposal, Nov. 1, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Planning Commission unanimously endorsed a sweeping overhaul of the city’s zoning ordinances on Wednesday night, giving City Council the green light to vote on it later this month.

There were more than 100 attendees and 51 speakers at the Planning Commission’s five hour public hearing, which ran after midnight. The speakers were a mixed bunch, with about half supporting the legislation and the other half opposing it.

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Multi-use apartment building proposed in 1970s-era office in Old Town North

By James Cullum
720 N. Fairfax Street in Old Town North (via Google Maps)

A makeover has been proposed for a 53-year-old office building in Old Town North.

The owners of the former home of the Alexandria Community Services Board at 720 North St. Asaph Street want the building converted into a 12-unit multifamily apartment building with ground floor commercial space.

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City leaders break ground on Arlandria massive affordable apartment complex

By James Cullum
Alexandria leaders break ground on Housing Alexandria's new massive affordable housing complex in Arlandria, Oct. 18, 2023 (Courtesy Housing Alexandria)

City leaders broke ground on Housing Alexandria‘s 474-unit affordable apartment complex in Arlandria on Wednesday, capping off the largest project of its kind in Alexandria history.

It will be 2026 by the time residents start moving into the two-building, 36,000 square-foot complex, Housing Alexandria said in a release. The buildings, named Sansé and Naja, will be located near the corner of W. Glebe Road and Mount Vernon Avenue. The property will include a large underground parking garage and 34,000 square feet of commercial space, which will include childcare and health care services, according to Housing Alexandria.

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NEW: HRP proposes designs inspired by iconic New York building for former power plant in Old Town North

By James Cullum
The large condo and retail building is proposed for Block B of the former GenOn Power Plant is proposed to resemble the iconic Flatiron Building in New York City (on right) (via City of Alexandria)

Buildings resembling New York City’s iconic Flatiron building are being proposed for the former home of the GenOn Power Plant in Old Town North.

Hilco Redevelopment Partners just released new renderings for 1.2 million square feet of mixed-use development.

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Construction on King Street intersection redesign kicking off next week

By Vernon Miles
Traffic near the George Washington Masonic Memorial during a storm (staff photo by James Cullum)

Work is finally getting underway next week on a complete overhaul of the busy King/Callahan/Russell intersection.

Work is expected to start the first week of October. Drivers going through the intersection could expect delays and limited access from 9 a.m.-6  p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday. Residents and commuters are warned to plan for potential delays.

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Alexandria leaders dismayed by developer’s baffling ‘WestEnd’ project name

By James Cullum
A rendering for Pavilion 2 on block N of the WestEnd Alexandria development (via City of Alexandria)

(Updated 9/27/23) Before unanimously voting on financing the massive WestEnd Alexandria project at the former Landmark Mall site, a majority of Alexandria City Council members said that they still dislike the name.

Council unanimously approved a number of proposals on the 52-acre development, which will be devoted to the new Alexandria Hospital, and a multi-block town center with apartment buildings, pavilions, restaurants, and rooftop open space.

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