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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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%.

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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).

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Officials break ground on 377-unit affordable apartment complex at Victory Center

By James Cullum

Published February 26, 2026 at 10:30AM | Updated February 26, 2026 at 7:45PM

The Victory Center at 5001 Eisenhower Avenue (staff photo by James Cullum)

Officials kicked off the residential conversion of the long-vacant Victory Center yesterday (Wednesday) with a symbolic wall demolition, as the site is expected to welcome hundreds of housing units along Eisenhower Avenue.

The project at 5001 Eisenhower Avenue by property owner Stonebridge, the City of Alexandria and Amazon’s Housing Fund promises to bring 377 housing units to the 9.73-acre Victory Center property, including committed affordable and workforce units.

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Developer proposes converting office complex into townhomes on Eisenhower Avenue

By James Cullum

Published February 25, 2026 at 12:15PM

Tri Pointe Homes wants to redevelop 4701 and 4801 Eisenhower into a residential development (via Google Maps)

A plan to convert a two-story office complex into a residential community with 37 townhomes on Eisenhower Avenue is headed to the Planning Commission in April.

D.C.-area homebuilder Tri Pointe Homes is asking for permission to convert property at 4701 and 4801 Eisenhower Avenue into a residential development with 80 back-to-back units and 24% ground-level open space. The proposal, considered “phase 2” of the existing Eisenhower Pointe housing development, is expected to go before the commission on Tuesday, April 7.

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Weekend Metro closures affecting Blue and Yellow Lines start tomorrow

By Katie Taranto

Published February 13, 2026 at 11:45AM

A train arrives at the Potomac Yard Metro station (staff photo by James Cullum)

Ten weekends of Metro closures between Pentagon City and Reagan National Airport start tomorrow (Saturday), affecting Blue and Yellow Line trains departing and entering Alexandria.

Metrorail service will be suspended between those stations for a three-day weekend between Feb. 14-16, with free shuttle buses connecting the stations. During impacted weekends, both lines are expected to operate in “two segments” outside the closed stations every 12 minutes.

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Braddock Road corridor bike and pedestrian improvements slated for city review this month

By James Cullum

Published February 11, 2026 at 11:45AM

Yates Corner at the intersection of Mount Vernon Avenue and Braddock Road (Staff photo by James Cullum)

A proposal for new bike lanes, enhancements to pedestrian crossings and shorter crossing distances at key intersections on Braddock Road are up for review this month by Alexandria’s Traffic and Parking Board.

A city-recommended design concept calls for several Braddock Road upgrades between Russell Road and West Street. The city has worked on the Braddock Road Trail Access and Corridor Improvements project since last year as a response to concerns from Alex311, the 2023 Safe Routes to School walk audit at George Washington Middle School and the Virginia Department of Transportation.

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Old Town property owner wants to convert boating supply store into powerlifting gym

By James Cullum

Published January 26, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated January 26, 2026 at 6:55PM

619 S. Patrick Street in Old Town (via Google Maps)

A 24-hour Scandanavian-inspired bodybuilding gym is being proposed to replace the West Marine boating supply store at 601 and 619 S. Patrick Street in Old Town.

Desiree Marvin, the owner of Valhalla Property Holding, LLC, is asking the city for permission to renovate the existing building and convert it into an “upscale bodybuilding gym” with personal trainers, an open-concept layout, heavy lifting equipment and cardio machines, according to an application.

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Townhome complex proposed on vacant lot near church in Seminary Hill

By James Cullum

Published January 23, 2026 at 2:45PM

N. Quaker Lane and Duke Street (via Google Maps)

A developer is proposing to construct 11 three-to-four-story townhomes on a vacant lot that is shared with a church in Seminary Hill.

Development company 614 Westbrad, LLC, wants to build 45-foot-tall three-story townhomes with roof-level lofts, terraces, and parking garages at 11 N. Quaker Lane, 21 N. Quaker Lane and 3369 Duke Street.