construction | ALXnow

Virginia Theological Seminary to break ground on memorial honoring enslaved laborers

Published August 26, 2025 at 3:15PM

Virginia Theological Seminary (staff photo by James Cullum)

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held next month for the construction of a memorial recognizing slave laborers who built Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS).

Black slave laborers built the seminary in the early 19th century, and for the last five years, the VTS Reparations Program has awarded millions to direct descendants of those workers. At 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5, VTS will host a free gala at Coffield Refectory (3720 Bishop Walker Circle) celebrating the descendants with dinner, dancing, and a display of genealogical research compiled to date. The memorial groundbreaking ceremony will be held the following day, Sept. 6, at 12:30 p.m.

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Mixed-use development near Van Dorn Metro for sale

By James Cullum

Published August 22, 2025 at 12:15PM

An 11-story hotel, retail, townhomes and condos is being built at the former Vulcan Materials site at 701 S. Van Dorn Street (via Cohn Property Group)

The owner of the former Vulcan Materials property near the Van Dorn Metro station is looking to sell, as a new hotel, retail, hundreds of new homes, and a park are being built on the site.

Last year, the city approved a plan to redevelop the site into an 11-story, 256-room hotel with 4,500 square feet of retail space, 323 new townhomes and condos, and a 4.4-acre park. The development promised to be “the most vibrant, new residential development that this area has seen in several years,” according to marketing materials released by Maryland-based Cohn Property Group (CPG) and first reported by the Washington Business Journal.

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JBG Smith giving update on mixed-use project that adds 600+ new homes to Potomac Yard

By James Cullum

Published August 21, 2025 at 5:47PM | Updated August 22, 2025 at 6:08AM

Potomac Yard parcels under development by JBG Smith (via City of Alexandria)

Developer JBG Smith will soon discuss an updated proposal to build a mix of multifamily, townhome and committed affordable housing across from the Potomac Yard Metro station.

Next Wednesday (Aug. 27), the Potomac Yard Design Advisory Committee (PYDAC) will review updated plans for Landbays G and H (see rendering above),

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Alexandria seeks public input on school crosswalk upgrades by Aug. 29

By James Cullum

Published August 18, 2025 at 6:30PM

Proposed pedestrian improvements outside Charles Barrett Elementary School and George Washington Middle School (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria is asking for public feedback on plans to upgrade crosswalks near schools in Arlandria and Del Ray.

The city’s Crossing Improvements Phase II would transform the sidewalks around Charles Barrett Elementary School (1115 Martha Custis Drive) and George Washington Middle School (1005 Mount Vernon Avenue). The deadline to submit feedback on the plans is Friday, Aug. 29.

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Skill games crackdown, dating fraud death lead week’s top Alexandria stories

By James Cullum

Published August 15, 2025 at 3:30PM

Skill games at Tiger Mart & Bakery, 3903 Mount Vernon Avenue in the city's Arlandria neighborhood (staff photo by James Cullum)

Welcome to Friday, Alexandria! Here’s our recap of the most-read stories.

Our top story this week is on two Alexandria business owners charged with possession of an illegal gambling device for operating skill games. The news marks the first indictments against Alexandria business owners for the devices. Dozens of skill game machines operate at multiple convenience and grocery stores in the West End and Arlandria neighborhoods, despite police hand-delivering warning letters to more than a dozen offending businesses. Skill games were outlawed as illegal gaming by the Virginia legislature in 2020, and Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter told ALXnow that his office is assessing “all potential investigative leads.”

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Virginia Tech seeks approval for accessibility upgrades at Old Town architecture center

By James Cullum

Published August 11, 2025 at 4:30PM

Virginia Tech's Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center at 1001 Prince Street in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)

Virginia Tech plans to renovate its Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center in Old Town to improve accessibility with a new elevator, sprinkler system, and handicapped-accessible ramp, according to a request going before the Board of Architectural Review on Wednesday, Sept. 3.

The building at 1001 Prince Street was loaned to Virginia Tech by Alexandria in 1980, and the school bought it in 1989, according to city records.

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Old Town office building plans entry, plaza renovations

By James Cullum

Published August 11, 2025 at 3:30PM

Renovations are planned for the rear courtyard and front vestibule (on right) at 100 N. Pitt Street in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)

A quiet off-the-beaten-path area just off King Street in Old Town is getting an upgrade.

Simpson Development Company recently filed plans from Louis Barbieri, Cole & Denny Architects to renovate the entry vestibule at 100 N. Pitt Street and the small, rear plaza adjacent to 115. N. St. Asaph Street in Old Town. The request for alterations and signage will be presented to the city’s Board of Architectural Review on Wednesday, September 3.

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Developer proposes 30+ townhomes to replace office building in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published August 11, 2025 at 12:30PM

Proposed townhomes at 333 N. Fairfax Street in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)

More than 30 four-story townhouses have been proposed to replace a 46-year-old office building in Old Town.

Alexandria land-use attorney Ken Wire is listed as the applicant for the project at 333 N. Fairfax St. The property is home to the Essex Building, an office building constructed in 1979.

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Developer seeks approval for 3-story mixed-use Old Town building

By James Cullum

Published August 11, 2025 at 11:30AM

The view looking northeast in a rendering of a three-level mixed use apartment building at 220-224 S. Peyton Street (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria developer Windmill Hill is seeking the city’s approval for a three-story apartment building with ground-level retail in a parking lot in Old Town.

The developer has submitted a concept review for a new building at 220-224 S. Peyton St. for evaluation by the Board of Architectural Review on Wednesday.

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Four Mile Run Kayak Launch opening delayed to mid-September

By James Cullum

Published July 18, 2025 at 3:20PM

The Four Mile Run Kayak Launch is scheduled for completion in July 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The opening date of the Four Mile Run Kayak Launch has been pushed back two months, according to the city.

Alexandria listed July 19 (Saturday) as the completion date, although weather conditions over the summer and “recurring tidal inundations” have pushed that date to mid-September, according to the city.

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Petition launched against pump station construction at Waterfront Park

By James Cullum

Published July 18, 2025 at 2:30PM

Rendering of the pump station at Waterfront Park in Old Town at night, seen here looking east down Prince Street (via City of Alexandria)

A new petition has been launched against part of Alexandria’s plan to combat flooding in Old Town.

The Change.org petition opposing the installation of a two-story pump station at Waterfront Park to recirculate floodwaters back to the Potomac River has garnered 275 signatures so far. The organizer wrote in the petition that the pump station “is destructive, unnecessary, wasteful, and in violation of public trust.”