development | ALXnow

Morning Notes

Published January 22, 2020 at 8:00AM

Seminary Road Saga Continues — Despite suggestions “that the Alexandria Fire Department had significant input into the Complete Streets Design Guidelines and whether to narrow Seminary Road, documents obtained by city residents under the Freedom of Information Act reveal this was not the case.” [Alexandria Times]

Sushi Restaurant Coming to ‘West Alex’ — “Sushi Jin Next Door, which opened its first restaurant in Silver Spring in 2006 and now has a second location in Woodbridge, is opening a third location in Alexandria, Virginia. The new location will be part of the West Alex mixed-use development at King Street and North Beauregard Street.” [WTOP]

News

Old Town Power Plant to be Broken Up into Three Lots

By Vernon Miles

Published January 9, 2020 at 10:30AM

GenOn Power Plant (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

The enormous power plant in North Old Town has been shut down for nearly a decade, but plans have finally emerged to break the property up into smaller parcels for redevelopment.

The Potomac River Generating Station, more commonly known around Alexandria by its former name GenOn — which still adorns the building’s signs — was decommissioned in 2012.

News

First Look at the New Automated Parking Garage Planned for Old Town

By Vernon Miles

Published January 6, 2020 at 2:15PM

Automated parking garage planned for Old Town (photo via City of Alexandria)

A new series of buildings, including a towering automated parking garage, could be replacing a parking lot just off King Street in Old Town.

The groundwork for the project was laid months ago when the city agreed to sell the lot at 116 S. Henry Street, in addition to another parking lot along King Street.

News

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published December 23, 2019 at 6:00AM

Financing for Wegmans Development — “The developers behind Carlyle Crossing, the Wegmans-anchored mixed-use development going up near the Eisenhower Avenue Metro station in Alexandria, have lined up $253 million in financing for the project. ” [Washington Business Journal]

Five-Year-Old Found Wandering in Cold — “Authorities in Alexandria say a young child who was found out in the cold early Friday will be reunited with her mother… The 5-year-old was found near a Taco Bell location at the intersection of South Van Dorn Street and Edsall Road before 4 a.m.” [Fox 5]

News

Southern Entrance Debate Resurfaces at Potomac Yard Metro Groundbreaking

By Vernon Miles

Published December 19, 2019 at 3:40PM

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam gestures while delivering remarks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Potomac Yard Metro Station in Alexandria (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 3:45 p.m.) After 20 years of planning, work has started on the Potomac Yard Metro station.

Officials past and present came together at 2 p.m. today (Thursday) at the future Potomac Yard Metro station, currently the parking lot of Regal Potomac Yard movie theater.

News

City Opens Future of Waterfront Property to Public Input

By Vernon Miles

Published December 17, 2019 at 10:45AM

Parking spaces at 2 King Street (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Alexandria is seeking public input for what to do with a prime piece of waterfront property currently occupied by eight parking spaces.

The lot at 2 King Street is currently owned by the City of Alexandria, a byproduct of its acquisition of the Old Dominion Boat Club building that was once across the street. But the city received an unsolicited proposal from the owner of the adjacent development to develop the property.

News

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published December 12, 2019 at 7:30AM

Bus Barn Set for Demolition — “Located at 600 N. Royal St., the former Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) bus garage, a.k.a. bus barn, has remained vacant since August 2014… Demolition of the bus barn is scheduled to begin on January 2, 2020. In its place, a mixed use apartment building will be built.” [Zebra]

Prominent Local Pastor Announces Sabbatical — “After 30 years of preaching more than 5,000 sermons, the Rev. Howard-John Wesley stood in front of his congregation on Dec. 1 and admitted he needed a break from the Lord’s work… Wesley, 47, has been pastor of the historic Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va., for the past 11 years, leading four services every weekend, averaging 4,500 in attendance and 50,000 viewers online.” [Washington Post]

News

Officials: ‘Snob Factor’ in City Zoning Makes Creating Affordable Housing in Eisenhower Harder

By Vernon Miles

Published December 5, 2019 at 11:45AM

The city is hoping to bring new affordable housing to the Eisenhower Valley, but some on the Planning Commission said the city is shooting itself in the foot with snobby development guidelines.

The plans to reshape Eisenhower — a topic that came up several times this week — went to the Planning Commission on Tuesday, Dec. 3. While the commission mostly praised the vision presented in the plans, Commissioner Mindy Lyle pointed out that efforts to create more affordable housing in the area are inadvertently hamstrung by the city’s own zoning and design practices.

News

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published December 4, 2019 at 8:15AM

Redevelopment Plan in North Old Town — “As the American Physical Therapy Association prepares for a move to Potomac Yard, its current headquarters in North Old Town Alexandria is now slated for a major mixed-use redevelopment.” [Washington Business Journal]

ACPS Teacher’s Harrowing Journey — “When Onelio Mencho-Aguilar was 13-years-old, he left his mother and siblings to embark on a treacherous journey through rural Guatemala to the U.S. alone… against the odds, he found a home here in Alexandria and with the support he found, he thrived. First as a student at T.C. Williams High School and now as a teacher at the International Academy where new arrivals to the U.S. are educated and supported.” [Alexandria City Public Schools]

News

What’s Ahead for the Eisenhower Valley?

By Vernon Miles

Published December 3, 2019 at 9:35AM

2010 Eisenhower Avenue (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

There are big things in store for Eisenhower Valley, and local leadership says the southwest Alexandria neighborhood is ready for its moment in the spotlight.

The city is in the middle of developing an update to its master plan for the Eisenhower Valley. Leadership from the Eisenhower Partnership — an organization that recently celebrated its 25th anniversary — spoke with ALXnow about how they see that plan taking shape.

News

Mai Thai in Old Town on the Chopping Block as City Mulls Future of Waterfront Property

By Vernon Miles

Published November 19, 2019 at 11:30AM

Mai Thai (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

The city-owned small parcel at 2 King Street — currently home to eight leased parking spaces — could have a big impact on the block at the end of King Street if the city approves a sale.

At the Waterfront Commission meeting this morning (Tuesday), staff said the city received an unsolicited offer for the lot in June from the current owners of the adjacent Fitzgerald Warehouse building. The City Council subsequently authorized staff to consider the sale and look into alternatives for the property.