development | ALXnow

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

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.”

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 11, 2025 at 3:45PM

Inova Alexandria Hospital at 4320 Seminary Road (staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s been a busy week in Alexandria! Here’s our recap of the most-read stories.

This week’s top story is on an Inova Alexandria Hospital employee getting fired after allegedly stealing a patient’s credit cards from a room at the hospital and using them at a nearby store.

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George Washington’s Mount Vernon mansion to fully reopen in December after year-long renovation

By James Cullum

Published July 9, 2025 at 1:45PM | Updated July 9, 2025 at 2:46PM

George Washington's Mount Vernon estate (via Facebook)

Visitors at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate will have to wait until this December to see the founding father’s fully renovated mansion.

Since January 2024, the mansion in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County has undergone a comprehensive renovation, leaving large sections unavailable for the public.

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Expired Landmark Overlook project in Alexandria’s West End gets three-year extension

By James Cullum

Published July 3, 2025 at 1:45PM

Landmark Overlook would transform the corner of South Wilkes Street and Stephenson Avenue into a mixed use property with hotels or office buildings, two-level stacked condominium units, apartments and retail. (Image via City of Alexandria)

The Alexandria City Council, this week, approved the three-year extension of an expired plan to build hundreds of residential units in Alexandria’s Landmark area.

The three-year development special use permit for the 8-acre Landmark Overlook project expired in February. Council initially approved the plan in 2022 by West End Development Associates to build 450 residential units in seven townhomes and two multifamily apartment buildings on the eight-acre site at 5901, 5951, and 5999 Stevenson Avenue and 2 South Whiting Street.

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Alexandria YMCA asks city to keep parking lot open amid Eugene Simpson Stadium Park redevelopment

By James Cullum

Published July 2, 2025 at 1:45PM | Updated July 2, 2025 at 5:38PM

Staff at the YMCA at 420 E. Monroe Avenue say that the redevelopment of the Eugene Simpson Stadium Park will impact the nonprofit (via Google Maps)

A sweeping redevelopment promises to bring fresh amenities and improved access to Eugene Simpson Stadium Park, but staff at the Alexandria YMCA say that the project will have a severe impact on the nonprofit.

Plans presented at a recent community meeting reveal that 53 city-owned parking spaces in front of the YMCA, located at 420 E. Monroe Avenue, have been designated as a construction area. The actual construction of the project, which was unanimously approved by the City Council in 2023, is scheduled to begin this month and is expected to be completed by September 2026, with a phased reopening of the park starting in August 2026.