environment | ALXnow

Power plant redeveloper breaks down the break down of the Old Town North industrial site

Published July 19, 2023 at 11:15AM

A cyclist along a path in Old Town North near the old power plant (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

As developer Hilco Redevelopment Partners (HRP) heads into the ambitious redevelopment of the GenOn Power Plant, the developer laid out some of their plans for the complex process of breaking the site apart.

Representatives of the developer spoke last week to the Alexandria Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) — full disclosure, this reporter is on the LEPC — about how the developers plans for abatement, remediation and deconstruction. The discussion was a follow-up to a previous LEPC meeting with Deputy Director for Infrastructure and Environmental Quality Bill Skrabak.

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Del Ray residents decry tree removal at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park

By James Cullum

Published June 22, 2023 at 3:30PM

Del Ray residents form a chain around a tree in Eugene Simpson Stadium Park in Del Ray, June 22, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A number of Del Ray residents locked arms around an oak tree slated for removal at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park in Del Ray on Wednesday, only days after City Council approved a plan to renovate the park.

Gisele McAuliffe, a 30-year Del Ray resident, says that the city’s approved plan to renovate the park will come at too great a cost — the removal of 40 trees. The age of the trees is in dispute, as the city says the oldest trees on the property were planted in the 1940s, while McAuliffe and her friends measured the trees and claim they are upward of 100 years old.

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Upcoming Mount Vernon Trail night-tour includes firefly and bat-watching

By Vernon Miles

Published June 21, 2023 at 1:15PM

A runner on the Mount Vernon Trail at sunset near Daingerfield Island (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail have done a lot of work on the eponymous trail, and now the group is offering a unique new way of experiencing it.

The group is hosting a “Fireflies and Bats Walk” on Saturday, June 24, from 8:45-9:45 p.m. The tour is free but attendees can get tickets and make an optional $10 donation online. The tour starts at 615 Slaters Lane.

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City Council endorses EPA regulations to rid ‘forever chemicals’ from Alexandria’s drinking water

By James Cullum

Published April 28, 2023 at 2:30PM

Tap water in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s drinking water has an “actionable” level of Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), and the City Council just endorsed a plan to help clean it up.

The long-lasting substances, also known as “forever chemicals,” are hard to break down and pollute Alexandria’s drinking water to an “actionable” degree, Mayor Justin Wilson wrote in a letter unanimously supported by Council. PFAS are proven to weaken immune response, increase cancer risk and liver damage, and pose a risk to pregnant women and their babies.

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NOVA Parks takes control of Winkler Botanical Preserve

By James Cullum

Published September 16, 2022 at 11:10AM

(Left to right) Randall Kell, chairman of the Winkler Botanical Preserve, Cate Magennis Wyatt, chair of NOVA Parks, Mayor Justin Wilson and interim ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt at the deed signing for the Winkler Botanical Preserve, Thursday, September 15, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Boosted by multi-million dollar endowment, ownership of the 45-acre Winkler Botanical Preserve (5400 Roanoke Avenue) was signed over to NOVA Parks on Thursday (September 15).

Mayor Justin Wilson was joined by members of City Council, interim Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt, City Manager Jim Parajon and city staff for the deed signing ceremony.

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NOVA Parks takes over a hidden gem in the Alexandria’s West End

By Vernon Miles

Published September 13, 2022 at 3:45PM

Winkler Botanical Preserve, via NOVA Parks/Facebook

The Winkler Botanical Preserve (5400 Roanoke Avenue) has been a tucked away, isolated enclave of natural beauty not far from the Mark Center, but with a new acquisition it could be thrust into the limelight.

Regional parks organization Northern Virginia Regional Parks Authority (NOVA Parks) announced today that it will take over ownership of the 44.6 acre nature preserve.

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Controversial stream projects return to city review this fall

By Vernon Miles

Published September 1, 2022 at 1:30PM

Taylor Run (Photo via City of Alexandria)

Over a year after City Council paused its controversial stream rehabilitation projects, the City of Alexandria is hosting community meetings next week to restart that process.

The City Council paused stream rehabilitation projects for Taylor Run and Strawberry Run after local civic and environmental activists argued the projects could end up damaging the quality of the streams they were trying to help. City staff reviewed the concerns and said many were unfounded, but the debate raised sufficient uncertainty that the City Council sent the projects back to the drawing board for review.

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Upcoming meeting to review Alexandria’s progress on combating climate change

By Vernon Miles

Published August 23, 2022 at 11:00AM

The City of Alexandria is hosting a community workshop this Saturday (Aug. 27) that will let locals weigh in on the city’s plans to fight climate change.

The meeting at the Durant Memorial Center (1605 Cameron Street) is the third and final meeting in a series that aims to review the city’s progress towards its goals of combatting climate change on a local level and plan future efforts.

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Alexandria waste facility complete pollution reduction overhaul

By Vernon Miles

Published August 8, 2022 at 11:00AM

The Covanta Waste-to-Energy Facility at 5301 Eisenhower Avenue. (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Covanta Waste-to-Energy facility at the west end of Eisenhower Avenue has recently completed an overhaul that should make it less of a polluter.

The facility serves 400,000 residents and businesses in Alexandria and Arlington, the city said in a release. It incinerates household waste and generates steam for electricity production.

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Environmental group protests Chase Bank and Wells Fargo with ‘die-ins’ at Old Town branches

By James Cullum

Published April 4, 2022 at 3:30PM | Updated April 4, 2022 at 3:57PM

A "die-in" outside Chase Bank at 106 N. Washington Street on Monday, April 4, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Chanting and holding signs, a local environmental group protested Chase Bank and Wells Fargo with ‘die-ins’ at their Old Town branches.

On Monday afternoon (April 4), more than a dozen protestors from the group TH!RD ACT-VA walked into both banks and chanted “What do we want? Climate change! What do we need? System change!” and delivered letters to local branch managers to forward to Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and Wells Fargo CEO Charles W. Scharf. The letters demand that the banks “divest from fossil fuels this year.”

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April in Alexandria: Easter egg hunts, musical performances and soul food

By James Cullum

Published April 4, 2022 at 11:05AM

The George Washington National Masonic Memorial in the springtime. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Spring gets into full swing in Alexandria this month, and there are dozens of events around the city to get you out of the house.

Visit Alexandria has compiled a list of events this month around town, including Easter egg hunts, book signings, a film screening and musical performances.