Justin Wilson | ALXnow

‘We’re back,’ Mayor declares as Alexandria tourism rebounds

Published October 4, 2023 at 3:45PM

Mayor Justin Wilson speaks (staff photo by James Cullum)

With Alexandria’s consumption tax revenues hitting an all-time high in fiscal year 2023, Mayor Justin Wilson says that the city has emerged from the economic spiral created by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.

The city’s consumption tax revenues (sales, meals and transient lodging) peaked at $81 million in fiscal year 2023, a 7% increase over the $76 million collected in FY 2022 and 23% more than the $66 million in FY 2019, according to figures presented at Visit Alexandria‘s annual meeting on Tuesday night.

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Mayor: Alexandria needs to make parking easier for in-home childcare workers

By Vernon Miles

Published October 2, 2023 at 11:00AM

Street parking on Main Line Boulevard in Potomac Yard (staff photo by James Cullum)

In-home childcare providers have, for years, faced a problem: many of them work in residential neighborhoods requiring Residential Parking Permits, leaving them with no good options for parking.

A zoning change working through city bureaucracy could make it easier for in-home childcare workers to secure parking in residential neighborhoods.

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Alexandria celebrates centenarians at City Hall

By James Cullum

Published September 13, 2023 at 1:30PM

Mayor Justin Wilson presents a certificate to an Alexandria centannarian, Sept. 12, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s Eve Capps says she’s more surprised than anyone that she’s lived this long. The 100-year-old was born in Sacramento, California, in 1923, and with an acute memory fondly recalls her childhood during the Great Depression.

“My father worked for the railroad, and we went from living in a big house to a shack,” Capps told ALXnow. “But I was just a little girl and I thought it was fun.”

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Alexandria and Arlington cut ribbon on new and improved West Glebe Road Bridge

By James Cullum

Published September 12, 2023 at 3:55PM

Arlington and Alexandria officials cut the ribbon at the West Glebe Road Bridge, Sept. 12, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria and Arlington officials celebrated the ribbon cutting for the renovated West Glebe Road bridge today.

The nearly 70-year-old bridge suffered severe deterioration over the years and fully closed last summer, and partially reopened in March.

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City sheds light on contentious Hammond Middle School light pole

By Vernon Miles

Published August 24, 2023 at 3:55PM

Light pole at Hammond Middle School, photo courtesy Mayor Justin Wilson

Despite an earlier error that saw a hole dug into a lane of the track, the city says a light pole at the Hammond Middle School field is exactly where it’s supposed to be.

Last week, Alexandria Living Magazine broke a story that new poles were blocking track lanes at Hammond Middle School. Jack Browand, division chief of Parks and Cultural Activities, said a mistake caused a hole to be dug onto the tracks, but said that damage has since been repaired and the current light pole is where it’s located in the approved plans.

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Alexandria cuts ribbon on new Douglas MacArthur Elementary School

By James Cullum

Published August 18, 2023 at 2:30PM

The ribbon cutting for Douglas MacArthur Elementary School at 1101 Janneys Lane (staff photo by James Cullum)

After years in development, Alexandria leaders and students cut a blue ribbon and toured the rebuilt Douglas MacArthur Elementary School today.

“It feels like I’m floating through the school and marveling at each and every new feature that has been brought from design to full construction,” Principal Penny Hairston said at the ribbon cutting. “The only thing that’s missing are all of our students, and they will be here soon to enjoy this modern and welcoming school building.”

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Douglas MacArthur Elementary School ribbon cutting is next Friday

By James Cullum

Published August 10, 2023 at 3:30PM | Updated August 11, 2023 at 2:44PM

A rendering of the completed Douglas MacArthur Elementary School at 4633 Taney Avenue (via Facebook)

(Updated 8/11) After years in development, City and Alexandria City Public Schools leaders will cut the ribbon of the refurbished Douglas MacArthur Elementary School next Friday (August 18).

The project took three years of planning and two years of construction, and the 154,000-square-foot school at 1101 Janneys Lane will open for the first day of classes on August 21.

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Torpedo Factory Art Center plans draw concern from resident artists

By James Cullum

Published August 2, 2023 at 3:30PM | Updated August 4, 2023 at 9:36AM

The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

City-approved plans for the future of the Torpedo Factory Art Center are drawing serious concern from resident artists.

The Torpedo Factory Artists Association (TFAA) says it’s hopeful the plan will work, but that the city’s vibrancy initiative threatens to reduce rental space available to artists.

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Alexandria Mayor says city needs to combat police attrition after recent shootings

By Vernon Miles

Published August 1, 2023 at 9:50AM

Saturday afternoon shooting in Braddock (photo via Alexandria Police Department)

After another pair of shootings last week, one that resulted in a death and one in a life-threatening injury, Mayor Justin Wilson said the multi-pronged response includes more police officers in Alexandria.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 28, 2023 at 3:30PM

The scene of a shooting on the 800 block of W. Glebe Road (staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s been a scorching week in Alexandria, punctuated by two major crime events.

Someone was shot multiple times in an alley several blocks east of the Braddock Metro station last Saturday, followed on Monday afternoon by the city’s fifth homicide this year — the fatal shooting of a 29-year-old man on W. Glebe Road in Arlandria.

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Mayor: Bailing out Metro’s budget shortfall will mean ‘pain all around’

By James Cullum

Published July 5, 2023 at 3:30PM | Updated July 6, 2023 at 2:17PM

King Street Metro at sunset (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The price of riding on the Metro might go up and so could your tax bill.

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson said that the region will experience collective pain by bailing out the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority from its projected $750 million budget deficit.