Mayor Alyia Gaskins | ALXnow

AlexWest Small Area Plan wins top award

Published June 30, 2025 at 3:15PM

Traffic backup heading eastbound along Duke Street (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria’s plan for the development of its West End just won a top award from the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA).

After years of discussion, the City Council adopted the AlexWest Small Area Plan last December. With the massive WestEnd mixed use development working to unveil several new buildings, and Inova at Landmark poised to open in 2028, the plan recommends significant expansion of Dora Kelley Nature Park, a new public park adjacent to the Winkler Botanical Preserve, and a new park at the corner of Seminary Road and N. Beauregard Street.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published June 27, 2025 at 2:30PM

National Science Foundation at 2415 Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria's Carlyle neighborhood (via NSF)

It’s been another fast week in Alexandria! Here’s our recap of the most-read stories over the last several days.

Our Tuesday (June 24) story on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development taking over the National Science Foundation’s headquarters (2415 Eisenhower Avenue) garnered more than 125,000 views, making it the most-read story of the year. While bringing in more than 2,700 HUD workers, the move will also displace about 1,800 NSF employees over the next two years.

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PHOTOS: Thousands attend No Kings Rally in Old Town, Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published June 14, 2025 at 10:21PM | Updated June 15, 2025 at 5:53AM

The No Kings Rally at Market Square in Old Town, June 14, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria leaders railed against the Trump administration at Alexandria’s Market Square on Saturday, just across the Potomac River from the military parade celebrating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, which also coincides with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.

Alexandria’s No Kings Rally was attended by thousands. The rally also comes as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is reportedly preparing to deploy tactical units to Northern Virginia and four major cities across the country.

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ARHA asks city to back loan for ‘Silver Fox’ senior housing complex

By James Cullum

Published June 11, 2025 at 7:45PM

Erik C. Johnson, former CEO of ARHA, asks City Council to back the Silver Fox plan, June 10, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council has mixed feelings about serving as a cosigner for the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s plan to keep its senior residents in the city.

Faced with a $40 million budget shortfall, ARHA abandoned plans to replace the aging 11-story, 170-unit Ladrey Senior High-Rise with a six-to-seven-story 270-unit L-shaped building. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development subsequently ended its operating support for building management and maintenance, issuing vouchers for the relocation of Ladrey’s residents by the end of the year.

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Alexandria asks VDOT to delay adding express lanes to Woodrow Wilson Bridge

By James Cullum

Published June 9, 2025 at 3:48PM

The Virginia Department of Transportation's 495 Southside Study extends from the Springfield Interchange to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (via VDOT)

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins and city staff are asking that the Virginia Department of Transportation delay approval of a preferred alternative on a plan to add express lanes from the Springfield Interchange across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.

In an April letter to VDOT, Gaskins wrote that the project will bring “Alexandria substantial consequences” to our local neighborhoods, and asked that an alternative not be chosen until a noise, traffic, and air safety analysis is conducted. VDOT and the Commonwealth Transportation Board, in the meantime, have set a timeline for the project.

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‘I will punch back’ against Trump administration, Stoney says in Alexandria as Dem primary nears

By James Cullum

Published June 7, 2025 at 5:46PM | Updated June 18, 2025 at 6:05AM

Levar Stoney, one of six candidates running for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor on June 17, speaks at a meet-and-greet in Old Town, June 7, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

With only 10 days left until the June 17 Democratic primary, former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney stopped in Alexandria Saturday afternoon for a meet-and-greet with some of his most influential Northern Virginia supporters.

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Ask The Mayor: Mayor Alyia Gaskins joins ALXnow for a one-on-one conversation on June 9

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 2, 2025 at 10:00PM

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins will join ALXnow for a live one-on-one virtual video conversation on Monday, June 9, at 4 p.m.

Our “Ask The Mayor” series provides Alexandria residents with regular opportunities to hear directly from Mayor Gaskins on pressing city issues and to submit their questions for consideration.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published May 30, 2025 at 3:30PM | Updated May 31, 2025 at 12:49AM

Alexandria City High School's graduation at George Mason University's EagleBank Arena, May 28, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

What a week we just had in Alexandria!

Here’s our recap of everything worth talking and reading about over the past week in the Port City. This week, Alexandria was named a Sanctuary Jurisdiction by the Trump administration, a distinction Mayor Alyia Gaskins said “wrongly targets and mischaracterizes Alexandria and dismisses core principles that make up the foundation of our democracy.”

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Mayor Gaskins: Economic development is ‘critical path’ to potential tax relief in Alexandria

By Ryan Belmore

Published May 21, 2025 at 1:30PM

Mayor Alyia Gaskins in conversation with ALXnow on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (via YouTube)

Mayor Alyia Gaskins identified economic development as the critical path to potential future tax relief for Alexandria residents, emphasizing that significant commercial growth is necessary to balance the city’s predominantly residential tax base.

“If we are looking to one day get to a state where we’re able to reduce taxes, then that is directly tied to our big swings around economic development,” Gaskins said during a one-on-one Ask The Mayor conversation with ALXnow Publisher Ryan Belmore on Wednesday (May 21)

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Alexandria celebrates 30 graduates from its Spring 2025 City Academy program

By Ryan Belmore

Published May 13, 2025 at 8:30PM

City Council Honors Latest Alexandria Academy Graduates (Staff Photo by Ryan Belmore)

Alexandria City Council celebrated 30 graduates from its Spring 2025 City Academy program at its Legislative Meeting on Tuesday (May 13).

Councilor John Taylor Chapman presented a proclamation honoring the graduates who completed a seven-week course. The program gives participants hands-on experience with city services and staff.

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City Council recognizes Emergency Medical Services Week, honors Alexandria’s EMS heroes

By Ryan Belmore

Published May 13, 2025 at 8:00PM

City Council Recognizes Alexandria's EMS Heroes with Official Proclamation (Staff photo by Ryan Belmore)

Alexandria City Council honored its emergency medical services (EMS) providers at its Legislative Meeting on Tuesday (May 13) with a special proclamation for Emergency Medical Services Week, which runs from May 18 to 24, 2025.

During the meeting, Mayor Alyia Gaskins and the Alexandria City Council declared the week “Emergency Medical Services Week.”