Old Town | ALXnow

No injuries after townhouse fire on Prince Street in Old Town

Published May 14, 2026 at 2:30PM | Updated May 15, 2026 at 11:54AM

Fire in the 100 block of Prince Street in Old Town on May 14, 2026 (via APD/Facebook)

No injuries were reported after a fire at a townhouse on Prince Street in Old Town this afternoon (Thursday).

Alexandria Fire Department crews responded at around 1 p.m. and found a fire on the second floor of a three-and-a-half-story townhouse in the 100 block of Prince Street, near the intersection with S. Union Street. The fire was extinguished around 1:20 p.m., according to radio dispatches. AFD reported on social media at 1:40 p.m. that the fire was out, that no one was injured and asked the public to avoid the area.

News

City Council members revive Old Town Business Improvement District discussion after previous failed attempts

By James Cullum

Published May 14, 2026 at 1:45PM | Updated May 14, 2026 at 2:26PM

Members of the Alexandria City Council at the Chamber ALX's annual City Council Breakfast at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town on May 14, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Despite multiple failed attempts over the past decade, two Alexandria City Council members advocated Thursday (May 14) for bringing a Business Improvement District to Old Town.

Under a challenging economic outlook, City Council Members Sandy Marks and John Taylor Chapman said that Old Town’s business community needs an organized push to attract visitors. The council members made the remarks during the Chamber ALX’s annual City Council Breakfast, which was held at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town (1767 King Street).

News

Alexandria looks for creative parking solutions after closure of Market Square parking garage

By James Cullum

Published May 13, 2026 at 3:55PM

Alexandria City Council on May 12, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

With the closure of the parking garage underneath City Hall, Alexandria is working on several creative solutions for a growing problem — parking in the heart of Old Town.

News

1800s Old Town home could give way to three-story townhouse under owner’s proposal

By James Cullum

Published May 12, 2026 at 11:45AM

A rendering of 1126 Prince Street (center) in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)

The owner of a small historic home in Old Town wants to demolish and replace it with a three-level townhouse.

The Board of Architectural Review will consider the proposal at its meeting June 3. The one-story building at 1126 Prince Street is only 22 feet wide by 40 feet deep, and its use has shifted from residential to commercial and back over the years. The building was constructed in 1830 and was assessed at $117,855 earlier this year. The 1,700-square-foot lot was assessed at $385,951, putting the total property value at just over half a million dollars.

News

City hosting pre-construction meeting for median project on Route 1 in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published May 8, 2026 at 9:45AM

Blueprint of the S. Patrick Street Median Improvement Project in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria will host a pre-construction meeting on Monday (May 11) ahead of several months of planned construction on a section of Route 1 in Old Town.

The city says that its South Patrick Street Median Improvement Project will “improve pedestrian safety and improve connectivity between the Southwest Quadrant neighborhood and Old Town Alexandria east of South Patrick Street (US Route 1).” The project, totaling nearly $4.3 million, is expected to break ground on June 1 and wrap up in late January 2027, according to a meeting description.

News

Developer cancels rooftop deck in Old Town office-to-residential conversion

By James Cullum

Published May 8, 2026 at 8:30AM

720 N. Fairfax Street in Old Town North (via Google Maps)

Plans for a roof deck in an Old Town office-to-apartment conversion project need to be canceled, according to paperwork recently filed with the city.

The building’s owner wants to convert the 1970s-era office building at 720 N. St. Asaph Street into a 12-unit multifamily apartment building with ground-level commercial space. Previous plans also called for a roof deck, which the current building would not be able to support, according to a special use permit amendment application.

Around Town

Alexandria’s annual community cookout series launches today

By James Cullum

Published May 7, 2026 at 10:00AM

Community Cookouts (via City of Alexandria)

The 19th annual Alexandria Community Cookout series launches today (Thursday), bringing weekly events with free food, activities and giveaways across the city.

More than 50 city agencies and nonprofits are participating in the weekly cookouts, which are expected to reach thousands of Alexandria residents this spring and summer. The first cookout, delayed by yesterday’s weather, will take place on its rain date today at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center from 6-7:30 p.m.

News

Man arrested for allegedly issuing bad check to buy $6K watch in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published May 6, 2026 at 9:15AM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A man was arrested last month after allegedly issuing a worthless check to buy a watch in Old Town valued at more than $6,600.

The 31-year-old suspect from Salem, Va., was arrested April 29 and charged with felony grand larceny. His arrest took place more than four months after he allegedly signed over a worthless check with his real name and address to buy a watch valued at $6,678 from a jewelry store on S. Fairfax Street in Old Town.

Around Town

Hank’s Pasta Bar launching dine-in service in Old Town this week

By Katie Taranto

Published May 4, 2026 at 2:00PM

Hank's Pasta Bar in Old Town (courtesy of Deb Lindsey Photography)

An Italian takeout and delivery spot in Old Town with customizable pastas is preparing to celebrate the launch of its new dine-in service.

Hank’s Pasta Bar, located above Hank’s Oyster Bar at 600 Montgomery Street, is officially launching dine-in service this Thursday, May 7, with a grand opening celebration scheduled next Thursday, May 14. The restaurant, an “elevated casual eatery,” has a full bar and offers a menu of “traditional Italian fare with contemporary touches,” according to a press release.

News

New sculpture outside courthouse paired with Declaration of Independence readings by Alexandria women

By James Cullum

Published May 1, 2026 at 3:55PM

At the unveiling of "00:10:00," a new temporary public art installation outside the Alexandria Courthouse at 520 King Street (via City of Alexandria)

A new temporary art installation commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence was recently unveiled outside the Alexandria Courthouse in Old Town, featuring a reading of the document by prominent Alexandria women.

News

City Council backs $20M revenue bond funding for Ladrey redevelopment in Old Town North

By James Cullum

Published April 30, 2026 at 3:45PM

The Alexandria City Council in session at the Del Pepper Community Center (staff photo by James Cullum)

On Tuesday (April 28), City Council adopted a resolution authorizing up to $20 million in revenue bonds by the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority for the redevelopment of The Ladrey Senior Hi-Rise in Old Town North.

City Council was presented with ARHA’s new plan to redevelop the 11-story, 1970s-era building at 300 Wythe Street, which was deemed obsolete last year by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, prompting the authority to relocate all of the building’s residents.