Old Town | ALXnow

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

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.

News

Report: ICE preparing to deploy tactical units to Northern Virginia and four big cities

By James Cullum

Published June 11, 2025 at 3:00PM | Updated June 14, 2025 at 3:04AM

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement logo (via Facebook)

Northern Virginia is reportedly among the “five cities run by Democratic leaders” that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is preparing to deploy tactical units to, according to MSNBC.

Citing two unnamed sources “familiar with the planning of future ICE operations,” MSNBC reported that ICE is preparing to deploy tactical response teams in New York City, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Northern Virginia.

News

Asana puts 21 Old Town properties on the market

By James Cullum

Published June 11, 2025 at 1:15PM | Updated June 11, 2025 at 5:10PM

Walking in the 100 block of King Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Ben N Jerry’s, Urbano 116, Patagonia, and Jeni’s Ice Cream are just a few of the 21 mixed-use properties in Old Town that have been put on the market.

North Carolina-based Asana Partners bought the properties along the King Street Mile (between the waterfront and the King Street Metro station) worth more than $100 million between 2016 and 2018. Asana reportedly invested $20 million into their redevelopment, and now the portfolio is being marketed by D.C. firm Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL).

News

Alexandria elected officials to speak at anti-Trump protest outside City Hall

By James Cullum

Published June 10, 2025 at 10:45AM

There's a "No Kings in Alexandria" protest against the Trump administration on Saturday, June 14, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Market Square at 301 King Street in Old Town (via AlexDems)

Alexandria leaders will participate in an anti-Trump protest in front of City Hall at Market Square (301 King Street) on Saturday.

Confirmed speakers at the event, which runs from 3 to 5 p.m., include U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8), Virginia House majority leader Charniele Herring (D-4), Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39), and Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter. Mayor Alyia Gaskins is tentatively scheduled to speak.

News

Old Town Alexandria boutiques unite to raise funds for The Center for Alexandria’s Children

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 9, 2025 at 10:15AM

Shop for a Cause: Boutique Fundraiser for The Center for Alexandria’s Children (via The Center for Alexandria's Children, Inc on Facebook)

Seven Old Town Alexandria boutiques are joining forces for a first-ever group fundraiser to support The Center for Alexandria’s Children from June 14 to 29.

The participating stores – 529 Kids Consign, Monday’s Child, Ms. Moxie’s Moon Shop, Old Town Books Jr., Penny Post, Pippin Toy Co., and Red Barn Mercantile – are working together to raise funds and collect donations for the Center’s mission to end child abuse.

News

JUST IN: Ladrey Senior Hi-Rise redevelopment abandoned, HUD holds back funding and residents are being forced out

By James Cullum

Published June 6, 2025 at 1:15PM

A rendering of the Ladrey High-Rise on Fairfax Street (via ARHA)

Plans to redevelop the Ladrey Senior Hi-Rise in Old Town have been deemed “infeasible” by the property owner, the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has “terminated operating support for building management and maintenance” due to delays in the redevelopment, and now ARHA plans on moving more than 150 residents out of the 1970s-era building by the end of the year. Consequently, ARHA wants the city to back loans to acquire The Alate (1122 First Street), a recently built senior housing apartment building in the Braddock neighborhood, for the relocation of Ladrey Senior Hi-Rise residents.

News

Wells Fargo Bank on N. Washington Street wants to remove drive-thru window and more

By James Cullum

Published June 6, 2025 at 11:15AM | Updated June 6, 2025 at 11:40AM

Proposed changes to the Wells Fargo Bank at 33 N. Washington Street include removing the drive through window (via City of Alexandria)

Some noticeable exterior changes at Wells Fargo Bank at 330 N. Washington Street are heading to the Alexandria Board of Architectural Review.

The bank is requesting permission from the city to remove its drive-thru window, replace a window with a night deposit box, and make other modifications to the 20,000-square-foot building.

News

Izalia Hair Removal & Rejuvenation Laser Spa permanently closes in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published June 5, 2025 at 1:15PM | Updated June 5, 2025 at 1:33PM

Izalia Hair Removal & Rejuvenation Laser Spa at 114 S. Patrick Street is permanently closed (via NextDoor)

After nearly 20 years in Old Town, Izalia Hair Removal & Rejuvenation Laser Spa permanently closed this week. The company’s website is down, and so are their Facebook and Instagram pages.

In a farewell email to customers, founder Annette Antonelli stated that the situation is “heartbreaking” and that the business had been operating at a loss for “quite a while.” She also said the closure is partly due to customers who did not meet their agreed-upon dates for multiple laser hair removal sessions and consequently expected free treatments.

News

Livewell Animal Hospital to open location in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published June 4, 2025 at 5:30PM

Livewell Animal Hospital rendering at 277 S. Washington Street in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)

National veterinary chain Livewell Animal Hospital is planning on opening in Old Town.

Livewell is currently hiring a hospital manager and a lead veterinarian for its Alexandria location in the Atrium building at 277 S. Washington Street in Old Town. Additionally, there is a Board of Architectural Review meeting scheduled for Thursday night (June 5) to discuss adding an illuminated sign to the exterior of the building and animal-shaped vinyl decals to the glass windows and front doors.

Around Town

Alexandria’s ‘Make in Public Day’ returns to showcase local creativity

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 3, 2025 at 6:45PM

fibre space Announces Alexandria Make in Public Day: A Colorful Celebration of Creativity to Celebrate World Wide Knit in Public Day (via fibre space)

Alexandria is gearing up for its annual Make in Public Day on Sunday (June 8).

Make in Public Day is a vibrant, community-wide celebration of creativity and craft. Originally launched 16 years ago as a small local meet-up for World Wide Knit in Public Day, the event has grown into a beloved tradition that drew over 350 participants last year.

News

Old Town edges Del Ray 24-23 in annual softball battle

By James Cullum

Published June 3, 2025 at 2:00PM | Updated June 3, 2025 at 3:41PM

Team Old Town at the seventh annual softball game against Team Del Ray, June 2, 2025 (via Visit Del Ray/Facebook)

The John Porter Cup is back in Old Town.

Old Town’s business community defeated Del Ray 24-23 in their seventh annual five-inning softball game at Eugene Simpson Park (426 E. Monroe Avenue). The win put an end to Del Ray’s three-year streak.