Parker-Gray | ALXnow

Townhouse development pitched on vacant lot, barbershop site in Parker-Gray

Published March 18, 2026 at 2:45PM

Rendering of new development proposed for 724, 726 and 728 N. Patrick Street in the Parker-Gray District (via City of Alexandria)

A proposed conversion of a vacant lot and a one-story barbershop in the Parker-Gray Historic District into five four-story townhomes is headed to city review.

Eric Bernstein and Kirby Holdings are proposing to build the homes at 724, 726 and 728 N. Patrick Street, located at the intersection with Madison Street. The Alexandria Board of Architectural Review will conduct a public hearing on the concept review proposal at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, at Charles Houston Recreation Center, which is directly across the street from the site.

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Nonprofit seeks city approval to convert Old Town office headquarters into townhomes

By James Cullum

Published January 6, 2026 at 1:45PM

415 N. Alfred Street (via Google Maps)

After more than 20 years in Old Town’s Parker-Gray Historic District, a nonprofit wants to demolish its headquarters and replace it with five three-story townhomes.

The Society of Defense Financial Management — formerly the American Society of Military Comptrollers — has owned and used the office building at 415 N. Alfred Street since 2004. Now real estate developer PT Blooms is asking the city for permission to tear down the entire structure and build five new townhomes with roof decks and rear-loaded two-vehicle garages.

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Alexandria’s historic Pendleton Rooming House getting a makeover

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 17, 2025 at 3:45PM

1022 Pendleton Street (Credit: Corrine Jackson Lee Dixon)

A 100-year-old rooming house in Alexandria’s Parker-Gray neighborhood is getting a significant facelift to keep providing affordable housing.

The Pendleton Rooming House (1022 Pendleton St.) is starting a big renovation project, according to the City of Alexandria’s Office of Housing. They’re upgrading the building’s central systems to make it safer and more accessible while preserving its historic charm.

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Azerbaijani cafe Baku Delicious files permit to open in Parker-Gray neighborhood next year

By Vernon Miles

Published December 5, 2024 at 11:30AM

Pastries at Baku Delicious (Photo via Baku Delicious/Facebook)

Baku Delicious, a Fairfax cafe and bakery specializing in Azerbaijani cuisine, is opening a new location at 711 Pendleton Street next year.

Owner Sevda Tahirli filed a permit with the City of Alexandria to open an “art cafe, serving freshly baked pastries, coffee and teas.”

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Planning Commission endorses Parker-Gray rezoning over objections from neighbors

By Vernon Miles

Published June 5, 2024 at 3:45PM

711 Pendleton Street (image via Google Maps)

The shop at 709 and 711 Pendleton Street has been a commercial space since WWII, but neighbors argued the removal of a proffer requiring its use as an office puts their neighborhood at risk.

Parker-Gray residents spoke at a Planning Commission meeting yesterday (Tuesday) sharing fears that a new coffee shop development would damage their residential neighborhood, but Commissioners fired back that those concerns just reflect the reality of living in a city.

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New tour explores the lost history of historic black neighborhoods the Berg and Parker-Gray

By Vernon Miles

Published May 1, 2024 at 1:40PM

Parker-Gray School (photo via City of Alexandria)

A new tour will bring locals on a tour around the ‘Lost Buildings’ around the historic Black neighborhoods of the Berg and Parker-Gray.

The Berg is a neighborhood around North Pitt, North Royal and North Fairfax Streets. The neighborhood was founded by liberated Black families who moved to the neighborhood and sought the protection of the Union Army. Many were from Petersburg — thus “the Berg”. Many of the new Alexandria residents worked on the wharves and railroads during the Union occupation of the city.

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Parker-Gray homeowner draws ire of BAR with new vinyl windows

By Vernon Miles

Published September 18, 2023 at 10:45AM

Vinyl windows, the topic of discussion at an upcoming BAR meeting (image via City of Alexandria)

The Alexandria Board of Architectural Review (BAR) has a storied history of seemingly petty battles with property owners, but the newest one might take the cake.

City staff is recommending denial of a Certificate of Appropriateness for vinyl windows, window trim and shutters at a Parker-Gray home — meaning the owner may have to restore the original windows or find historically suitable replacements.

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Covid funding could help restore ‘Green Book’ lodging in Parker Gray

By Vernon Miles

Published June 14, 2023 at 1:35PM

1022 Pendleton Boarding House (image via City of Alexandria)

The owners of an Alexandria rooming house could have gotten a significant paycheck from developers for the property, but the home owner is working with the city to keep it affordable.

At a City Council meeting last night, the Council unanimously authorized to pay $1.95 million from the city’s American Rescue Plan Act grant funding to renovate and preserve a rooming house at 1022 Pendleton Street.

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Upcoming free tour explores the hidden history of Alexandria’s Parker-Gray neighborhood

By Vernon Miles

Published May 2, 2023 at 1:45PM

Parker-Gray School (photo via City of Alexandria)

While Alexandria is known for its history, an upcoming free tour later this month will take locals into the underexplored stories of the city’s Parker-Gray neighborhood.

Parker-Gray native Michael Johnson, who recently won the Alexandria Historical Society’s T. Michael Miller award for his work raising awareness of issues with the Douglass Memorial Cemetery, is hosting a tour of the neighborhood on Saturday, May 20, from 10-11 a.m. Johnson will be accompanied by an 80-year-old Parker-Gray resident who can help tell some stories from the neighborhood’s history.

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No arrest after shots fired in Old Town early Friday morning

By James Cullum

Published January 20, 2023 at 1:45PM

Shots were fired near the intersection of N. West and Princess Streets in Old Town on the early morning of Friday, Jan. 20, 2023 (via Google Maps)

No arrests were made after multiple gunshots were reported in the Braddock neighborhood early Friday morning.

Police received multiple emergency calls for at least 10 gunshots just after 1 a.m. near the intersection of N. West Street and Princess Street. Witnesses reported that a dark-colored SUV fled the scene.

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BAR defers historic home modification decision, admits it is ‘a crappy situation’

By Vernon Miles

Published December 22, 2022 at 2:30PM | Updated December 23, 2022 at 11:48AM

Exterior piping at 319 North Alfred Street (image via City of Alexandria)

(Updated 12/23) Alexandria home owner Harold White paid a local contractor to install an extensive HVAC system to a historic home (319 North Alfred Street), and after a Board of Architectural Review (BAR) decision last night it seems likely he’ll have to pay to have it taken out again.

BAR members said the case serves as an unfortunate reminder to building owners in a historic district: always get city approval before making exterior modifications.