Potomac Yard | ALXnow

JUST IN: Long-awaited Potomac Yard Metro opens station in Alexandria

Published May 19, 2023 at 1:00PM | Updated May 19, 2023 at 1:16PM

Opening of the Potomac Yard Metro station (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 1:15 p.m.) During the celebration of the grand opening of the Potomac Yard Metro Station, electrician Antonio Jones looked up at the structure he and countless other laborers worked on over the last few years.

For him and other members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers — as much as for the city staffers, transportation executives and elected leaders from across the region in attendance — today (Friday) was a day of triumph: the Potomac Yard Metro station is finally open.

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No arrest after gun displayed during argument at Potomac Yard Shopping Center

By James Cullum

Published May 18, 2023 at 10:45AM | Updated May 18, 2023 at 11:06AM

A man allegedly displayed a handgun during an argument in the 3400 block of Richmond Highway in the Potomac Yard Shopping Center on May 17, 2023 (via Google Maps)

There were no injuries or arrests after a man allegedly displayed a handgun during an argument in the parking lot of the Potomac Yard Shopping Center on Wednesday afternoon.

Police were dispatched for an assault in the 3400 block of Richmond Highway at around 4:15 p.m. The victim told police that he got into another argument with a man just outside the Best Buy (3401 Richmond Highway) and that the suspect allegedly revealed a handgun in his waistband.

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Maryland man busted for allegedly stealing $1,500 in products from Target in Potomac Yard

By James Cullum

Published May 16, 2023 at 1:30PM

A Maryland man was served with a summons for allegedly shoplifting from the Target at 3101 Richmond Highway (via Google Maps)

Target is pressing charges against a Maryland man who allegedly stole nearly $1,500 worth of products in three separate shoplifting incidents, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

The 54-year-old suspect allegedly did not scan 47 products totaling $442.42 on Saturday, March 17, and then 108 products totaling $1,040.30 on Sunday, March 18. Police reviewed security footage and found that the man appeared to scan some items in his basket, bag them and then put the bags on top of unscanned items.

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Alexandria City Council wants to incentivize locals and businesses to get private security cameras

By James Cullum

Published April 27, 2023 at 3:45PM | Updated April 27, 2023 at 4:11PM

Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Personal security cameras, speed cameras in school zones, summer youth employment programs and eviction prevention funding are just a few of the final additions included in the fiscal year 2024 budget by the Alexandria City Council on Tuesday.

Council approved funding a $20,000 program to encourage businesses and homeowners with a “small incentive” to set up security cameras to deter crime, as well as increase their coordination with the Alexandria Police Department.

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Detroit-style pizza chain coming to Lynhaven

By Vernon Miles

Published April 26, 2023 at 2:30PM

Detroit-style pepperoni pizza (image via Jet's Pizza/Facebook)

Jet’s Pizza, a Detroit-style pizza chain, is opening its first location in the region at 6 E Glebe Road in the Lynhaven neighborhood, the Washington Business Journal first reported.

The new shop will be taking the place of the now-closed Auburn Cleaners. The Washington Business Journal said no opening date has been announced yet.

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May 19 announced as opening date for Potomac Yard Metro station

By James Cullum

Published April 19, 2023 at 3:30PM

(Left to right) Alexandria Vice Mayor Amy Jackson, WMATA CEO Randy Clarke, Mayor Justin Wilson and City Council Member Canek Aguirre at a media tour of the Potomac Yard Metro Station on April 19, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

After more than a year of delays, the Potomac Yard Metro Station will open on Friday, May 19, Mayor Justin Wilson announced today.

Wilson made the announcement alongside Randy Clarke, general manager and CEO of the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority. He said that the city has been pushing to make the station a reality for more than a generation.

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Metro: Potomac Yard station still on track to open in May

By Vernon Miles

Published April 6, 2023 at 3:45PM

Train going through Potomac Yard Metro station (image via WMATA/Twitter)

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) announced last year that the Potomac Yard Metro station would open in May and, as of early April, WMATA says that’s still the case.

A project being on-schedule isn’t typically noteworthy, but the Potomac Yard project has infamously faced repeated delays. The project is now scheduled to open a little over a year after the original plan to open in April 2022.

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WMATA reveals cherry blossom and bluebell-inspired Potomac Yard designs

By Vernon Miles

Published March 31, 2023 at 2:00PM

Potomac Yard south pavilion artwork by Rob Ley (image via WMATA)

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has unveiled the bluebell and cherry blossom-inspired art that will wrap around the exterior of the new Potomac Yard Metro station.

Artist Rob Ley spoke about the designs at a reception hosted by the City of Alexandria back in January.

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Car meetups are happening at night in parking lots in Arlandria and Potomac Yard

By James Cullum

Published February 27, 2023 at 10:45AM

A car meetup in the parking lot at W. Glebe Road and Mount Vernon Avenue on Feb. 23, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s balmy winter has made a few of its parking lots prime locations for car meetups.

Car enthusiasts, car owners, their friends and children hung out for nearly four hours on Thursday night in the parking lot at 251 W. Glebe Road — near the intersection with Mount Vernon Avenue.

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Man busted buying $500 gift card with stolen credit card in Potomac Yard

By James Cullum

Published December 20, 2022 at 11:00AM

Police car lights (file photo)

A 34-year-old man tried to buy a $500 Apple gift card with a stolen credit card at the Best Buy in Potomac Yard last month, just minutes after another thief used the same stolen card for a $500 card purchase.

The man, who has no fixed address, was arrested at the store at 3401 Richmond Highway by an Alexandria Police Officer working an off-duty security detail, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

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WMATA announces May 2023 target for Potomac Yard Metro opening

By Vernon Miles

Published December 14, 2022 at 10:45AM | Updated December 14, 2022 at 11:06AM

Train going through Potomac Yard Metro station (image via WMATA/Twitter)

WMATA says the new goal is to open the Potomac Yard Metro station in May 2023, more than a full year after the station was originally scheduled to open.

The announcement comes after a delay this fall set the station’s opening for a nebulous “2023” date. While the station has been plagued by delays, there are promising signs of belated progress — including trains traveling through the station.