Sarah Bagley

News

Alexandria City Council forms committee to consider School Board election reforms

By Emily Leayman
The Alexandria City Council (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Council voted Tuesday to create an ad hoc committee to discuss possible Alexandria City School Board election reforms such as terms and the size of the nine-member board.

City Council’s approval allows the committee to discuss term lengths, staggered term elections and overall board size and composition. The action comes after School Board Chair Michelle Rief requested the joint committee to seek city charter amendments on School Board terms. Specifically, the School Board is requesting moving members from three-year terms to four-year staggered terms, with one member from each of the three School Board districts being elected each year.

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News

Alexandria fire chief reports morale boost, staffing gains with new 49-hour work week

By Emily Leayman
Alexandria Fire Chief Felipe Hernandez (on left) at APD’s Public Safety Summit, June 18, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Morale and staffing are improving at the Alexandria Fire Department after a 49-hour work week was implemented, according to an annual presentation to City Council by Fire Chief Felipe Hernandez Jr. yesterday (Tuesday).

AFD implemented the 49-hour work week in October 2025, reducing weekly hours from 56 as a strategy to improve retention and recruitment. The department achieves the 49 hours with a fourth-shift schedule and “debit day” system. That means firefighters work a 42-hour work week and work an extra day every 24 days to average 49 hours weekly.

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Around Town

Del Ray’s newest restaurant Little Birdie takes flight on Mount Vernon Avenue

By James Cullum
The ribbon cutting at Little Birdie at 1504B Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray, June 23, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria leaders were on hand Tuesday morning to cut the ribbon at Del Ray’s newest restaurant, Little Birdie.

After months of interior renovations, Matt Sloan and Eric Brannon opened the doors to their newest venture at 1504B Mount Vernon Avenue. Brannon and Sloan also own Matt & Tony’s All Day Kitchen + Bar (1501 Mount Vernon Avenue), which opened in 2022 across the street and is a finalist for a regional RAMMY Award. Sloan is a former managing partner of Alexandria Restaurant Partners, which owns The Majestic, Mia’s Italian Kitchen, Ada’s on the River and numerous other Alexandria restaurants.

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News

City Council greenlights financing, first phase of Old Town North power plant redevelopment

By James Cullum
Proposed open space for the former PRGS site in Old Town North as seen from the Potomac River (via HRP Group)

The Alexandria City Council on Saturday unanimously greenlit construction and financing plans to redevelop the shuttered Potomac River Generating Station in Old Town North.

City Council approved property owner HRP Group’s plan to develop the first phase (Blocks B and C) of the six-block, 19-acre project with mixed-use apartment and retail buildings, create more than 10 acres of public open space and convert an old pump house into a community amenity. City Council also approved a $135 million financing deal for the project, which HRP Group says will catalyze more than $2 billion in private investment into the site. Deconstruction of the former power plant could begin as early as next year and is expected to take up to 20 months.

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News

City Council approves Housing 2040 Plan to guide housing goals over next 15 years

By Emily Leayman
The Sherwood apartment building at Southern Towers in Alexandria's West End. (staff photo by James Cullum)

On Saturday (June 13), Alexandria City Council unanimously approved the Housing 2040 Plan, which will set the city’s housing goals over the next 15 years.

The Housing 2040 Plan will guide city policies on expanding housing supply and affordable homeownership, preserving existing affordable housing, seeking landlord-tenant protections, strengthening condominium communities, expanding resources for seniors and people with disabilities, and supporting safe and healthy housing. It will also guide the city’s legislative policies on housing, land use planning, small area plans, housing programs and development of new financial and regulatory tools.

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News

Hammond Middle School receives donation of 500 filled backpacks for families in need

By James Cullum
United Way National Capital Area and Enterprise Mobility donated the backpacks to Francis C. Hammond Middle School on May 28, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Francis C. Hammond Middle School received a donation of 500 new backpacks today, which will be stuffed with school supplies for when students return for the 2026-2027 school year.

United Way National Capital Area and Enterprise Mobility donated the backpacks to the Title I school. United Way’s global headquarters are located in Alexandria.

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News

City Council considers special committee to discuss School Board election reform, more ACPS funds

By Emily Leayman
The Alexandria City Council (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Council took a step Tuesday (May 26) to consider changes to the School Board’s terms and the size of the nine-member board. The council is also considering using potential contingent funds that will be available in the new fiscal year to fund Community in Schools of Northern Virginia at Alexandria City Public Schools.

Mayor Alyia Gaskins received support from a majority of City Council members on the proposal to form an ad hoc committee on election reform. City Council’s request will direct City Manager Jim Parajon to prepare a resolution to create the committee that two City Council members would be in. Gaskins said the committee’s scope would allow it to look at staggered terms and other election reform items such as board size, timing of terms or representation. The two City Council members would work with two School Board members to bring forward election reform recommendations.

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News

‘Faith in Housing’ bill on by-right affordable housing will require new ordinance in Alexandria

By Emily Leayman
Virginia State Capitol in Richmond (staff photo)

A bill allowing church-based by-right housing development and several other laws passed during the 2026 Virginia General Assembly will require or allow local action, according to a presentation to Alexandria City Council last week (May 12).

Wendy Ginsberg, the city’s legislative director, provided an update on key bills the city has been tracking or will be impacted by during City Council’s May 12 meeting. Virginia is a Dillon Rule state, which means localities can only use authority granted through state law.

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News

Torpedo Factory Art Center draws one operator bid as city weighs next steps

By Emily Leayman
The Torpedo Factory in Old Town (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria City Council learned Tuesday (May 12) that the city received just one proposal for a potential operator of the Torpedo Factory Art Center during its procurement process.

Earlier this year, City Council allowed a procurement process to advance to select a new operator for the Torpedo Factory Art Center at 105 N. Union Street. Bids were due April. 27.

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News

PHOTOS: APD honors fallen officers for Alexandria Police Week

By James Cullum
Alexandria Police Department officers at the fallen officers memorial wreath laying outside police headquarters, May 6, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Police Department honored its fallen officers in an annual wreath laying ceremony today (May 6).

The wreath laying is part of Alexandria Police Week, which included a memorial church service this morning. There will also be a wreath-laying at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 7, at Waterfront Park in Old Town.

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