Alexandria is embarking this month on the creation of 15-year plan to tackle affordable housing issues. Once approved, the Housing 2040 Master Plan will give City Council and staff goals, strategies and direction on the city’s housing plans.
Housing affordability and zoning issues have been key issues in the upcoming City Council election on Nov. 5. Alexandria contended with a 62% decline in market-affordable rental units in the city between 2000 and 2021.
After confusion with former employees who questioned the validity of a report of impending closure, the Red Lobster at 555 S. Van Dorn Street is permanently closed.
The international seafood chain revealed in court last month that it would not renew leases at 23 unprofitable locations, and that the Alexandria restaurant was among those that would close on Aug. 31, according to the Washington Business Journal.
Alexandria is offering low-income residents with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) a chance to clean up the air quality in their homes for free.
The program, which launched last year, is part of the city’s Healthy Homes initiative. Eligible applicants will get a number of home visits from the Alexandria Health Department (AHD) to make a plan for healthier air.
Dozens of volunteers stuffed 500 backpacks with food for local Latino youths at the Coca-Cola Consolidated facility (5401 Seminary Road) in Alexandria’s West End this morning.
Volunteers from Coke and Giant Food filled the bags with drinks, Rice Krispies Treats, Ritz crackers, apple sauce, cereal and more.
Two developments that could further transform Alexandria’s Mark Center area will be unveiled next month.
The Beauregard Design Advisory Committee will get a first glimpse on Sept. 9 of the multi-use developments at 1900 N. Beauregard Street and 4880 Mark Center Drive. The meeting will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. at Patrick Henry Recreation Center (4653 Taney Avenue).
The announcement that Red Lobster is closing in Alexandria’s West End was met by surprise and skepticism from restaurant staff.
The international seafood chain closed about 100 locations after declaring bankruptcy in May, and an August court filing revealed that it will not renew leases at 23 unprofitable locations. Listed locations set to close by Aug. 31 include Alexandria’s at 555 S. Van Dorn Street, according to a report from the Washington Business Journal.
Alexandria experienced a nearly 13% rise in Part 1 crime so far this year, with larcenies jumping 23%.
Part 1 crimes, or crimes against people, include homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and auto theft. There have been 2,692 total Part I incidents so far this year, a 13.5% increase over the 2,371 total incidents reported until this point last year, according to the Alexandria Police Department Crime Dashboard.
More details have been released regarding an alleged sexual battery last month that put a Lyft driver behind bars without bond.
The victim told police that she was drunk when Lyft driver Ahmad Reshad Nasseri picked her up in his red Toyota Highlander outside a D.C. restaurant on Friday, July 19, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.
The Alexandria Police Department identified 61-year-old Paul G. Behan, Jr. as the man who was fatally shot by an officer on Monday night (Aug. 12).
Behan was shot and killed by a police officer after a 35 minute standoff in the stairwell of his apartment building at 5101 Maris Avenue. One of Behan’s coworkers called 911 at around 10:45 p.m. to warn that he’d threatened to shoot himself, and relayed to police that Behan owned at least two guns.
A cyclist sustained a non-life threatening injury after being struck by a Metro Bus at a busy Alexandria intersection on Sunday afternoon.
The incident occurred at around 4 p.m. in the area of King Street and S. Walter Reed Drive, according to the police scanner. The area is west of the ramps to Interstate 395.
An adult male suspected of a felony robbery in Arlington is in custody after allegedly crashing a stolen vehicle into several vehicles in the Wharf area in D.C., according to the Alexandria Police Department.
APD put out a release Friday detailing the incident. According to APD, a license plate reader flagged the car the suspect allegedly drove in Alexandria’s West End as stolen.
