West End | ALXnow

Alexandria modern furniture designer asking city for after-the-fact approval of shipping containers converted into showroom

Published March 19, 2024 at 2:40PM

Portable shipping containers have been converted into a showroom for Daniel Donnelly Modern Design at 80 S. Early Street (courtesy wonder101.com)

Imagine opening the French doors of your portable home at whatever backdrop you desire. The possibilities of portable architecture are the latest obsession of Alexandria furniture designer Daniel Donnelly.

Donnelly’s asking for an after-the-fact special use permit approval for three large taupe-colored Marine shipping containers at the entrance to his workshop at 80 S. Early Street. The modern furniture design business is located an industrial area of the city near police headquarters, and the open-sided containers were installed during the pandemic as a showroom for prospective customers.

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Behind the scenes at the West End’s new ax-throwing bar

By James Cullum

Published March 13, 2024 at 3:30PM

Bad Axe Throwing at 617 S. Pickett Street in Alexandria's West End (staff photo by James Cullum)

Nothing punctuates your feelings like throwing an ax, and now there’s a new place to do it while drinking a beer in Alexandria’s West End.

Bad Axe Throwing opened at 617 S. Pickett Street in October, offering walk-in and appointments for customers to hone their axe and knife-throwing skills. After signing a waiver, it costs between $30 and $40 per-person to hurl the sharp objects at the wooden targets.

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No bond for suspect after allegedly breaking clerk’s nose at West End 7-Eleven

By James Cullum

Published March 12, 2024 at 1:30PM

The 7-Eleven at 6120 Lincolnia Road (via Google Maps)

A 30-year-old man is being held without bond for allegedly stealing juice drinks and assaulting an employee from a West End 7-Eleven.

On Feb. 7, the employee at the store at 6120 Lincolnia Road called 911 to report the incident, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit. The victim told police that the suspect walked into the store, took three-to-four juice bottles and then walked out without paying and sat across the street at a bus stop.

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City sets March 31 deadline for public input on West End vision plan

By James Cullum

Published March 8, 2024 at 3:00PM

Traffic backup heading eastbound along Duke Street (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

With major developments rolling out in Alexandria’s West End before the end of the decade, residents have until the end of the month to provide opinions on a draft plan that would recommend park and open space expansions.

After months of community meetings, the city’s Alex West Plan is available for public comment until March 31. Once finalized and approved by City Council, the package of documents will guide the city government in land use, transportation and other areas.

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UPDATED: Man arrested after pepper-spraying incident at Covanta Waste-to-Energy Facility in the West End

By James Cullum

Published March 5, 2024 at 2:30PM | Updated March 5, 2024 at 4:21PM

The Covanta Waste-to-Energy Facility at 5301 Eisenhower Avenue. (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated at 4:15 p.m.) A man was arrested this morning after a fight at the Covanta Waste-to-Energy Facility that resulted in a handgun allegedly brandished and man getting pepper-sprayed.

The incident occurred at around 8:15 a.m., according to Alexandria Police Department dispatches. An employee of the facility at 53001 Eisenhower Avenue reported to APD that trash truck drivers were arguing with each other, and that one sprayed the victim with pepper spray and that another suspect brandished a handgun.

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Man charged with three felonies after gold necklace stolen from Alexandria pawn shop

By James Cullum

Published February 27, 2024 at 1:40PM

A man was arrested for three felonies after allegedly stealing a necklace from the First Cash Pawn SHop at 516-C S. Van Dorn Street (via Google Maps)

A 29-year-old Washington, D.C. man was arrested last month for allegedly stealing a $1,300 necklace from the First Cash Pawn shop in Alexandria’s West End and then trying to resell it the following day at the pawn shop’s Arlington location.

The 14-karat gold necklace was reported stolen from the shop at 516-C S. Van Dorn Street on August 19, 2023, and the suspect allegedly pawned it the following day at the First Cash Pawn at 89 N. Glebe Road in Arlington, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

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Pedestrian and cyclist improvements coming to West End road

By Vernon Miles

Published February 21, 2024 at 9:45AM

Sanger Avenue (image via Google Maps)

Sanger Avenue, a West End road that runs from William Ramsay Elementary School to I-395, could be getting some safety and cycling upgrades.

A memo (page 12) from Department of Transportation Deputy Director Hillary Orr to the Transportation Commission included a note that the street could receive some improvements as part of an upcoming paving project.

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Four workers injured in electrical incident at construction site in Alexandria’s West End

By James Cullum

Published February 20, 2024 at 9:30AM

Three people were electrocuted at a construction site at 6336 Stevenson Avenue on Feb. 19, 2024 (via Google Maps)

Four people are in stable condition after being injured in an electrical incident at a construction site in the West End on Monday, according to the Alexandria Police Department (APD).

APD said that at around 11 a.m. they responded to 6336 Stevenson Avenue for a “reported industrial incident involving four males who were working at the construction site.”

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Here’s what the proposed signage looks like for the Inova at Landmark campus

By James Cullum

Published February 5, 2024 at 2:30PM | Updated February 5, 2024 at 2:48PM

Proposed signage at Inova at Landmark (via City of Alexandria)

Construction of Inova Alexandria at Landmark is expected to be done in four years, and city staff are in favor of the hospital system’s comprehensive sign plan. Here’s what that looks like.

On Tuesday (Feb. 6), the Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing on Inova’s sign plan for the 10.4-acre development on the 52-acre WestEnd property that was formerly home to Landmark Mall.

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Alexandria man held without bond after allegedly shooting coworker in face with BB gun

By James Cullum

Published January 24, 2024 at 2:45PM

A man was allegedly shot in the face on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024 (via Google Maps)

A 25-year-old Alexandria man is being held without bond after allegedly shooting an adult male in the face with a BB gun on Monday night inside a hotel in the 5000 block of Seminary Road.

Police said that the victim sustained a non-life-threatening wound after getting shot with a BB gun at around 11:30 p.m. and was transported to a local hospital. The victim called 911 and told police that he was shot in the face by a coworker, according to the police scanner.

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Alexandria police investigating two Sunday night shootings

By James Cullum

Published January 22, 2024 at 1:40PM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Police Department is investigating two incidents of gunfire Sunday night, though no one was reported injured.

Eight-to-10 gunshots were reported just before 9 p.m. in the parking lot of the shopping center in the 4000 block of Mount Vernon Avenue. The victim told police that he got into an argument with a Hispanic male in the parking lot and that the suspect fired his handgun at him, striking his car, according to the police scanner.