Vernon Miles

Alexandriava.gov 2.0

City reveals redesign for its website.

City Manager Mark Jinks remembered a time when the City of Alexandria was considered the leader in its municipal website.

Alexandria: City Offers Plans To Resolve Cyclist and Pedestrian Concerns

City hopes to reconcile longstanding feud between pedestrians and cyclists.

The Mount Vernon Trail runs 18 miles, from Arlington to Mount Vernon in Fairfax.

Alexandria: ‘Significant Oversight’

Write-In Euille Campaign faces state-level campaign violations.

“NOTICE: Individuals or groups who use this sample ballot for their own purposes must replace the above authorization line with their own.”

It’s not news that I-66 is a congested mess. It wasn’t a surprise to Deputy Secretary of Transportation Nick Donohue when Gov. Terry McAuliffe said it needed to be fixed, and the Arlington County Board wasn’t shocked to hear changes are underway to try to reduce the gridlock during peak hours.

Alexandria: Cross-Training Plan Ignites Controversy

Medics and chief clash over Dual-Role plan.

Councilman Justin Wilson is choking on a fruit chew.

Alexandria: City Council Candidates Go West

Candidates debate future of the West End.

Landmark Mall. BRAC 133. Overcrowded schools. Crumbling infrastructure.

Arlington County Board Commits to More Affordable Housing

Local Hispanic community urges approval of affordable housing plan.

The Arlington County Board chambers were filled beyond capacity, to the point of having to open a second room with live-streaming of the meeting, largely with local residents wearing black and yellow shirts with the Spanish for “My Voice Counts” emblazoned across the front.

Arlington Brief: Reevesland, County Board Divided

On the bright side: the entire Reevesland property is classified as a historic district. But for local residents who fought for the preservation of the farmhouse as county property, the Sept. 19 decision to divide the farmhouse and the surrounding property as two separate parcels was still a loss.

First Round in the Fight for Alexandria's City Council

The long table at the front of the Departmental Progressive Club in Old Town was packed with candidates...

Tear Downs in Alexandria

Council approves demolition of 226 The Strand, overturns decision to preserve Ramsey Homes.

Despite two different and controversial discussions in City Council: Ramsey Homes and 226 The Strand are coming down.

New Crop of Concerns at Arlington’s Reevesland

Planning Commission approves possible single-family residence at Reevesland.

Most of the Reevesland property will still belong to the county as an open park. The 2.5 acres of county historical district around Arlington’s last working farm will remain as a city park, including the gardens and the hill for children to sled on. But there’s one important piece missing from the idyllic scene: Reevesland itself.

Arlington Taking Care of the Whole Child

School Board details its priorities.

If a school system is only taking care of a student between when a student arrives on a bus and when they leave, they are failing that child. At least, that’s the logic behind the 2015-16 Arlington School Board’s priorities.

Alexandria: City’s Democrats Face Civil War

Euille officially announces write-in campaign.

When Mayor William Euille officially announced his pursuit of a write-in campaign for reelection at a Sept. 7 rally, he referred to the Dylan Thomas poem about a man who believes his work is unfulfilled.

Alexandria Gets Inked

Final approval rests with council.

Twenty years ago, James Marlowe said it wouldn’t be possible, but by the end of the year Old Town may have its first tattoo parlor.

Alexandria: The South Won't Rise Again

Council votes for further restrictions on Confederate flags.

There are at least 33 streets in Alexandria clearly named after Confederate military leaders, but potentially twice that many that may be related but without a clear historical record.

Alexandria: Hauling is Causing Trouble in Old Town

Carr Hospitality faces criticism over trucks in Old Town.

The jackhammers are loud, but Old Town residents can yell even louder. After years of fighting against the development of Carr Hospitality’s Indigo Hotel by residents of Alexandria’s Waterfront, there was little reason to think the opposition would suddenly quiet with construction underway.

Close Call with West Nile for Alexandria

Observant citizens prompt removal of mosquito breeding ground

With construction for the Indigo Hotel occurring in the area, it might have been easy to dismiss the pit of standing water at the corner of Duke and The Strand.

Alexandria: Redistricting Starts for Public Schools

ACPS chooses J.R. Reingold & Associates Inc. as its redistricting partner.

With a whimper rather than a bang, redistricting has started for Alexandria Public Schools. On Aug. 24, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) selected J.R. Reingold & Associates Inc. as a partner for its redistricting process.

Alexandria: New Defibrillators around City

Area incident inspires expansion.

In January, Judge Thomas J. Kelly Jr. in Arlington saved a man’s life.

Alexandria: Skirmishes over Business Proposals in Del Ray

Planning Commission navigates through conflicts.

Within an hour of returning to session: businesses, the public, and the Planning Commission were at odds. After a two-month summer break, it was business as usual in the Sept. 1 Alexandria Planning Commission meeting, where some big changes for small businesses were proposed in Del Ray. All three of the proposals centered around the growth of businesses and a school in Del Ray.

Arlington: Trooper Jacqueline Vernon Remembered

I-395 Bridge named in memory of her.

To those driving on Interstate 395 over South Glebe Road, “Trooper Jacqueline Vernon Memorial Bridge” might seem like just another name.

Arlington Neighborhood Outlook: Areas Undergoing ‘Reinvention and Transition’

Despite the colorful banners and lively street life, Crystal City’s a shell of its former economic powerhouse. While Arlington overall faces a high office vacancy of 20 percent, at 28.7 percent, Crystal City is hit the worst.

Alexandria Seeks Cycling Spokespersons

Transportation Master Plan could shift gears in favor of cycling community.

Do cyclists in Alexandria ride in the road or on the sidewalk? How do cyclists riding the Mount Vernon trail pass through Alexandria?

Alexandria Neighborhood Outlook: Redeveloping and Reshaping Old Town

Some residents continue to harbor resentment.

As Alexandria moves forward with development plans that will reshape the waterfront, the last year in Old Town has been defined largely by a deep conflict between many residents of the historic district and local government.

Shifting Boundaries

Navy Annex land exchange includes straightening Columbia Pike.

A land exchange between Arlington County and Arlington National Cemetery could lead to a new historic memorial in Arlington.

Alexandria: Small Budget Threatens Arts' Commission Plans

Commission for the Arts Copes with Budget Squeeze

Massive budget cuts to the Alexandria Commission for the Arts has put a damper on some of the group’s hopes for 2016. According to Allison Nance, a member of the Commission for the Arts, last year Alexandria's Arts Commission received $200,000 from the city for public arts projects and other art projects around the city. However, in 2016, Nance says that funding dropped to zero.

Alexandria: TSA Transports out of Arlington

Arlington’s loss of the Transportation Security Administration headquarters is Alexandria’s gain.

While Alexandria celebrates the recent Transportation Security Administration’s decision to move to West Eisenhower, Arlington struggles to recover from another blow to the county’s office vacancies. The 3,800-person headquarters will leave its Arlington location in 2018 to settle into the Victory Center.

Alexandria/Arlington: Testing the Waters

Alexandria and Arlington begin discussions on potential shared pool.

Despite Alexandria swiping the TSA headquarters away from Arlington, the relationship remains cordial enough that the two have begun discussions around a shared Aquatic Center.

Police Connect with Citizens at National Night Out

A murder, a non-fatal shooting, and mysterious “shots fired” calls around the Braddock Metro Area dampen National Night Out celebrations.

It's been a mixed week for law enforcement in the Braddock neighborhood.

Alexandria: Shared Vision

Chairs of boards and commissions express unity in need for more affordable housing.

City Council may be gone for the summer, but the inner workings of the city government are just getting started.

New Heights for Arlington Skyline

Approved Rosslyn Sector Plan comes with new density and building height regulations.

Controversy and discussion surrounding plans for Rosslyn was so intense, the meetings had to be divided into two five-hour sessions.

Alexandria: Frontlines Falter

... in city’s affordable housing war.

While the city prepares to gain a little over 100 affordable housing units at Potomac Yard and The Filmore, one of the city’s bastions of affordable housing is in the process of pricing out residents, formerly protected by a rent freeze, who can’t keep up with rapidly rising rent costs.

Alexandria: Old Colony Inn Faces Setback

Developer and neighbors go toe-to-toe over hotel expansion.

The Old Colony Inn in North Old Town off of the George Washington Parkway has a major upgrade planned. The two-story Best Western Hotel is planning to double its height and expand to include a restaurant on the corner.

Seeing Red: After Four Years In Limbo Arlington Will Have New Retail Plan

Arlington County approves new retail plan.

After nearly four years, Arlington’s new retail plan passed through the County Board on a 4-1 vote. But despite its “flexible new approach,” many in the county took issue with the plan’s restrictive “Red Streets.”

Arlington: Program Targets 'Deadbeats'

Arlington County pursues child support payments.

You should always pay your child support. But if you live in Arlington, you might want to take special care that the check in the mail makes it out on time. If you’ve been ignoring the court warnings about falling behind on payments, there’s a good chance your face could be on the Arlington Sheriff’s Office’s “Deadbeat Parents” wall.

Alexandria: Land, Air, Sea

EYA reveals historic influences for Robinson Terminal South development.

Despite a long struggle with local residents, plans for Robinson Terminal South’s redevelopment into an apartment and retail space are moving forward.

Alexandria: Assembling Social Justice League

Social Services Advisory Board regroups and refocuses.

Everyone on the Social Services Advisory Board was there for different reasons, and most have concerns related to a specific human services need.

Arlington: County Board Plans to Turn Parking Lot into Park

County Board approves advertisement of “National Mall-like” Courthouse plan.

Big changes are coming for the Courthouse Sector. A new civic building and a new county administration building are among the proposed additions to the site, as well as expansions onto nearby promenades and streetscapes.

Alexandria Brief: ‘At Large’ Representative Sought for Fort Ward

The Fort Ward Management Plan Implementation Monitoring Group is now accepting nominations for an “at large” representative. On July 11, City Manager Mark Jinks announced that nominations could be submitted to Julie Fuerth at julie.fuerth@alexandriava.gov by July 20.

Alexandria: First Alexandrians

Alexandria celebrates its 266th and 13,000th birthday.

While many Alexandrians celebrated the city’s 266th birthday on July 11, in truth, residents have lived and commuted here much, much longer. No one at the festival could trace their roots to the first Alexandrians, and little to no written history remains to give detailed accounts of their lives, but historians at the Alexandria Archeology Museum examine flakes of stone tools and broken pottery to piece together what life was like for American Indians living in what is today Alexandria before colonists arrived.

Alexandria: Hunting Point is Trading Park For Clubhouse

Hunting Point plan reduces open space, raises community ire.

Following approval from the Alexandria Planning Commission, Hunting Point Apartments is moving forward with a plan to construct an 8,000-square-foot residential amenity building between the two apartment towers. But the new amenity comes with its own share of hidden costs, and not everyone at Hunting Point Apartments is happy with the addition.

Alexandria: Gathering Includes Banjos and Poetry

At “Wailin’ Ghosts of the Civil War,” a small group of Alexandrians gathered to hear the music and poetry of the Civil War on July 9 at the Athenaeum. Edgar Poe, a South Carolinian banjo player, performed songs from the Civil War between poetry from the era read by Peter Lattu, a local poet.

Arlington: County Board To Vote on Retail Plan

A number of new plans and funding approvals are scheduled for the Arlington County Board’s upcoming July 18 meeting.

Arlington: Outrage Avoided

Arlington School Board prohibits gender identity discrimination.

Two months ago, the Fairfax County School Board added “gender identity” to its nondiscrimination policy amid a hail storm of outrage from its community.

Alexandria: Murder in Braddock Sparks Tension

Death of Shakkan Elliot-Tibbs sparks community outrage.

Shakkan Elliot-Tibbs had spent July 2 in Alexandria visiting his cousin. Elliot-Tibbs was on his way to the metro to meet his mother in Springfield when he was struck by gunfire. Police arrived at 11:30 p.m. responding to one of the many “shots fired” calls from the neighborhood, but that night found Elliot-Tibbs suffering from a gunshot wound.

Alexandria Mayoral Race Write-In Tightrope

Mayor Euille withholds support for either Silberberg or Write-In Euille.

One month has passed since Allison Silberberg was nominated as the Democratic candidate for nayor of Alexandria over incumbent Mayor William Euille and former Mayor Kerry Donley.

Alexandria: Petroleum Spill in Four Mile Run

Cause and extent of petroleum spill remain unknown

Four Mile Run is normally a scenic stream that divides Arlington and Alexandria, but on July 1, the public was told to stay away from the area due to contamination from a petroleum discharge.

Alexandria: Development Briefs for the Week of July 8

Development

226 The Strand, recently approved for demolition, may get a second chance at life. A petition to appeal the Board of Architectural Review’s (BAR) decision to approve demolition of the building has gained more than 25 signatures from local property owners in the Old & Historic District. The appeal will be taken to City Council in the fall.

Petroleum Spill In Four Mile Run

Cause and extent of petroleum spill remain unknown.