Not Enough Progress Made on Affordable Housing in Alexandria
Alexandria Needs Assessment finds affordable housing severely lacking.
The 2010 City Council Strategic Plan laid out seven main goals for the city’s long-term development. Goal number one was to “achieve a net increase in the number of dedicated affordable rental and ownership units in the city by 2015.”
Candidates Debate Future of Arlington’s Growth
Arlington County Board Democratic candidates debate future of Arlington‘s growth.
With County Board members Mary Hynes and Walter Tejada announcing that they would not seek reelection to their seats, six Democrats have thrown their names into the ring to be one of the party’s two candidates to the County Board this fall.
Businesses Join Local Nonprofits for 24-Hour Charity Drive
Spring2ACTion emphasizes off-line community building.
Five years ago, ACT for Alexandria helped raise $100,000 for local charities at its first annual Spring2ACTion event. Last year, the organization raised over $1 million for 121 local nonprofits. At this year’s city-wide event on April 22, ACT for Alexandria’s Chief Program Officer Brandi Yee says the goal is to exceed 10,000 donors. Last year, the program had 7,516 total donors to the event, but this year Yee hopes a more public presence and greater involvement in the community can help bolster that number.
Alexandria: Eisenhower Ave. Field Fails as TC Stadium Alternative
Site on Eisenhower Avenue can’t match TC Stadium
Following suggestions expressed at public hearings that a new AlexRenew Field on Eisenhower Avenue be developed as a substitute for the lights and expansion at T.C. Williams’ High School’s Parker-Gray Memorial Stadium, Alexandria city staff analyzed the suggestion and reported back to City Council with a resounding no.
City Hall Briefs: April 15
In his State of the City address on April 14, Mayor William Euille reflected on recent Potomac Yard and waterfront development milestones.
Arlington: Reevesland Renovations Put on Indefinite Hold
When Ron Battocchi first moved to Boulevard Manor neighborhood in Arlington in 1977, he said one of the first knocks at his door was from his new neighbor: Nelson Reeves.
Alexandria: Notice of Intent on Waterfront Planning
A three-year legal battle between three Old Town residents and the City of Alexandria reached another milestone when, on March 27, the Virginia Supreme Court upheld the Alexandria Circuit Court’s dismissal of a lawsuit challenging the city’s Waterfront Plan zoning.
Alexandria: Planning Comission is Considering Reducing Parking Options
Planning Commission updates policy on residential parking spaces.
A proposed text amendment to the Alexandria Parking Standards will decrease the amount of parking spaces residential property developers will be required to provide.
Simply Unaffordable: An Uncertain Future for Affordable Housing in Arlington
New Master Plan lays out uncertain future for Affordable Housing in Arlington.
A new Affordable Housing Master Plan released in March laid out Arlington County’s dire Affordable Housing needs. Hoping for approval before the plan is brought to the County Board in July, the Affordable Housing Study Working Group presented its findings to the Transportation Commission on April 2. The Master Plan was approved unanimously.
Insufficient Data: Arlington Meter Increase Deferred
Arlington’s Transportation Commission recommends County Board defer action on increases to meter rates and hours.
A last minute plea from local business owners and lingering doubts compelled the Transportation Commission to reconsider, and ultimately recommend deferring, a proposal from Arlington County’s Department of Environmental Services to increase the meter rates and hours.
Alexandria: People vs Parks on Potomac Yard Impact
Draft Environmental Impact Statement details Potomac Yard Metro impact on parks and neighbors
The Potomac Yard Metro plan moves forward with the release of a draft Environmental Impact Statement developed by the City of Alexandria alongside the Federal Transit Administration and the National Park Service.
Selling Alexandria's City Hall
A costly repair bill for City Hall creates discussion of potential public/private partnership.
Facing a $53 million heating ventilation and air conditioning price tag for City Hall, some on the City Council have begun questioning the wisdom of continuing to operate in City Hall. At a City Council Work Session on March 17, discussion became heated after Mayor William Euille said he had his own ideas for the future of the building and referred to the City Hall property as “a pot of gold.”
Alexandria: Compromise on Waterfront Barging
After a long tug-of-war between local residents and waterfront property developer EYA, acting City Manager Mark Jinks announced an agreement with EYA to use barging instead of trucking to transport materials to and from the South Robinson Terminal development.
Arlington Courtroom Drama
Public Defenders protest pay inequality with Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
“You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.”
Alexandria: Negotiation for Budget Funds
Schools and city clash over continued budget gap.
The deadline for proposing a tax rate increase for fiscal year 2016 passed on March 17 without any update from the city, meaning the funding in the current budget is all of the funding that will be available. For Alexandria police officers and city employees, that means a pay increase and additional career opportunities inside their departments. For Alexandria public schools, who were hoping a last minute decision to raise the tax rate might be enough to cover the $3 million gap between the school’s budget and the city manager’s proposed budget, the news means budget discussions between now and May are going to be tense.
Alexandria Delays, Costs In Severance Trial
Motions and delays continued in the ongoing pre-trial for Charles Severance, accused of three murders in Alexandria.
Alexandria: Fighting Fires Without Firefighters
Fire Station 210: No firefighters until 2016?
Fire Station 210 is one of the newest and nicest buildings around the Van Dorn Metro area. It is full three-story building with four operation bays and a training tower. Except it doesn’t have any firefighters. Currently the facility is staffed by emergency medical technicians. Acting City Manager Mark Jinks said that, while the original plan was to have the facility be fully staffed by the end of 2015, “that process could be pushed back to the end of 2016.”
Arlington’s Uninsured
Lack of expansion taints Affordable Care Act anniversary.
National and Virginia leadership’s planned celebration of the five-year anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act quickly became a discussion of the program’s outreach failings and concerns following Virginia legislature’s decisions not to expand the program. Federal and state officials met at the Arlington Mills Community Center on Monday, March 23, for for a round table discussion led by Sylvia Burwell, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Gov. Terry McAuliffe, and U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8). Much of the panel’s conversation centered around
Alexandria: Developing in the City
One hotel property opens, another remains stalled.
While developments at one Carr hotel property in Alexandria remains stalled due to an impending decision by Virginia’s Supreme Court, another Carr property opened across town.
Alexandria: IB to the Rescue?
Jefferson-Houston to expand International Baccalaureate program.
Alexandria’s unaccredited Jefferson-Houston elementary and middle school is expanding its International Baccalaureate (IB) program to the full school in hopes of reforming the school’s image. Jefferson-Houston will be the first and only school in the Alexandria school system to have a full International Baccalaureate program.
Alexandria: Waterfront Developer Muddies Public Relations
Residents, council members disparage company’s email.
A select group of Waterfront residents received an unexpected email from EYA, the developer currently set to redevelop the Robinson Terminal South site.
Barging In On the Alexandria Waterfront
Contractor gives residents and developers assessment of haul route options.
Construction is a dirty business. During the redevelopment of the current Robinson Terminal South site, 15,000 cubic yards of dirt will have to be brought to the site to raise it above flood level, and then 55,000 cubic yards will have to be removed to facilitate construction of an underground parking garage.
Change in Arlington Courthouse Skyline
County Board approves office complex despite concerns about vacancies.
A new 12-story office building at 2025 Clarendon Boulevard will change the face of Arlington’s Courthouse neighborhood. At its March 14 meeting, the County Board unanimously approved the redevelopment despite concerns about the design and use of the building.
Wave of Retirements Hits Arlington
Arlington County faced three major retirements over the past week. On Friday, March 13, Arlington County Manager Barbara Donnellan announced that she would be retiring, effective June 30.
Change in Arlington's Courthouse Skyline
County Board approves office complex despite concerns about vacancies.
A new 12-story office building at 2025 Clarendon Boulevard will change the face of Arlington’s Courthouse neighborhood. At its March 14 meeting, the County Board unanimously approved the redevelopment despite concerns about the design and use of the building.
Inside the Police Academy
Local police officers, deputy sheriffs gain perspective at the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy.
One of the doors in the regional law enforcement training academy opens to the view of a run-down apartment interior.
Congressman Beyer Visits T.C. Williams High School
T.C. Williams High School Student Peter Eckel quietly confided that when he wrote the email to his congressman’s office, it was originally as a joke.
First Shots Fired in Mayoral Race
Democratic candidates define their issues.
With campaigns kicking off in late February and early March, the mayoral election season has begun in Alexandria.
Hunting Potholes: If residents call, city will fix them.
How To Help: Call Click Connect hotline at 703-746-4357 to report potholes.
As many Alexandrians would likely attest, 2015’s February was the coldest the city has faced since 1979.
Alexandria News Briefs: 03/11/15
City Council will hold a special public hearing to discuss the proposed $647.9 million operating budget and $815 million All Funds budget.
Death Knell for Arlington's Artisphere?
Where the Artisphere went wrong.
The County Manager Barbara Donnellan has finally made the recommendation to put the Artisphere down after five years of its limping through budget seasons. Tasked with finding a way of saving the financially hemorrhaging arts center, Donnellan warned the County Board in December that Artisphere’s future was in jeopardy, and followed through with listing the Artisphere as one of the optional cuts in the proposed Fiscal Year 2016 County Manager Budget, released Feb. 19.
Alexandria Welcomes Zombie Apocalypse Survivors
The mayor welcomed Rick Grimes and others from the AMC show “The Walking Dead” to the city. Grimes entered the city on March 1 and has expressed an interest in joining local law enforcement. In the show, based on a comic series by Robert Kirkman, Alexandria is a safe-zone relatively protected from apocalyptic horrors.
Hunting Alexandria's Potholes
Over the winter, Alexandria received 18 inches of snow, higher than the 15 inch average, which has also left Alexandria with larger than average potholes.
Congressman in the Alexandria Classroom
After student inquiry, Beyer visits T.C. Williams High School.
T.C. Williams High School Student Peter Eckel quietly confided that when he wrote the email to his congressman’s office, it was originally as a joke. He hadn’t expected a response, and certainly didn’t expect Representative Don Beyer to show up at his school on March 10 to give his class and other students a brief explanation of life in Congress and answer their questions.
National Honor for Alexandria Educator
Ana Bonilla-Galdamez named National Social Worker of the Year
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has selected Alexandria Social Worker Bonilla-Galdamez at the recipient of its 2014 National Social Worker of the Year.
New Orleans On the Potomac
Analyzing how best to handle flooding along the waterfront.
How Best To Handle Flooding along the Waterfront?
Duncan Visits Patrick Henry Pre-K
Students in Patrick Henry Elementary School’s pre-kindergarten were building with their blocks and learning how to write letters when their Feb. 25 morning was interrupted by a room full of men and women in suits.
Duncan Visits Alexandria's Patrick Henry Pre-K
Secretary of Education and others express support for Alexandria’s early childhood development.
In a crowded corner of the Patrick Henry Elementary School Library, Duncan heaped praise on Patrick Henry Elementary School’s pre-kindergarten education program while expressing his frustrations at a nationwide lack of similar programs.
Alexandria Budget Winners and Losers
Acting city manager presents budget proposal to City Council
When Acting City Manager Mark Jinks presented Alexandria City Council with the $647.9 million proposed budget, the generally positive reception was tempered with the knowledge that many departments would not be receiving the funding they had requested.
Arlington Public Schools Plan for Cuts
Facing a budget gap, Arlington superintendent plans series of tiered reductions.
With a funding gap of $13.6 million, Arlington Public Schools (APS) Superintendent Patrick Murphy’s proposed budget comes with a few extra potential cuts.
Arlington County Manager Avoids Tax Rate Increase
Homeowners to face rise in property taxes through higher assessments.
Beneath the surface of the County Budget there are several notable changes that could have a sizable impact on the lives of many Arlingtonians.
Collaboration Over Competition for Alexandria Nonprofits
Alexandria non-profit organizations unite for city budgeting.
As Alexandria’s nonprofits prepare for the March 3 release of the County Manager’s proposed budget, things are going a little differently this year.
Alexandrians Of Two Minds
Zoning amendment for memory care center draws crowd of supporters and opponents.
After seven hours of debate in Alexandria’s City Council meeting, the room was still deeply divided between those in favor of rezoning a property on King Street to create a memory care facility and neighbors to the property entrenched against it.
Interstellar
NASA Administrator gives Jefferson-Houston students a taste for science.
For many children, “astronaut” is one of the quickest answers when asked what they want to be when they grow up. A visit to Jefferson-Houston School on Feb. 13 from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden aimed to encourage those students to hold onto that answer.
Alexandria School's Space Odyssey
NASA Administrator gives Jefferson-Houston students a taste for science.
For many children, “astronaut” is one of the quickest answers when asked what they want to be when they grow up. A visit to Jefferson-Houston School on Feb. 13 from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden aimed to encourage those students to hold onto that answer. Bolden and other NASA leadership spoke to adults on how to cultivate an interest in math and science, and showed how by fielding questions from Jefferson-Houston students on life in space.
Alexandria's George Mason Elementary Left Behind
Superintendent and parents clash over school modernization priorities.
For parents at George Mason Elementary School, all of the talk of modernization and improvements isn't resonating.
Researching Alexandria’s African-American Ancestors
Two genealogists help African-Americans in Alexandria trace their families’ roots.
Tracing genealogies is not only impossibly frustrating for many African-American families, but many of the results they find are predictable and grim. But for two genealogists who hosted events at Alexandria’s Black History Museum, that idea obscures the powerful histories and proud legacies of many families.
Incremental Defeats
Northern Virginia Democrats face major defeats and minor victories.
Halfway through every session of the Virginia legislature, bills from the House are sent to the Senate for a vote and vice-versa. The event is called crossover, and in 2015 this will be marked by the complete absence of major reforms the Democratic minority hoped to push through.
Arlington's ‘Love the Run You’re With’
Valentine’s Day race draws a crowd.
After weeks of miserable cold, the weather warmed up just enough to make the Pacers Running “Love the Run You’re With” 5 kilometer race in Arlington bearable.
City Manager Presents Disheartening Property Assessment
Slow-growing tax base to affect city budget.
While the city’s residential tax base shows modest growth, acting City Manager Mark Jinks says the commercial sector has remained stagnant.