Monday, February 4, 2013
Planners now eye mid-2017 opening date for station.
Elected officials serving on Alexandria’s Potomac Yard Metro Implementation Work Group continued to express their commitment to building a Metro station at Potomac Yard during a meeting last week at City Hall. The group received an update on the progress of an ongoing Environmental Impact Study (EIS) required to build a station. The city will determine a locally preferred alternative between three station designs and locations later this year. A no-build option remains in play, but officials underscored the importance of a station in developing Potomac Yard and the city’s economy. “If we don’t make it happen here, [the development] is going to go elsewhere [in the region,]” said Mayor Bill Euille, who sits on the group with Councilman …
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
ACPS staff confident school construction will go smoothly.
Alexandria City Council approved a $44-million proposal to rebuild Jefferson-Houston School on Saturday. Alexandria City Public Schools cited rising maintenance costs, student population growth and a need for modern learning facilities as reasons to rebuild the struggling school, which was designated a priority school by Virginia’s Department of Education in October and has failed to meet accreditation standards. “This is the school that has received the least amount of capital investment of all our facilities,” School Board Chairman Sheryl Gorsuch said. “It needs to be brought up to the 21st century.” The plan calls for replacing the current school with a 130,000-square-foot L-shaped building framing a new turf athletic field. The …
Friday, December 14, 2012
Outgoing Councilman Frank Fannon hints at making a return to elected office; Vice Mayor Kerry Donley says it's time "to do some other things."
Vice Mayor Kerry Donley and the other outgoing members of Alexandria City Council were awarded proclamations for their service to the city on Tuesday night. The evening marked their final legislative session on the dais at City Hall. The new council will be sworn into office on Jan. 2 at T.C. Williams High School. Donley, who has served 18 non-consecutive years on council including two terms as mayor, chose not to seek re-election this year to focus on his health. “It’s time to do some other things and take care of some other business,” the Democrat said. “The nicest part I’ve maintained about local government is that you get to see the fruits of your labor. You can say, ‘I had a role.’ You can drive down the street past a library and say…
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Victory Center on Eisenhower Avenue considered an "emerging possibility."
Could the FBI move its headquarters to Alexandria? On Tuesday during a City Council meeting, Mayor Bill Euille asked city staff what could be done to put Alexandria in contention to land the agency. The General Services Administration announced last week that it is reviewing sites for a new FBI headquarters. U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8th) and several other local lawmakers then sent a letter to the GSA administrator urging him to consider Northern Virginia. Euille said Tuesday that Moran mentioned the vacant Victory Center on Eisenhower Avenue as a possible location for the FBI at a meeting of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties in Tysons Corner. “Where are we and what can we do to be in line to be considered to be one…
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Two Alexandria properties will submit bids to bring agency headquarters to the city.
Properties at the Hoffman Center and Carlyle Plaza will submit lease bids to potentially land the National Science Foundation, which sent out its request for proposals for a new headquarters last week. Alexandria Deputy City Manager Mark Jinks and Alexandria Economic Development Partnership President and CEO Val Hawkins made a presentation to Alexandria City Council about the bids on Tuesday night. “[The General Services Administration] has said who can provide the best bottom line… is considered the winner,” Jinks said. “I think you’ll see a lot of sharpened pencils all over the region in the next month.” This month, the GSA pushed back the deadline for the agency to be in its new home by two years, to December 2016, potentially opening …
Sunday, November 18, 2012
City continues to plug away on Environmental Impact Study process for three potential station locations.
As part of the analyses of three potential sites for a Potomac Yard Metro station, balloon tests will occur over the next several weeks in order to document the visual impacts of the station designs. Tests will occur during a three-week period beginning Monday, with a final test date proposed for Dec. 7. Specific weather conditions are needed to conduct the tests, which will be used to collect photos and video of each of the proposed station locations and to make visual renderings. Balloons will be visible from the George Washington Memorial Parkway for as much as 90 minutes while the tests are being performed. The city reminds drivers that stopping along the parkway is prohibited. The total cost of the testing will not be known until …
Friday, November 16, 2012
Session dealt with discussion of the acquisition of open space, though few details are known.
Alexandria City Councilwoman Alicia Hughes refused to take part in a closed meeting with Mayor Bill Euille and other members of council Tuesday night to discuss pending or possible city litigation and potential acquisition of real estate. What exactly was discussed in the session is unclear. Councilman Paul Smedberg announced that the closed session was called under reasons stipulated in the Code of Virginia, adding that it was called specifically to discuss “the acquisition of real property for public open space and likely litigation that may result from the acquisition of real property to support infrastructure, safety and other public purposes.” Just before councilmembers exited the City Hall chamber for the closed session, Hughes, who …
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Resolution works as a policy statement from the city governing the rents of current tenants.
Alexandria City Council approved a resolution Tuesday establishing the city’s voluntary rent guidelines at an increase of not more than 5 percent in situations where a tenant pays utilities and not more than 7 percent where a landlord pays utilities. The guidelines were the recommendation of the city’s Landlord-Tenant Relations Board, which analyzed rent data, market forecasts and vacancy surveys. The resolution works as a policy statement from the city governing the rents of current tenants, Vice Mayor Kerry Donley said. Virginia does not allow rent control and he doesn’t think it ever will. The rent increase guidelines are largely followed by landlords in the city, officials said. The resolution has been annually revised for about 30 …
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Foundation donated $40,000 for construction of Miracle Field.
Alexandria City Council moved on Saturday name the Lee Center softball field “The Kelley Cares Miracle Field.” Construction of a synthetic turf baseball diamond at 1108 Jefferson St. designed specifically for use by individuals with special needs is currently underway. The surface will be entirely covered in a rubber-like compound that allows a cushioned surface for wheelchairs, walkers and more. The main focus is to allow those with special needs to play diamond sports in an inclusive environment. Council approved naming the field after the Kelley Cares Foundation following a recommendation from the Miracle League of Alexandria. The Kelley Cares Foundation has raised thousands of dollars for the city’s therapeutic recreation program in …
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Friday, September 7, 2012
Alexandria's Fire and Police departments along with the Sheriff's Office and the Department of Community and Human Services recognized officers and others for their exemplary work.
Four first responders on Thursday were honored for their exemplary performance after graduating from a training program designed to better equip them with necessary skills when they interact with individuals exhibiting behavioral health issues. Alexandria Police Officer Bennie Evans said at the awards ceremony that the Crisis Intervention Team program gave him a certain satisfaction in his job: “I can always write a ticket. I can always take someone to jail, but can I solve a problem?” Evans, who was noted for his work with the city’s homeless population, also was part of the Alexandria delegation that attended the National CIT Conference last year. He was singled out for helping a particular Alexandrian, who had been homeless for years, …
David Potomac Yard
12:32 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
The metro station will be funded out of a special tax district and private contributions from developers. The city's bond ratings have recently been reaffired at AAA and the rating agencies know full well of the planned metro station. The contract with the developer even includes an early lump sum baloon payment to keep the city within its statutory limit. Also, the travel delay will be minor to … more ›