Wednesday, March 6, 2013
City Council will consider waterfront measures at March 16 public hearing.
The Alexandria Planning Commission approved two zoning text amendments in a meeting that ran into early Wednesday morning that will allow the city to circumvent pending litigation and begin implementing a long-debated waterfront redevelopment plan, provided City Council signs off on the measures later this month. • See: Alexandria City Council to Vote Once Again on Waterfront Plan Opponents of the plan, who have spent more than two years expressing their concerns over new development on the Old Town waterfront, stated old worries and some new ones to the commissioners. Andrew Macdonald, a former vice mayor who ran a failed campaign for mayor last year largely built on opposition to the city’s waterfront proposal, told the commissioners the…
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Maria Wasowski, Nate Macek and Derek Hyra appointed to influential board.
Donna Fossum, a member of the Alexandria Planning Commission for more than two decades, was voted off the prestigious board on Tuesday night. Three new Planning Commission members were appointed by City Council—Maria Wasowski, Nate Macek and Derek Hyra. Longtime commissioners Larry Robinson and Jessie Jennings stepped off the influential body, which makes recommendations to council on special use permits, requests for vacations or encroachments of public right-of-ways, rezonings, master plan amendments and other requests. Members also represent the Planning Commission on other city boards. “I didn’t get a single vote after 23 years on the Planning Commission,” Fossum told Patch. “I didn’t get a thank you. I have no idea of why. … Don’t …
Monday, January 28, 2013
The buildings at 204 and 206 S. Union St. are in the midst of renovations and Columbia Capital is set to move in this spring.
The father and son team of Larry and Bob Brandt of architecture firm Lawrence Brandt are well underway in making significant renovations of two historic warehouses along Old Town’s river side. Bob Brandt told the Waterfront Plan Work Group in October 2011 of his plans to renovate the building located at 204 and 206 S. Union St. The Brandts bought the building to renovate it and venture capital firm Columbia Capital will be the new tenant, expected to move in around May. The venture capital firm invests primarily in communications, media and information technology firms. “Renovating this building is the most fun I’ve had in 25 years,” Bob Brandt said during a public tour Thursday evening attended by some city officials and community members…
Friday, June 8, 2012
Alexandrian Nate Macek urges voters on June 12 to show their support for the city's experienced leaders.
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Friday, June 8, 2012
To the Editor: On June 12, Alexandrians have a tremendous opportunity to shape the future of City Council. As we head to the polls, it’s useful to take stock of the good fortune our City has experienced over the past decade: Given this solid performance, the clear choice on June 12 is to nominate a slate of experienced leaders responsible for Alexandria’s success. At the top of the list are Democratic incumbents Paul Smedberg and Del Pepper. They, along with Mayor Bill Euille and their Democratic council colleagues have made tough decisions required sustain Alexandria’s forward momentum. Both deserve another term. To be effective, they’ll need the support of council members who share their vision for the City, concern for its citizens, …
Friday, April 13, 2012
Speakers before Board of Zoning Appeals were largely critical of the city's process and said the system needs to be repaired.
Members of the Board of Zoning Appeals heard harsh remarks about the city’s conduct and the appeal process during Thursday night’s public hearing on a petition calling for the rejection of city rezoning of the waterfront area. Public speakers largely represented a group of activists who have staunchly opposed the city’s plan to redevelop the waterfront although a few voices supported the city’s actions. Co-founder of Citizens for an Alternative Alexandria Waterfront Plan Andrew Macdonald, who is also running for mayor, characterized the city as a “spoiled child who has done everything under the sun to thwart a fair and decent and honest process…There were a lot of meetings, but it doesn’t mean a good open dialogue and fair process.” CAAWP …
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Waterfront Plan Work Group releases its final report at a City Hall news conference.
After six months and hundreds of hours of debate, the Waterfront Plan Work Group on Tuesday morning released its official recommendations on redevelopment of the city’s riverside. As expected, it addresses issues such as traffic congestion, parking, development and the environment, among many other things. “The work group did what we were asked to do—lay out the issues presented for consideration. There are a lot of complex issues here and there was never an expectation that the group would come to a consensus,” said Nate Macek, who also chairs the city’s Waterfront Committee. “Our role was to highlight areas of agreement and disagreement.” Among the group’s major recommendations are better quality parks, quick city action to create a more…
Monday, November 21, 2011
Group, which has generally supported city plan, to hold special work session this month to vote on whether to adopt stances laid out in alternative plan.
The Waterfront Committee, a group of citizens that meets regularly to address issues relating to the city’s riverside, is considering lending its approval to parts of a new report crafted by Citizens for an Alternative Alexandria Waterfront Plan. CAAWP Co-founders Andrew Macdonald and Boyd Walker made a presentation to the committee at its regular morning meeting on Nov. 15. The committee agreed at that time to host a special work session to consider supporting elements of the CAAWP plan. The meeting has been tentatively scheduled for Nov. 29 in the afternoon. The committee, which is also charged with making recommendations to City Council, has been supporting the city’s draft plan for waterfront redevelopment. However, Committee Chairman …
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Waterfront Work Group discusses trolley and transportation linkages.
Alexandria is currently looking to expand trolley service outside of Old Town, with several proposed routes in Del Ray. Abi Lerner of the city’s Department of Transportation and Environment Services briefed the Del Ray Citizens Association on Monday about some potential routes in Del Ray and Carlyle. The motorized trolley currently runs free passenger service from King Street Metro station down to the waterfront along King Street. Lerner identified four alternative routes under examination. The first would start at Braddock Road Metro station, move north on Mt. Vernon Avenue and then loop down Commonwealth Avenue by Cora Kelly School and back to Mt. Vernon along W. Reed Avenue. A second alternative would start at Braddock Metro, run north …
Friday, October 14, 2011
A sometimes contentious 3-hour meeting in Cameron Station yields results on the issues of marinas, piers and the arts.
The Waterfront Plan Work Group got off to a rocky start Wednesday night when it took half an hour just to approve the minutes from the prior week, although its members eventually got into a groove. City Councilman Paul Smedberg, who generally oversees the work group as a non-voting member, was unable to attend as he was stuck on a plane in Chicago. Professional moderator Sherry Schiller was also absent, leaving city Planning and Zoning Director Faroll Hamer to lead the group. Some friction was apparent from the get-go when member Bob Wood, who listened to the prior meeting via teleconference, suggested changes to that meeting’s minutes. Mindy Lyle responded: “These are minutes. Why are you trying to change things?” Nate Macek added: “This …
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Waterfront group makes headway, but concerns loom over best approaches.
The group striving for common ground on the city’s waterfront redevelopment plans met this week to address flood mitigation and some aspects of parks and recreation. Group member Mindy Lyle asked City Engineer Emily Baker, on a scale of 100 to zero, what are the city’s chances of getting flood mitigation grants, to which Baker said “not zero, but low.” Businessman Bert Ely, who is also a member of a group seeking an alternative to the city's plan, asked why it should include recommendations for flood mitigation at all. “Is it a significant enough issue?,” he asked. “I believe so and that’s what we heard from the community,” said Baker. “It should be incorporated in what’s being done in parks and open space.” The city’s flood mitigation …
38.80423
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King St & N Union St, Alexandria, VA
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Benny
10:31 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
Can we now please start redeveloping the Del Ray area?! The single family homes are wasting space suitable for high density development! Alexandria needs more hotels and high rise condo buildings and Del Ray is a prime location for it. more ›