Alexandria: Add/Delete Budget Drama
Council members spar over last minute additions.
A preliminary discussion of the City Council’s Add/Deletes from the budget led to a heated exchange between council members during their April 28 meeting.
Alexandria Mayoral Standoff
First debate in race for mayor focuses on failing infrastructure.
Differences between incumbent Mayor William Euille, current Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg, and former Mayor Kerry Donley emerged during a debate as the three took turns directing blame for Alexandria’s current problems on each of the other two during the first mayoral debate.
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.”
Alexandria: Battle of Robinson Terminal South Ends
Council approval yields compromises amidst unyielding opposition.
In a 5-1 vote, the City Council approved EYA’s redevelopment of Robinson Terminal South. In many ways, the City Council public hearing on April 18 was largely a repeat of the April 9 Planning Commission and a number of committee hearings before that. Many of the same voices from the audience voiced the same concerns or showed the same support.
Citizens Divided over Development’s Impact
While earlier meetings on the Robinson Terminal South Development tended to primarily pit local citizens against city staff and representatives from EYA, the developer, the proposal of four special use permits for the development drew a mix of reactions at the April 9 Planning Commission Special Public Hearing. After a presentation explaining the changes made to the site, the public responded with some in favor of the proposed buildings, some opposed, and many expressing opinions somewhere in between. Following the public discussion, the Planning Commission ultimately voted unanimously to approve the special use permits for the site.
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.
First Family Visits Alexandria on Easter
First Family worships at Alfred Street Baptist Church.
Members of Alfred Street Baptist Church received an unexpected visit from the First Family at the 10:30 a.m. Easter Resurrection service.
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.
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.
Brief: Quintanilla Sentenced To Serve 21 Years
On March 19, in the Alexandria Circuit Court, Jose M. Quintanilla, 44, was sentenced on one count of forcible sodomy, two counts of aggravated sexual battery, three counts of production of child pornography, two counts of possession of child pornography and two counts of indecent liberties with a minor.
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: 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.”
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.
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