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Alexandria's civic calendar is packed this week, with a combined budget mega-session, a long-awaited environmental crisis town hall, and a federal workers resource fair.
Here's what you need to know this week.
Budget season's biggest night yet lands Wednesday. What was supposed to be two separate work sessions is now one: City Council will hold a joint Work Sessions No. 4 and No. 5 on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center, 4850 Mark Center Drive, after Monday night's session was canceled due to weather.
The combined session is the largest of the budget cycle, covering two major functional areas totaling more than $720 million. "Livable, Green & Prospering" — at $210.8 million — spans housing, transit, transportation and planning; "Healthy, Thriving & Equitable" — at $511.2 million — covers Alexandria City Public Schools, Community and Human Services, the Health Department, Recreation and Parks, and the Library. The ACPS allocation alone comes in at $336.9 million, up 2% from the current year. The meeting is open to the public and will be webcast, though public comment is not taken during work sessions.
Ryan Belmore
Also Wednesday evening, the Board of Architectural Review holds its monthly public hearing at 7 p.m. in Room 1305 at Mark Center. Two properties stand out on the docket. At 330 N. Washington St., the board will consider both a partial demolition/encapsulation request and a concept review for the same applicant — a pairing that suggests a substantial renovation is in early stages at that prominent Old Town address. In Parker Gray, 632 N. Columbus St. also has paired requests before the board: alterations and a separate partial demolition and encapsulation application.
The week's most significant community event is Thursday's Potomac Interceptor town hall at the Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson St., from 7 to 9 p.m. Alexandria is the first Virginia jurisdiction to hold a public hearing on the crisis — a distinction Mayor Alyia Gaskins pushed for after DC Water's two community briefings in late February were held in Washington and Bethesda with no Virginia session announced.
DC Water and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality will field questions about the Jan. 19 collapse, which sent more than 200 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River — one of the largest spills in the region's recorded history. Alexandria's waterfront recreational advisory was partially lifted March 5, but the event will address ongoing water quality concerns, repair status and long-term rehabilitation. Residents who can't attend in person can join via Zoom or watch a recording on the city's YouTube channel. Questions can be submitted in advance through the registration form — the deadline is 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Ryan Belmore
It's also a good week for anyone who loves Alexandria's green spaces. On Wednesday evening at 6 p.m., the city's Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities department is hosting the Adopt-A-Park season kickoff at 2900 Business Center Drive — a chance for existing volunteer groups to review updated procedures, request supplies and connect with park staff, and for newcomers to sign up. The kickoff dovetails with Saturday's nature walk at Dora Kelley Nature Park at noon and a World Water Day family event at 10 a.m. — a fitting trio given the week's broader focus on Alexandria's waterways.
On the schools front, tonight brings the ACPS School Health Advisory Board at 6:30 p.m. in the ACHS Rotunda. And Friday marks Eid al-Fitr, the holiday celebrating the end of Ramadan, observed by a significant portion of the ACPS community.
Also worth noting: The Human Rights Commission meets tonight at 7 p.m., the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission convenes the same evening, the Transportation Commission and the Stormwater Utility and Flood Mitigation Advisory Group both meet Wednesday, and the Public Health Advisory Commission meets Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
On the weekend, Saturday stands out. Rep. Don Beyer and all four Northern Virginia jurisdictions are co-hosting a resource fair at 10 a.m. for federal workers and contractors affected by workforce changes — a direct local response to the national moment. And Saturday afternoon, the public art installation "Now or Never" by Alicia Eggert opens at Waterfront Park with an artist reception from 1 to 4 p.m.
Ryan Belmore
And yes, it's St. Patrick's Day. Tonight, the city's Eco-City Alexandria program is setting up at Atlas Brew Works, 2429 Mandeville Lane, at 7 p.m. for Tuesday Trivia — tabling for the free Eco-City Homes program and handing out sustainability goodie bags. Probably the greenest St. Paddy's Day tabling in the region.
Ryan Belmore
This week's full calendar
Tuesday, March 17
- 6 a.m. — Chinquapin Open
- 6:30 p.m. — ACPS School Health Advisory Board, ACHS Rotunda
- 6:30 p.m. — Budget & Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee regular monthly meeting
- 6 p.m. — AlexRenew regular Board of Directors meeting, Ed Semonian Boardroom (also livestreamed)
- 6 p.m. — Planning & Zoning virtual community update
- 7 p.m. — Historic Alexandria Resources Commission, in-person
- 7 p.m. — Commission for the Arts monthly meeting
- 7 p.m. — Human Rights Commission regular monthly meeting
- 7 p.m. — Eco-City Alexandria at Atlas Brew Works Tuesday Trivia, 2429 Mandeville Lane
Wednesday, March 18
- 6 a.m. — Chinquapin Open
- 9:30 a.m. — Alexandria Electoral Board, in-person
- 6 p.m. — Adopt-A-Park season kickoff, 2900 Business Center Drive
- 6 p.m. — Gang Prevention Community Task Force meeting
- 6 p.m. — Free tax preparation services for eligible Alexandria residents
- 7 p.m. — Board of Architectural Review public hearing, 4850 Mark Center Drive, Room 1305
- 7 p.m. — Alexandria Archaeological Commission, in-person
- 7 p.m. — Transportation Commission meeting, 2900 Business Center Drive
- 7 p.m. — Stormwater Utility and Flood Mitigation Advisory Group (in-person with Zoom option)
- 7 p.m. — Budget Work Sessions No. 4 & No. 5 (combined): Livable, Green & Prospering / Healthy, Thriving & Equitable, Del Pepper Community Resource Center, 4850 Mark Center Drive
Thursday, March 19
- 6 a.m. — Chinquapin Open
- 11:30 a.m. — Commission on Aging Outreach Committee, virtual
- 5:30 p.m. — ARHA Redevelopment Work Group
- 5:30 p.m. — Public Health Advisory Commission, 4850 Mark Center Drive, Room 3451 (virtual option available)
- 6 p.m. — Towing Advisory Board, DASH Facility, Board Room A18
- 7 p.m. — Park & Recreation Commission, 2900-A Business Center Drive
- 7 p.m. — Commission on IT monthly meeting
- 7 p.m. — Potomac Interceptor response town hall, Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson St. (also via Zoom); advance questions due by 10 a.m. Wednesday
- 7:30 p.m. — Environmental Policy Commission meeting, virtual
Friday, March 20
- All day — Eid al-Fitr
- 6 a.m. — Chinquapin Open
- 3 p.m. — Alexandria Library Board special meeting (executive session)
- 6:30 p.m. — Grown-Up Field Trip: Black History Museum
Saturday, March 21
- 7 a.m. — Minnie Howard Open
- 8 a.m. — Chinquapin Open
- 9 a.m. — Free tax preparation services for eligible Alexandria residents
- 10 a.m. — Rising to Meet the Challenge resource fair for federal workers and contractors (co-hosted by Rep. Don Beyer, City of Alexandria, Town of Falls Church, Arlington County and Fairfax County)
- 10 a.m. — World Water Day family event
- 10 a.m. — Alexandria Police Department hiring event
- 12 p.m. — Nature walk, Dora Kelley Nature Park
- 1 p.m. — Opening reception: "Now or Never" by Alicia Eggert, Waterfront Park, 1 Prince St. (artist remarks at 1:30 p.m.)
Sunday, March 22
- 7 a.m. — Minnie Howard Open
- 8 a.m. — Chinquapin Open
- 11 a.m. — Specialty tour: Women in Medicine, Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
For more information, visit the City of Alexandria's calendar here or the Alexandria City Public Schools' calendar here.
