Daily Brief | April 29

Good morning, Alexandria. It's Wednesday, April 29 — the 119th day of 2026, with 246 days left in the year.

After what feels like hundreds of hours of meetings — and even more hours writing about them — budget season is expected to come to an end tonight. Kind of.

Council convenes at 6 p.m. to adopt the $977.3 million FY2027 operating budget and set the tax rate. The real estate rate is expected to hold flat at $1.135 per $100 of assessed value. Parking citation increases, the BPOL tax bump, and the stormwater fee hike are all on the table for final votes. Sunday meters are dead.

A last-minute add for ACPS is still technically possible tonight — but after council declined to close the $5.6 million gap during add/deletes, don't hold your breath. Superintendent Kay-Wyatt presents an adjusted spending plan May 7.

Meanwhile, the city council heard a proposal last night to commit up to $135 million in tax increment financing to redevelop the former Potomac River Generating Station and authorized $20 million in revenue bonds for the Ladrey rehabilitation.

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1️⃣ Alexandria considers $135 million in tax increment financing to redevelop former Potomac River Generating Station

Rendering of Potomac River Generating Station (PRGS) Power Plant Redevelopment (City of Alexandria)

The City of Alexandria is considering a request from HRP Group to commit up to $135 million in tax increment financing over roughly 30 years to help redevelop the former Potomac River Generating Station, the 18.87-acre coal-fired power plant site on the Old Town North waterfront that closed in 2012.

City Manager James Parajon presented the framework Tuesday night to the Alexandria City Council in an oral report, calling the project "one of the largest projects the city has undertaken" and framing the proposal as a way to keep the long-stalled redevelopment moving in a difficult economic climate.

"This is not a new proposal," Parajon told the council. "This project has been with the community for at least the last three to four years, with a series of conversations as well as entitlement processes that city councils have taken action on. And really, what this is about is trying to get this project to construction."

2️⃣ Council authorizes $20 million in revenue bonds for Ladrey rehabilitation, preserving 159 affordable senior units in Old Town

The Ladrey, an 11-story affordable senior housing building at 300 Wythe Street in Old Town, will undergo a full rehabilitation funded in part by up to $20 million in revenue bonds authorized Tuesday by the Alexandria City Council. (Developer's presentation, via City of Alexandria)

The Alexandria City Council on Tuesday unanimously authorized the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority to issue up to $20 million in revenue bonds to finance the rehabilitation of The Ladrey, the 11-story affordable senior housing building at 300 Wythe Street in Old Town.

The unanimous vote preserves 159 deeply affordable apartments serving senior and disabled households and clears one of the final local hurdles before construction can begin in January 2027. All current residents were relocated by January 2026 and have a guaranteed right to return to the rehabilitated building, which is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2028.

Councilman Canek Aguirre pulled the item from the council's consent agenda to request a presentation, citing how much the project has evolved from earlier proposals.

3️⃣ Alexandria to adopt FY 2027 budget, set 2026 tax rate tonight

Alexandria council set to adopt $977M budget, raise some parking and business license rates (City of Alexandria)

The Alexandria City Council convenes in special session tonight to adopt a $977.3 million fiscal 2027 operating budget, set the city's real estate tax rate for calendar year 2026 and take final votes on a package of tax, fee and code changes.

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the council chamber at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center, 4850 Mark Center Drive.

City Manager James Parajon's proposed budget recommends holding the real estate tax rate flat at $1.135 per $100 of assessed value, generating a projected $578.1 million. In March, council voted unanimously to advertise a ceiling of $1.145, preserving the option of a one-cent increase before tonight's vote. Each penny on the real estate rate yields about $4.9 million in revenue.

4️⃣ Alexandria up for 'Best Small City' in Condé Nast Traveler awards

A mural in Arlandria (Misha-Enriquez/Visit Alexandria)

The city has been nominated for "Best Small City in the U.S." in the 2026 Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards and is seeking public votes to maintain its position among the nation's top small cities.

Alexandria has held a top-three ranking since 2023, finishing third in 2025, behind Charleston, South Carolina, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, while surpassing destinations including Savannah, Georgia, and Honolulu, Hawaii.

Visit Alexandria is conducting a campaign to encourage residents and visitors to vote for the city at cntraveler.com/vote, rating Alexandria as "excellent" across all categories. Voting closes June 30 at 11:59 p.m.

5️⃣ Madison Street Tattoo raises over $12,000 for the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria

Sarah Manning, AWLA's Development Operations Specialist; Danny and Liz with Madison Street Tattoo, and Vicki Smith, AWLA's Administrative Specialist. (AWLA)

A weekend fundraiser at Madison Street Tattoo raised more than $12,000 for the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, exceeding expectations as dozens of participants got inked for a good cause.

The "Tattoos for Rescues" event on Saturday, April 25, brought together animal lovers, tattoo artists and community members for a 10-plus hour marathon that saw five dedicated artists tattoo more than 50 participants. The shop donated 100% of the day's proceeds — totaling $12,100 — to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria and also collected physical donations of pet food and supplies.

📰 In brief

⚓ Alexandria

Alexandria City Council on April 14 appointed Rosemarie Spano, second vice president of the Rosemont Citizens Association, to a 2-year term on the Traffic and Parking Board, selecting a civic association officer who had testified on her organization's behalf against parking removal in the board's recent Braddock Road decision over a longtime resident with bike-advocacy credentials and a city transit committee member. (Read more)

Two Alexandria-based nonprofits received grants from the American Water Charitable Foundation as part of $77,199 in Water and Environment funding awarded to four Virginia organizations. (Read more)

An alleged Islamic State militant falsely confessed to helping plan a deadly suicide bombing at a Kabul airport during the U.S. military’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, a defense lawyer told jurors Tuesday at the close of the man's trial in Alexandria. (Read more)

AlexRenew has begun testing flows in its waterfront tunnel system, marking a major milestone as the utility prepares to launch the RiverRenew program this summer. (Read more)

The city will kick off its 19th annual Community Cookout series May 6 at Mount Vernon Recreation Center, launching nine neighborhood events through June that offer free food, activities and connections to city services. (Read more)

Maana K. Parcham, a longtime prosecutor with experience on both sides of the criminal justice system, began serving April 1 as a juvenile and domestic relations judge for the 18th Judicial District, taking over a court that handles one of the broadest ranges of cases in Virginia's judicial system. (Read more)

"As the two-party system continues to expose itself as undemocratic, it’s essential to explore the ways in which we can organize outside of and around it". (Theogony)

🗞️ Region

A federal judge overseeing a lawsuit that could decide whether Washington's Kennedy Center closes in July for renovations questioned the Trump administration's plans for the storied performing arts venue, asking Tuesday why the center needed to be closed entirely and whether the administration had done the research to back that decision. (Read more)

As lawmakers work behind closed doors to finalize the state’s $212 billion budget before the next fiscal year begins in July, negotiations hinge on whether the data center industry’s sales and use tax exemption should end, or continue with new requirements. (Virginia Mercury)

🏀 Sports

Juan Soto hit a two-run homer that capped a seven-run fourth inning and the New York Mets breezed to an 8-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night. (Read more)

Today in Alexandria

⛅ Weather

A chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m. High near 69 degrees. Light southeast wind becoming south 6 to 11 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. The chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch are possible.

Showers and thunderstorms tonight before 11 p.m., then a slight chance of showers between 11 p.m. and midnight. Low around 51 degrees. Southeast wind 7 to 11 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph. The chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, except higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.

🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide

Sunrise at 6:12 a.m., sunset at 7:58 p.m. 13 hours & 46 minutes of sun. High tide at 7:32 a.m. & 7:59 p.m. Low tide at 1:29 a.m. & 2:10 p.m. The moon phase is a Waxing Gibbous.

🗓️ Things To Do

11 a.m.: The Women of Lee-Fendall at Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden
7 p.m.: Murphy’s Run Club at Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub

🎶 Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Bill Pappas Project at 9 p.m.
Atlas Brew Works: Bingo at 7 p.m.
Augie's: Mackenzie Ryan at 5 p.m.
Evening Star Cafe: Ray Castro at Hi-Fi at 6 p.m.
Hops N Shine: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Pete Chauvette at 6 p.m.
Lost Boy Cider: Line Dancing at 6:30 p.m.
Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Kenny Kohlhaas at 8:30 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
Southside 815: Rook Richards at 9:30 p.m.
The Birchmere: Alan Doyle with Bandits on The Run at 7:30 p.m.

🏛️ City of Alexandria

6 a.m.: Chinquapin Open at Chinquapin
1 p.m.: Medicare 101 Presentation
6 p.m.: FY 2027 Budget Adoption / Tax Rate Adoption
6 p.m.: Minnie Howard Open at Minnie Howard
6:30 p.m.: Embrace Your Voice — Annual Sexual Assault Awareness Month Poetry Share
(City of Alexandria calendar)

📚 Alexandria Library

10:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.: 1s and 2s Time at Beatley Central Library
10:30 a.m.: Stitcher's Space at Burke Branch Library
11 a.m.: Just Babies at Barrett Branch Library
1 p.m.: Medicare 101 at Duncan Branch Library
2 p.m.: Artful Flowers at Burke Branch Library
5 p.m.: Spitfire Club at Duncan Branch Library
5:30 p.m.: English Language Learning (ELL) 2 Workshop at Beatley Central Library
6 p.m.: Ghost Stories in the American South at Barrett Branch Library
6 p.m.: Knit Nite! at Beatley Central Library
6 p.m.: DIY Paper Marbling at Duncan Branch Library
6:30 p.m.: English Language Learning at Duncan Branch Library
7 p.m.: Romance Book Club (virtual)
(Alexandria Library calendar)