The Alexandria Brief: Friday, Feb. 20

Fire displaces 140 residents at Key Towers; School Board adopts $408M budget with warning; firehouse primary is tomorrow

Feb 20, 2026

Good morning, Alexandria. Today is Friday, February 20 — the 51st day of 2026, with 314 days left in the year.

A fire early Thursday at Key Towers displaced approximately 140 residents after flames damaged the building’s electrical system. No injuries were reported, but residents are temporarily relocating while repairs are completed. The city and Red Cross are assisting those affected.

The School Board unanimously adopted a $408 million budget Thursday night, preserving the Latin program after weeks of advocacy — but warning that deeper cuts lie ahead if the city doesn’t fund the full 3.5% request. City Manager Jim Parajon presents his proposed budget on Tuesday.

The firehouse primary is tomorrow. Online voting registration closes today at 5 p.m. In-person voting is 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Beatley Library and Chick Armstrong Recreation Center. YIMBYs of Northern Virginia released candidate rankings, with Tim Laderach and Sandy Marks at the top.

Here’s what you need to know today.

1️⃣ Fire displaces 140 residents at Key Towers apartment complex

6060 Tower Court, Alexandria. (Alexandria Fire Department)

A fire early Thursday at Key Towers, a 13-floor apartment complex in the Landmark/Van Dorn neighborhood, displaced approximately 140 residents after flames caused significant damage to the building’s electrical system. No injuries were reported.

Alexandria Fire crews extinguished the blaze at 6060 Tower Court and evacuated all residents by 5:34 a.m. The fire was later determined to be accidental, with flames contained to the building’s high-voltage electrical room. The damage left the building without power and other essential services, forcing residents to temporarily relocate while repairs are completed.

Key Towers participates in the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program, which provides rental assistance to lower-income residents. The city’s Department of Community and Human Services, the American Red Cross, and partner agencies are assisting those affected. No timeline for when residents might return was immediately available.

2️⃣ School Board adopts $408M budget, warns of deeper cuts if city falls short

ACPS School Board Meeting on Thursday, February 19 (screenshot)

The Alexandria City School Board unanimously adopted a $408.2 million budget Thursday, preserving Latin, Chinese, and Afghan family liaison programs after weeks of advocacy — but warning that deeper cuts lie ahead if the city doesn’t fund the full 3.5% request.

“A 1.5% increase from the city does not even cover a step increase for our staff,” Chair Michelle Rief said after the vote. “If we do not receive a 3.5% increase, we’re going to be forced to make even more difficult decisions — cutting positions, increasing class size.” The city manager’s guidance was 1.5%, or $4.2 million; the board is requesting $9.8 million.

The budget shifts 5% of healthcare premium costs to employees, saving approximately $2 million that had been earmarked for the division’s first collectively bargained agreements. City Manager Jim Parajon presents his proposed city budget on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The School Board may revisit its request in May once the city’s budget is finalized.

I’ll have more from last night’s School Board meeting throughout the day.

Read more: School Board adopts $408M budget

3️⃣ Firehouse primary is tomorrow — YIMBYs release candidate rankings

Democratic candidates for Alexandria City Council (YIMBY’s of NOVA)

The Democratic firehouse primary to fill Kirk McPike’s City Council seat is tomorrow, and a pro-housing advocacy group has released its final candidate rankings. YIMBYs of Northern Virginia gave Tim Laderach the top score at 4.6 out of 5, followed by Sandy Marks at 4.3. Roberto Gomez and Charles Sumpter scored 3.1 and 3.0, respectively — their rankings fell after Tuesday’s Federation of Civic Associations forum, where their remarks appeared to contradict earlier questionnaire responses on housing and transportation issues. Cesar Madison Tapia did not respond to the questionnaire.

The forum also reshaped the Braddock Road debate: Tapia, Sumpter, and Gomez withdrew support for the bike lane project, according to BPAC, while Marks and Laderach affirmed their support. All five had previously indicated support in written responses. Gomez has disputed the characterization of his remarks and has been invited to clarify his position.

Online voting registration closes today at 5 p.m. at alexdems.org. In-person voting is tomorrow from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Beatley Library and Chick Armstrong Recreation Center. So far, the winner faces former Councilman Frank Fannon, running as an independent, in the April 21 special election.

📰 In brief

Measles exposure reported at Alexandria office building as Virginia cases reach 10. Two adults who traveled together have tested positive, potentially exposing people at 2800 Eisenhower Ave. between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesday. The building houses a USCIS Application Support Center, medical offices and coworking spaces. Anyone present should fill out a VDH survey. The Alexandria Brief

Publisher’s note: Understanding the Braddock Road corridor improvements project. Ahead of Monday’s Traffic and Parking Board hearing, a guide to what’s being proposed, what residents are saying, and what questions remain. The city’s 271-page docket covers protected bike lanes, parking removal, traffic changes and community engagement — plus crash data showing 17 crashes and 8 injuries between 2019-2023. The Alexandria Brief

Can a museum visit make you a better citizen? Alexandria thinks its data has an answer. A national survey found that Office of Historic Alexandria museums boost visitors’ sense of civic engagement and community connection. The study was part of a federally funded initiative through the American Alliance of Museums, though it relies on self-reported responses from willing visitors. The Alexandria Brief

Tourism officials flag economic headwinds as Alexandria enters 2026. Visit Alexandria cited a 20-30% drop in Canadian visitation, tariff-driven price pressures, and a “K-shaped economy” reshaping who’s spending on travel. One bright spot: 28% of U.S. travelers say they’re interested in visiting for America’s 250th anniversary. The Alexandria Brief

Visit Alexandria unveils ‘Unlock Your Story’ marketing campaign. The new effort aims to broaden perceptions beyond Old Town and colonial history, centering on three themes: Historic, Not Static; Made Up of the Little Things; and A City of Independents. The campaign runs through June 2026, timed to cherry blossom season, America’s 250th anniversary, and the FIFA World Cup. The Alexandria Brief

What’s happening in Alexandria this weekend. Democrats head to the polls Saturday in the firehouse primary. Black History Month celebrations continue with a grown-up field trip to Freedom House Museum on Friday, a panel on Black lawyers in Virginia on Saturday, and a poetry slam at Charles Houston. Plus School of Rock at the Little Theatre of Alexandria. The Alexandria Brief

Community Lodgings secures $2.5M state award for Elbert Ave. affordable housing. The HOME-ARP grant helps finalize financing for a 94-unit project in Arlandria-Chirilagua that will replace 28 aging apartments. Construction is set to begin this spring; all current residents will be relocated to comparable housing during construction. The Alexandria Brief

Five candidates face off in Democratic City Council primary. Theogony profiles the candidates competing in Saturday’s firehouse primary: Cesar Madison Tapia, Sandy Marks, Charles Sumpter, Tim Laderach, and Roberto Gomez. The winner will fill the seat vacated by Del. Kirk McPike. Polls are open 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Beatley Library and Chick Armstrong Recreation Center. Theogony

Warner and Kaine call for reducing slots at DCA after NTSB report. The senators said the final report on January 2025’s midair collision “underscores the risk unsustainable traffic levels at DCA pose.” They said they will work on legislation to reduce slots at DCA and implement the NTSB’s safety recommendations. The crash killed all 67 people aboard both aircraft. Office of Sen. Tim Kaine

Warner passes health care priorities in government funding bills. The bipartisan health package includes provisions extending Medicare telehealth flexibilities, reining in pharmacy benefit managers, protecting rural hospital services, and adding multi-cancer early detection screening as a Medicare benefit starting in 2029. The legislation also reauthorizes programs addressing maternal mortality prevention and pediatric cancer research. Office of Sen. Mark Warner

On this day in Alexandria’s history: In 1755, General Edward Braddock arrived in Virginia to command British forces against New France; he later met with five colonial governors at the Congress of Alexandria — one of the first instances of tension over taxation between the colonies and Britain. In 1775, George Washington cast a vote for himself in a successful bid to be elected as a delegate to the State Convention. In 1859, St. Mary’s Hall formally opened on South Royal Street with separate educational spaces for boys and girls. And in 1950, civil rights pioneer Freeman H.M. Murray, 90, was struck and killed by a car at North Washington and Oronoco streets; Murray was one of 29 men at W.E.B. DuBois’ 1905 Niagara Movement meeting, which led to the founding of the NAACP. Historic Alexandria

Today in Alexandria

Weather: Rain, mainly before 11 a.m. Areas of dense fog before noon. High near 60 degrees. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch are possible.

Increasing clouds tonight, with a low around 41 degrees. West wind 6 to 9 mph.