The Alexandria Brief: Thursday, November 20
BAR mandates chimneys, historic details for City Hall despite city's objections | What's happening today | and more.
Good morning, Alexandria. I’m Ryan Belmore, founder and publisher of The Alexandria Brief.
It’s a busy Thursday in Alexandria, from Beaujolais tastings to city commission meetings. Here’s what you need to know for Thursday, November 20.
Essentials
Weather: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52 degrees. Light and variable wind. Cloudy tonight, with a low around 42 degrees. Calm wind.
The sun will rise at 6:56 a.m. and set at 4:51 p.m. High tides at 8:19 a.m. and 8:24 p.m. Low tides at 2:33 a.m. and 2:14 p.m. There will be 9 hours and 54 minutes of sun.
Happening Today: World Celebrations Trivia Night, Caen Sister City Beaujolais Tasting, Bienvenue Beaujolais, Parks & Rec meeting, and much more. For a roundup of events, entertainment, and meetings happening today, visit the link below.
1️⃣ BAR unanimously overrules city on City Hall renovation design
The Alexandria Board of Architectural Review unanimously approved the City Hall renovation project Wednesday night, with extensive design requirements that the city had explicitly opposed, including mandatory chimneys and arched entrances.
The 7-0 vote came after Jeremy McPike, Director of General Services for the city, objected that board member Andrew Scott’s motion represented “a complete revision to the entire design” that was “not in the materials, not in the memo” the city submitted for approval.
2️⃣ Alexandria maintains perfect score
The City of Alexandria has maintained a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s 2025 Municipal Equality Index, marking the sixth consecutive year the city has achieved the distinction.
The 2025 index represents a record number of cities achieving perfect scores, according to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation report released this month.
3️⃣ $10.9 million to modernize Alexandria’s buses
U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced Tuesday that Alexandria will receive $10.9 million in federal funding for its DASH Bus Fleet Replacement & Facility Rehabilitation project.
The funding will help the city transition to 100% zero-emission buses and purchase and build necessary transit facilities to support its growing fleet.
4️⃣ The future of Duke Street
Alexandria will hold its first community open house for the Duke Street Land Use Plan on Wednesday, December 10, offering residents a chance to shape the future of the corridor stretching from Alexandria Union Station to Van Dorn Street.
The open house marks a key milestone in an 18- to 24-month planning process the city launched in June to update the comprehensive land use plan for the Duke Street corridor. The area’s land use concept was last comprehensively updated in 1992.
5️⃣ Potomac Yard Landbays G & H, Alfred Street Baptist Church affordable housing head to planning commission
The Alexandria Planning Commission will hold a public hearing Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers to consider multiple development proposals and zoning amendments.
Three development special use permits would transform sites at 2901 and 2601 Main Line Boulevard, 2900 Potomac Avenue and 601 E Glebe Road.
Alfred Street Baptist Church and The Community Builders, Inc. are seeking to redevelop 598 S. Alfred Street in the Old Town West neighborhood.
Woodbine Property 1, LLC is seeking a three-year extension for a previously approved development special use permit at 2729 King Street that would expire Oct. 15, 2025.
Extra Extra!
The Alexandria City School Board filed a lawsuit against former senior administrator Ayanna Harrison on Nov. 14, seeking nearly $800,000 in damages after discovering Harrison was working another full-time job in Georgia. (Alexandria Times)
The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s former CEO, Erik Johnson, filed a lawsuit against ARHA and its Board of Commissioners on Nov. 13, seeking at least $4.5 million in damages. (Alexandria Times)
Don’t Tread on Frank: How one man’s yard became a battlefield - “The trouble began when the Potomac Yard Homeowners Association reminded Frank Capone in mid-January 2021 to take down his Christmas lights.” (New York Times)
The prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey hit another hurdle in Alexandria on Wednesday as the Justice Department encountered mounting questions about how the case was presented to a grand jury for indictment. (WTOP)
ACPS’ Minnie Howard Campus has been recognized with an Award of Merit in ENR’s 2025 East Beast Projects. (Engineering News-Record)
Budding Politicians: Meet the Model United Nations Club at Alexandria City High School (Theogony)
The 2025 Alexandria Cider Festival will be held in the garden of the historic Lloyd House on Saturday. (City of Alexandria)
All City of Alexandria government offices will be closed on Thursday, November 27, and Friday, November 28, to observe Thanksgiving. Other schedule changes and closures are listed on the city’s website. (City of Alexandria)