Table of Contents
Good morning, Alexandria.
Three stories today about officials changing course.
Alexandria's transportation director rejected both designs on the table for Russell Road — the Traffic and Parking Board's recommendation and the one her own staff carried to that board — and proposed a third. City code required her to explain that in writing, and she did, in an Aug. 7 letter.
In Fairfax County, Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez has come off the sidelines on the Edsall Road data center substation. He declined to take a position last week; on Thursday he asked the Planning Commission to recommend denial, saying he isn't convinced Dominion Energy exhausted its alternatives. And city planners say the 25 draft recommendations for Duke Street are still open to revision, with public comment closing Aug. 21.
Here's what you need to know for Monday, August 10.
1️⃣ T&ES director rejects both plans for Russell Road, proposes a third
The director of Alexandria's Department of Transportation and Environmental Services has rejected both the Traffic and Parking Board's recommendation on Russell Road and the recommendation her own staff brought to that board, and has instead proposed a third design.
In a letter to the board dated Aug. 7, Director Leah Riley wrote that she had determined a new alternative would "significantly improve pedestrian safety while balancing neighborhood concerns," and would also satisfy the board's request that staff find additional parking for Naomi Brooks Elementary School.
The letter is required by city code. When the board's recommendation does not fully support the action a director intends to take, the code directs the director to notify the board in writing of the decision and the reasoning behind it, and to make that explanation public.
Ryan Belmore
2️⃣ Mason District supervisor asks Fairfax planners to deny Edsall Road substation
The Fairfax County supervisor whose district includes the proposed Edsall Road data center substation has asked the county Planning Commission to recommend denying it.
Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez released the statement Thursday, saying he is not convinced Dominion Energy has fully exhausted alternative sites, co-location opportunities or design modifications before settling on the Edsall Road location. He asked the commission to recommend denial of the utility's 2232 application in its current form.
"Reliable electric service is essential, and I recognize the need to invest in infrastructure that supports our growing region," Jimenez said in the statement. "But that responsibility must be balanced with our obligation to protect the neighborhoods where people live, raise families, and build their communities."
Ryan Belmore
3️⃣ Duke Street planners open door to changes as comment deadline nears
Residents have until Friday, Aug. 21, to comment on the 25 draft recommendations that would guide development along Duke Street for the next two decades, a set of proposals city planners said Wednesday they are still willing to change.
The recommendations, posted July 20, cover roughly seven miles from Alexandria Union Station to Van Dorn Street and represent the first comprehensive rethinking of the corridor's land use since 1992. They address building heights and length, affordable housing requirements, retail, parking, street design, parks and tree canopy. The city has also posted a set of accompanying figures and a glossary of terms for readers working through the document.
At Wednesday's virtual meeting — the eighth since the process began in June 2025 — Deputy Director Jeff Farner of the Department of Planning and Zoning said the format was deliberate. Earlier city plans ran long and dense, he said; residents asked for fewer recommendations, plainer language and graphics that made the intent clear.
Ryan Belmore
In brief
Rep. Don Beyer, who represents Alexandria, joined two Northern Virginia colleagues Thursday evening in an unannounced visit to Immigration and Customs Enforcement's temporary holding facility in Chantilly, the latest in a series of congressional inspections of a site that drew allegations of severe overcrowding last year. (The Brief)
Crews are scheduled to work on eight street segments this week under the city's repaving and street maintenance program. (The Brief)
The joint committee studying changes to how Alexandria elects its School Board holds its first meeting Aug. 25, roughly a month later than the resolution creating it directed and one day after students return to class. (The Brief)
The city opened a survey Friday asking residents which state legislative priorities matter most to them, part of the annual process of assembling Alexandria's request list for the Virginia General Assembly. (The Brief)
Today is the deadline to apply for the Alexandria Fire Department's fall community academy. (The Brief)
Today is also the deadline to help ACPS fill 3,500 backpacks with school supplies. (The Brief)
The Alexandria City School Board has scheduled a special called meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 6 p.m. to convene a closed session to discuss a personnel matter. (ACPS)
The Washington Commanders are supporting girls' flag football programs across Virginia, including in Alexandria. (WUSA9)
Sports
Shakira Austin had 19 points and 11 rebounds, Sonia Citron also scored 19 points and the Washington Mystics beat the Phoenix Mercury 95-75 on Sunday to extend their win streak to seven games. (The Brief)
Abimelec Ortiz hit his second career home run, Will Dion led a bullpen outing that allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings and the Washington Nationals beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-1 on Sunday to sweep the series. (The Brief)
Natalie Jacobs scored late in stoppage time to give the visiting North Carolina Courage a 4-3 victory over the Washington Spirit on Saturday. (The Brief)
Today's Schedule
- No games today.
Today in Alexandria
⛅ Weather
Today: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95 degrees. Heat index values as high as 100 degrees. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%
Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76 degrees. Southwest wind around 5 mph, becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide
Sunrise at 6:14 a.m., sunset at 8:11 p.m. 13 hours & 56 minutes of sun.
High tide at 3:07 a.m. & 3:53 p.m. Low tide at 10:24 a.m. & 9:50 p.m. The moon phase is a Waning Crescent.
🗓️ Things To Do
- 6:30 p.m.: Joggers & Lagers at Port City Brewing Company
- 7:15 p.m. DC premiere of Skweezy Jibbs Makes a Movie with Skweezy live at AMC Hoffman Center
🎶 Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Just For Fun at 9 p.m.
- Clyde’s at Mark Center: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
- Daniel O’Connell’s: Traditional Irish Music at 7 p.m.
- Del Ray Public House: Trivia at 7 p.m.
- Epicure on King: Open Mic at 7 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: Jim West at 6 p.m.
- Mason Social: Rook Richards at 5 p.m.
- Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Colby Sard at 8:30 p.m.
- O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
- Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
🏛️ City & Schools
- 6 a.m.: Chinquapin Pool open
- 7 a.m.: Minnie Howard Pool open
- 9:30 a.m.: Alexandria Electoral Board at Voter Registration Office
- 10 a.m.: Memorial Pool open
- 11 a.m.: Warwick Pool open
- Noon: Old Town Pool open
- 7 p.m.: Human Rights Commission executive committee meeting at Charles Houston Recreation Center
- 7 p.m.: Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee meeting at Lloyd House
📚 Alexandria Library
- All day: Alexandria Library: A Legacy of Service Since 1937 at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 10:15 a.m.: Baby Time at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
- 10:30 a.m.: Senior Bingo at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 11:15 a.m.: Baby Time at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
- 1 p.m.: English Language Learning (ELL) at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 5:30 p.m.: English Language Learning (ELL) 2 Workshop — Intermediate Conversation at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 7 p.m.: Diversity Book Club — "Memory Piece" by Lisa Ko (Zoom)
- 7 p.m.: Friends of Duncan Library board meeting at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
Editor's Note: The listings above reflect information available at the time of publication. Schedules are subject to change.
On this day in Alexandria's history
This weekend marked the 52nd anniversary of the night Richard Nixon resigned and the nation's eyes turned to a house on Crown View Drive in Alexandria. We published the full story Saturday. If you missed it, it's worth your time.
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Publisher: Ryan Belmore - Alexandria resident, journalist, and neighbor. Send news, tips, and feedback to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.
