The Alexandria Brief: Tuesday, Nov. 4

Good morning, Alexandria. Welcome to The Alexandria Brief. I’m Ryan Belmore, and I’ll be bringing you essential Alexandria news every weekday morning.

Here’s what you need to know for Tuesday, November 4, 2025.

Essentials

Weather: Today will be sunny, with a high near 62°F. West wind 7 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. It will be mostly clear tonight, with a low around 41°F, and light and variable wind. Sunrise at 6:38 a.m., sunset at 5:04 p.m.

On Tap Today: Voting, Banned Book Speakeasy, live music, and much more - What’s Happening in Alexandria - Tuesday, Nov. 4.

1️⃣ It’s Election Day

Virginia will be voting today for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, House of Delegates, commonwealth’s attorney, and sheriff. Polls are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. today. Find your polling location here.

Meanwhile, to our north, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, born in Alexandria in 1972, could potentially make history as New Jersey’s first female Democratic governor.

Early voting exceeds 2021 total in Alexandria ahead of Tuesday's election

Alexandria voters cast more early ballots in this election cycle than in all of 2021, with early voting ending Saturday after a 45-day period that saw strong and consistent turnout.

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Two Alexandria precincts voting at new locations on Tuesday

Voters in two Alexandria precincts will cast their ballots at different locations on Tuesday, unlike in recent elections.

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2️⃣ Alexandria faces its tightest budget in years

The Alexandria City Council is confronting its most challenging budget in recent memory, as city officials projected revenue growth of less than 1% for fiscal year 2027 at a budget retreat on Saturday, forcing difficult decisions about services and potential tax increases.

Alexandria faces tightest budget in years with less than 1% revenue growth

Alexandria confronts its most challenging budget in recent memory as city officials project revenue growth of less than 1% for fiscal year 2027, forcing difficult decisions about services and potential tax increases.

The Alexandria BriefRyan Belmore

Alexandria weighs tax increases as federal workers face economic squeeze

Alexandria faces a difficult timing dilemma: The city needs more revenue just as a significant portion of its taxpayer base confronts job losses and economic uncertainty from federal workforce reductions.

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Office vacancy hits 21% in Alexandria, but conversions slow commercial decline

Alexandria’s commercial office vacancy rate climbed to 21.1% in the second quarter of 2025, but city officials say an aggressive office-to-residential conversion strategy has significantly slowed the decline in commercial property values.

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3️⃣ ACPS faces a budget gap

Alexandria City Public Schools faces a $15.1 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2027 as the city grapples with minimal revenue growth and competing demands on limited resources.

Alexandria schools face $15 million gap as city offers limited funding increase

Alexandria City Public Schools faces a $15.1 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2027 as the city grapples with minimal revenue growth and competing demands on limited resources.

The Alexandria BriefRyan Belmore

4️⃣ North Royal Street closure

North Royal Street, between Cameron and King streets, will be closed to all traffic from November 10 to 13 for an investigation and testing of the City Hall and Market Square renovation.

North Royal Street to close Nov. 10-13 for City Hall project

North Royal Street between Cameron and King streets will be closed to all traffic for three days next week as the city conducts investigation and testing work for the City Hall and Market Square renovation project.

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5️⃣ BAR meets on Wednesday

The Alexandria Board of Architectural Review will meet on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers to review alteration requests for properties in the city’s historic districts.

Preview: Board of Architectural Review to meet Wednesday

The Alexandria Board of Architectural Review will meet on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers to review alteration requests for properties in the city’s historic districts.

The Alexandria BriefRyan Belmore

Extra Extra!

Mayor Alyia Gaskins’ monthly council report is here.

The Alexandria Flour Company Cooper Shop, now known as Cooper Mill, has been featured as a restored place in Preservation Magazine’s Fall 2025 Issue.

Theogony with a photo gallery from Del Ray’s 29th Annual Halloween Parade.

The City’s Office of Housing is hosting a virtual meeting on November 15 to obtain feedback on draft recommendations specific to the Strengthening Alexandria’s Condominium Communities Housing 2040 project.

The City invites community members to a construction information meeting on November 13 for an upcoming sanitary sewer project taking place in the 400 block of Wolfe Street in Old Town.

The Board of Zoning Appeals Public Hearing docket for November 10 is now available.