RCA Newsletter: May 2025

Fourth of July

Unfortunately, we are again unable to hold a Fourth of July event because this summer the Brooks schoolyard will again be used for staging for window replacement (the work having been delayed by the discovery of lead last year), and the lack of suitable alternative locations.  However, we are again gearing up to hold the revived Oktoberfest on September 27!  We are also excited to hold monthly happy hour events – next at the Rosemont Cellar on June 11, 5-7pm, sponsored by Shaun Murphy, Realtor at Compass.  Please join us!

May Meeting Report

Thanks to all who attended our meeting on May 21.  Tamara Jovovic of the City’s Office of Housing provided a presentation on its housing master planning process; a copy is available at  https://rosemontcitizens.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Housing-2040-Rosemont-Civic-Association-052125.pdf.

Information about the overall process (including an upcoming meeting on June 17) is available at  https://www.alexandriava.gov/planning-and-zoning/planning-zoning-bi-monthly-virtual-community-updates.

(And a reminder that various email updates from the City are available via https://www.alexandriava.gov/enews.)

Other agenda items at the meeting included:

* A preview of an updated RCA website – please see the work-in-progress at https://joelle515.wixsite.com/rosemont-citizens-as and let us know of any feedback – as well as if you have any photos or other content we might include.

* The membership voted to confirm the appointment of two new Board members, to fill vacancies – Jordan Eccles as 1st VP and Rosemarie Spano as 2nd VP.  Please join us in welcoming them to the Board.

* A report on the City hall renovation project.  All City offices are expected to be relocated this fall, with construction to start in the spring.  Many offices will be located at 421 King Street, but other locations will be used, and Transportation and Environmental Services will be permanently relocated, primarily to 2900 Business Center Drive.  The farmers market also will be relocated temporarily, as the plaza will be part of the project.  For more information, please visit  http://www.alexandriava.gov/CityHall.

* The PELT Committee reported that the timetable for the replacement of the rail bridges over Russell Road and Commonwealth Avenue is expected to slip, with construction to begin in 2026 and completion in late 2027.  For more information, please visit  https://www.alexandriava.gov/transportation-planning/king-commonwealth-infrastructure-investments.

Virginia Primary Elections

A primary election will be held on Tuesday June 17, to elect the Democratic candidates for Lt. Governor and Attorney General.  For more information please visit  https://www.alexandriava.gov/Elections.

PELT Committee Update

Duke Street Land Use Plan Notice

Starting this summer, the City of Alexandria will engage with stakeholders to update the comprehensive land use plan for the Duke Street corridor between Callahan Drive and Landmark Mall. This four-mile stretch of roadway is likely quite familiar to our community and the decisions made regarding land use, density, height and transportation will impact Rosemont for decades to come.

On April 14, 2025, members of the City Planning Staff gave a presentation to your PELT committee. We are at the very beginning of what appears to be a two-year process. Here is a link to the PowerPoint that was shared with us: intro_presentation_dslup.pdf

Here is a link to the website dedicated to posting information on the effort: Duke Street Land Use Plan | City of Alexandria, VA

As we begin to see postings to this website and meetings are scheduled, we will connect with our neighbors to highlight the opportunities for engagement.

Next RCA Meeting

Please join us for the next RCA meeting on September 17 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 100 West Luray Avenue, at 7pm.

Agenda items will be forthcoming; we expect to be joined by Mayor Gaskins!

Resources from Alexandria Sheriff’s Office

The Alexandria Sheriff’s office offers a house-watching service (https://www.alexandriava.gov/sheriff/away-from-home-check).  Additionally, the Sheriff continue to offer “Project Lifesaver” to help track adults and children with special needs (https://www.alexandriava.gov/sheriff/project-lifesaver) and will offer another edition of its “academy” introducing community members to its operations in September 2025 (https://www.alexandriava.gov/academies/sheriffs-community-academy).