Set-Asides for Affordable Housing, Open Space Eliminated Due to 'Miscommunication'

Mayor Bill Euille says there is a chance to fix an issue caused by a misunderstanding between city staff and council during the budget approval process.

Alexandria City Council eliminated the mechanism of set-aside funding for affordable housing and open space acquisition when it adopted its fiscal year 2014 budget last week in a move that is being chalked up to miscommunication between city staff and council. • See: Alexandria, Your Average Tax Bill Is Increasing $314 “If this was a misunderstanding or miscommunication, we still have a chance to go back and fix it,” Mayor Bill Euille said Friday. “We’ll have more conversations about this at Tuesday’s meeting.” The city takes a percentage of the real estate tax rate for both affordable housing and open space funds.  Throughout budget work sessions, some councilmembers expressed a desire to move away from dedicated funding mechanisms, …

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Drew Hansen

12:52 pm on Wednesday, May 15, 2013

I was at the meeting last night and the issue of the set-asides was not discussed. I believe they will pick it back up at the June public hearing when the ordinance is scheduled to be codified.   more ›

Alexandria: Your Average Tax Bill Is Increasing $314

City Council unanimously adopts $624.8 million operating budget for fiscal year 2014.

Alexandria City Council unanimously adopted Monday evening a $624.8 million operating fund budget for fiscal year 2014 and an increase of $314 to the average residential real estate tax bill. The city’s real estate tax rate is increasing 4 cents to $1.038 per $100 of valuation and the vehicle personal property tax is increasing to $5 per $100 of valuation. While councilmembers noted the tax rate increase is substantial—it is the maximum increase they voted to advertise in March—Mayor Bill Euille noted Alexandria has the second-lowest tax rate in Northern Virginia behind Arlington County. • See: Alexandria Council Advertises 4 Cent Increase to Real Estate Property Tax Rate Increasing the tax rate by 4 cents was "nothing anyone on this dais …

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tom blackwood

1:58 pm on Friday, May 10, 2013

Our bill was also up 9.9% from the previous year thanks to the rate and assessment increase combination. My 2013 bill is almost 40% higher than 2007 or 5.8% higher per year on average. According to a website, the inflation rate from 2007 to 2013 was 13.77%. ( http://inflationdata.com/Inflation/Inflation_Calculators/Cumulative_Inflation_Calculator.aspx ) I am sure there are valid reasons why the …   more ›

Vice Mayor Silberberg's 'Council on Your Corner' at Ramparts

Meet with Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg Saturday morning about whatever is concerning you.

Alexandria Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg is hosting her latest Council on Your Corner public gathering at Ramparts Tavern on Saturday, May 4. From 10 a.m. to noon, Silberberg invites to public to discuss issues on their minds at the restaurant located at 1700 Fern Street in the Fairlington Shopping Center. There will be coffee, juice and light refreshments served. For attendees wishing to enjoy the food and coffee, the host asks for a flat fee of $5 to cover the restaurant's expenses. It is not necessary to RSVP. In January, the Alexandria Democratic Committee watched President Obama's State of the Union address at Ramparts.  

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Beauregard Plan OK'd Amidst Pleas for More Affordable Housing

Alexandria Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg casts the lone dissenting vote; residents asked for more affordable housing.

The Alexandria City Council paved the way for large-scale redevelopment of the Beauregard corridor on Saturday by approving rezoning to implement the Beauregard Small Area Plan, with Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg casting the lone dissenting vote. Silberberg argued that the plan, which calls for the city to subsidize the rent for 800 units of long-term committed affordable housing, didn’t provide enough affordable housing given the displacement of thousands of low- to moderate-income residents to make way for upscale condos and apartments. Nine people spoke in favor of providing more affordable housing in the Beauregard plan during a public hearing before the council vote. Meadowbrook Apartments resident Veronica Calzada broke down sobbing…

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Council OKs Waterfront Amendments

Council's Saturday action on two amendments enables further implementation of the city's Waterfront Small Area Plan designed to revive the riverside.

City Council voted 6-1 Saturday afternoon to allow new kinds of development along the Alexandria waterfront and allowing the city to curb litigation currently stalling the city’s plans to redevelop its riverside. Council also voted 6-1 on an amendment clarifying a part of the zoning code governing property owners’ protest petitions. Deputy Director of Planning and Zoning Karl Moritz explained Saturday that the text amendment “is needed to implement elements of the small area plan such as permitting hotels.” The newly adopted text amendment would allow hotels under certain circumstances, permit cultural institutions and offer rules governing size and height of new development.’ It also would allow structures 5,000 feet or larger that “…

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Letter to the Editor: Hill Supports Silberberg's Waterfront Compromise

Alexandria resident Ken Hill believes one hotel on the waterfront is a compromise that will bring closure to the divisive waterfront debate.

To the editor, A leader has stepped forward to advance a rational compromise on the waterfront plan not unlike Councilwoman Del Pepper did last year. Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg’s proposed adjustment limiting new hotels in the waterfront plan to one would protect our precious resources and the quality of our environment. Further, this compromise would promote the economic well-being of our city while advancing the needed improvements to protect and enhance our waterfront. Its adoption may satisfy the interests of competing sides on the issue, help heal the wounds and bring a rational closure to this divisive issue. As early as December of 2011, Ms. Silberberg opined in the Washington Post about compromise on the Alexandria waterfront …

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Mark Mueller

9:25 am on Saturday, March 9, 2013

Ruben- with the city's proposed change to the zoning ordinance, one can expect the pace of high density development to accelerate. Worse yet, close in neighbors will have very little if any ability to protest those projects. The waterfront is our "Alamo.". For details, check out www.whatsreallynext.com .   more ›

Letter to the Editor: Desfosses on Silberberg's Waterfront Compromise

Helen Desfosses supports Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg's compromise on Alexandria's waterfront plan.

To the editor, I am writing this letter to support the compromise Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg seeks regarding the waterfront plan. I supported her strongly during the City Council campaign, particularly because she understood the importance, in her words, of all of us serving “as the temporary stewards of this national treasure called Alexandria.”  The waterfront was key to that concept of stewardship during the campaign; it has become even more critical to our city’s beauty and legacy once more. Because of the increased pace of council activity on the waterfront issue, the public effectively has one big chance left to get involved, and that is to attend and to speak at the public hearing on Saturday, March 16 beginning at 9:30 a.m. It …

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Folk Legend Pete Seeger Joins Alexandria Waterfront Debate

Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg reaches out to 93-year-old musician, receives letter opposing "modernized" waterfront.

Alexandria Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg is making a push for “reasonable compromise” on the city’s waterfront plan and has brought in the assistance of folk music legend Pete Seeger. Silberberg's push follows the introduction of a new zoning text amendment by city officials earlier this month that, if approved, will allow the city to overcome existing litigation and spur new development along the riverside of the Potomac. See: City Council Aims to Vote Again on Waterfront Plan Elected in November, Silberberg is the lone current councilmember to express opposition to the plan and a desire to spend more time on it. Her idea for compromise includes limiting the number of hotels along the waterfront. The current plan calls for two small …

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Defy Libtards

7:24 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013

If that restaurant/nightclub were called Leather and Lace, I'm sure our male civic leaders would most certainly be looking to "solicit" that business owner for "advice". And perhaps help pay someone's way through "law school". Isn't that right David Englin?   more ›

Alexandria Vice Mayor Hosting First 'Council On Your Corner' Saturday

Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg will be at St. Elmo's Coffee Pub from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Alexandria Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg is holding the first of what she plans will be monthly gatherings this weekend. Her charter event is set for St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub in Del Ray. Saturday’s event will run from 10 a.m. to noon. Silberberg invites residents to stop by for a cup of coffee and share their thoughts and ideas. No RSVP is required for the casual event. St. Elmo's is located at 2300 Mount Vernon Ave. Silberberg earned the most votes among council candidates in the November election, earning the title of vice mayor. A first-time elected official, Silberberg was installed along with the rest of the new council Jan. 2. Silberberg said she plans her next "Council On Your Corner" coffee for March 2 at a location to be determined. …

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Join the Conversation: On Second Vote, Silberberg, Chapman Support Affordable Housing Project

First-time councilmembers granted revote after initially voting against Reed Avenue complex.