Monday, March 11, 2013
The city's Planning and Zoning Department held an informal meeting to present possible park designs and collect community input on potential park features.
City planners hosted an informal gathering over the weekend to gather input and offer information about a proposed park on the Wythe Street Post Office block. “The idea for this meeting is to get as many people in the neighborhood exposed to what is going on here,” said Planning and Zoning Deputy Director Karl Moritz, who was at the Saturday afternoon meeting answering community questions. The park was approved with the Braddock Road Metro Station Small Area Plan in March 2008 and in May 2010 the city purchased for $2.35 million with open space funds a property at 600 N. Henry St. as the first step in the park’s implementation process. At the time there was no available funding for park planning or construction, according to an Aug. 28, …
Monday, November 19, 2012
GenOn is aggressively disassembling its plant in North Old Town, but must wait for a company merger before making key business decisions.
GenOn is aggressively dismantling the Potomac River Power Generating Station in Alexandria but plans for its future are temporarily on hold until the firm completes its merger with Princeton, N.J.-based NRG Energy. When completed, the merger will create the nation’s largest electricity generator and include a portfolio of fossil, solar, nuclear and wind facilities. The deal is expected to close by the first quarter of 2013, according to an NRG news release. Phase One of the Potomac River plant deactivation is scheduled to be completed mid-2013 with Phase 2 beginning “in earnest” with completion of the merger, said GenOn Vice President for Asset Management Misty Allen on Thursday night. The company must complete a financial analysis of the …
As power company GenOn dismantles its plant in North Old Town, Pepco says it will remain and work on remediation efforts.
Power company Pepco plans to operate its substation indefinitely on its site in North Old Town so that it can serve customers in Washington, D.C., Maryland's Montgomery and Prince George’s counties as well as areas in Northern Virginia. It does not serve power to the City of Alexandria. “Pepco will continue to be a good neighbor. We will continue to have the substation and we’re working closely with GenOn on remediation,” said Wes McNealy, director of environmental services for Pepco parent company Pepco Holdings, at a Thursday night meeting. GenOn officially shut down its electricity generation operations Oct. 1. Pepco's substation was connected to the plant and it owns the land leased by GenOn. McNealy outlined for the North Old Town …
Friday, October 5, 2012
New restaurant bills itself as a "creative play on an all American favorite, hot dogs and fries."
Restaurant Haute Dogs and Fries opened Friday in North Old Town, bringing all kinds of downtown and uptown dogs to Alexandria. It serves all-beef franks as well as sausages and brats from Loudoun County's Fields of Athenry and Lothar's Gourmet Sausages. The restaurant, at 610 Montgomery St., serves more typical dogs with relish, mayo and mustard but also menu items such as The Bombshell, which comes covered in carmelized onions, mango, pineapple and jalapenos. Customers are also welcome to select from 18 toppings to create their own dog. The restaurant also serves lobster rolls, fish and chips, nachos and more. Staff hopes to begin beer sales in the next two weeks or so. If you happen to have room for dessert, try the Eskimo Dog, which is…
Monday, October 1, 2012
Coal-fired power plant ceased operations Oct. 1.
Alexandria officials lauded the closure of the Potomac River Generating Station on Monday, saying the plant’s retirement will bring an end to decades of harmful air pollution and health problems to the region. “Today is a great day,” said Mayor Bill Euille, calling the closure of the plant, which opened in 1949, “a community success” and a good example of how citizens and the city can work together. Democratic Rep. Jim Moran of Virginia, who was instrumental in championing the plant closure along with many Alexandrians, called the closure a “hard fought but well-won victory” that wouldn’t have happened without citizen engagement. He said the plant emitted 72 lbs. of mercury in a year and data showed that it was the catalyst for at least 3,…
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Mayor Bill Euille and U.S. Rep. Jim Moran to speak at press conference Monday morning in front of coal plant in north Old Town.
GenOn’s Potomac River Generating Station is expected to cease operations on Monday, ending 63 years of coal-fired power production in north Old Town. Alexandria will mark the occasion with a 9:30 a.m. press conference at the power plant’s main gate at the corner of N. Royal Street and Bashford Lane. Mayor Bill Euille and U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8th), who is a former Alexandria mayor, are scheduled to speak. Alexandria and GenOn struck an agreement to permanently close the plant on Aug. 30, 2011. Alexandria will release approximately $32 million currently held in escrow, which was set aside to pay for the additional environmental controls at the station as a result of a 2008 agreement between the city and GenOn. Operations at the plant have…
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
American Clean Skies Foundation announces $450 million plan that would retire the controversial GenOn coal power plant and create residential, retail and commercial space.
The American Clean Skies Foundation took steps Wednesday toward the transformation of the north end of Old Town and its waterfront. As part of an ongoing endeavor to retire the 62-year-old coal-fired electricity plant, the Washington, D.C. nonprofit released a $450 million plan that would reconstruct the site by around 2017. “Ambitious, but possible,” ACSF Chief Executive Greg Staple told a group of reporters at the National Press Club. The plan, called the Potomac River Green, includes residential, retail and commercial space, as well as a “21st century energy museum,” Staple said. The museum would be a micro-generation plant and support the building’s energy needs through geothermal, solar, fuel cell and micro-hydro power. The GenOn …
38.896475
-77.031886
529 14th St NW, Washington, DC
National Press Club
/articles/nonprofit-releases-plan-to-retire-coal-plant-redevelop-land
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Monday, June 13, 2011
Grocery store will be part of larger complex containing residential units
The Alexandria Planning Commission approved the rezoning, concept plan and special use permits for a new Harris Teeter grocery store at 735 N. St. Asaph Street in North Old Town at the end of a marathon meeting that adjourned at 2:51 a.m. Wednesday morning. The grocery store will be part of a new development that will include 175 rental apartments and two levels of underground parking. City staff recommended approving the proposal because it includes the grocery store provision, an “attractive architectural design” and the removal of vacant buildings as well as enhancements of the streetscape on the block. At the hearing, some nearby residents expressed concerns over increased traffic involving both cars and delivery trucks and worries …
38.812142
-77.044271
735 N Saint Asaph St, Alexandria, VA
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/locations/8359736
Sharon McLoone
4:41 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Hi Amy. Answers to your questions can be found at alexandriava.gov/braddock in the documents posted there. Brandi Collins of Planning and Zoning also would be able to explain some of these issues to you in more detail. brandi.collins@alexandriava.gov more ›