Tidal Flooding, School Safety: Top News Of 2021 In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — While 2021 continued to be overshadowed by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, there was a variety of news that interested Old Town Alexandria Patch readers.

Business news tends to be one of our popular topics. There were various openings in 2021, such as Barca Pier & Wine Bar, Goodie's Frozen Custard & Treats, Shop Made in Virginia and many more. We also said goodbye to local favorites such as Atlantis Pizzeria and Family Restaurant and Silver Parrot. There was big news on the Landmark Mall front as City Council approved redevelopment agreements. Progress is being made on the Carlyle Crossing development as apartments begin leasing and Wegmans is expected to open in 2022.

There were some notable stories focused on schools. One of the top stories involved safety incidents and school resource officers at Alexandria public schools. School resource officer funding had been removed by City Council and replaced with mental health positions. But safety incidents in and around schools in the fall — including the arrest of a student with a gun outside the high school — caused school officials and parents to express concerns. City Council returned school resource officers temporarily while an alternative school safety plan is developed. However, SROs at Alexandria City High School were recently put on leave as a complaint is investigated. Alexandria City Public Schools also made the name changes official at Alexandria City High School and Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School.

Flooding continues to be a topic of interest. Impacts of flooding continue to be seen, from flash flooding in Del Ray to historic tidal flooding on the waterfront. City Council approved the doubling of the stormwater utility fee to work on flood mitigation.

Lastly, there were various other stories drawing interest, from city government news to community happenings. A collective bargaining ordinance, community policing review board and pay increases for public safety personnel were approved. A plastic bag tax will begin on Jan. 1, 2022. Alexandria will say farewell to retiring Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, longtime Councilwoman Del Pepper, Vice Mayor Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (who will represent the 45th Virginia House District) and Councilman Mo Seifeldein. Next year, a City Council with three new members will be sworn in, and a new city manager will take over for retiring City Manager Mark Jinks.

To stay up to date on Old Town Alexandria news in 2022, subscribe to our free news alerts and morning newsletter. If you would like to share story ideas, send me an email at Emily.Leayman@patch.com.

Here are Old Town Alexandria's top stories of 2021:

Business

• Barca Pier & Wine Bar Opens This Week In Alexandria
• Wegmans To Open Alexandria Location In 2022, Hiring Begins
• Goodies Holds Soft Opening At Ice House In Alexandria
• Bob & Edith's Diner To Open Alexandria Location
• Hank & Mitzi's Closes For 'Foreseeable Future' In Alexandria
• Old Town Alexandria Restaurant Gets Help From Barstool Fund
• Alexandria Eatery Feeds National Guard During Inauguration Week
• ESP Tea & Coffee Opens With New Ownership In Alexandria
• Landmark Redevelopment Agreements Approved By Alexandria Council
• Atlantis Pizzeria And Family Restaurant To Close In Alexandria
• St. Elmo's Coffee Pub Opens Old Town North Location
• Alexandria Drive-In Ceases After Last Movie This Weekend
• Carlyle Crossing To Start Pre-Leasing For First Apartments
• Chewish Deli Seeks To Open King Street Location
• Banana Republic, Gap Closing In Old Town, Retail Space Available
• Turkish Coffee Lady Seeks To Open At Former Blüprint Chocolatiers
• Shop Made In Virginia Opens Location In Old Town Alexandria
• Silver Parrot To Close After 44 Years In Alexandria
• Kismet Modern Indian Opens In Old Town Alexandria
• Foxtrot Market To Replace Le Pain Quotidien In Alexandria
• Mae's Market And Cafe Opens In Old Town Alexandria
• Call Your Mother Deli To Open Alexandria Location: Report
• Emmy Squared Pizza To Open On Lower King Street In Alexandria
• Taco Bamba To Open Location In Landmark Area
• The Old Town Shop Marks 4 Years, Finds Success Amid Pandemic
• Salon Meraki Holds Ribbon Cutting For Expansion In Old Town

Flooding

• Flash Flooding Results From Heavy Rainfall In Alexandria: Photos
• Tidal Flooding Moves Into Old Town Alexandria Streets: Photos
• Stormwater Utility Fee Proposed To Double In Response To Flooding

Schools

• Alexandria City High School Lockdown Lifted, Student In Custody
• Temporary School Resource Officer Program To Return In Alexandria
• 'Serious Complaint' About SROs Investigated In Alexandria
• School Board Approves New Names For T.C. Williams, Maury Schools
• T.C. Williams Name Changed To Alexandria City High School
• Sign Replaced At Renamed Naomi L. Brooks Elementary In Alexandria

Police and fire

• Community Policing Review Board Approved In Alexandria
• Alexandria Protest Canceled Amid 'Credible Threats From Fascists'
• Day-Long Barricade Ends As Suspect Surrenders In Alexandria
• VA Shopping Cart Serial Killer: 4 Victims Found, More Suspected
• Woman's Death Investigated As Homicide In Alexandria
• Vehicle Stolen While Victim Pumps Gas In Alexandria: Police
• Threat To Bomb Metro Station Leads To Charge In Alexandria
• Gunshots Call In Alexandria Leads To Arrests, Death Amid Pursuit
• 1 Indicted For Alexandria Murder, 17 Indicted For Racketeering
• Alexandria Man Sentenced For $18M Fraudulent Investment Scheme
• Pedestrian Loses Both Legs In Alexandria Crash: Police
• 1 Injured In Shooting Near Braddock Road Metro

Other community news

• Alexandria Election Results: Mayor, City Council, School Board
• 3 Outgoing Alexandria City Council Members Honored
• 2-Cent Real Estate Tax Reduction In Alexandria Approved Budget
• Pay Increase Approved For Alexandria Government Employees
• New City Manager Appointed By City Council In Alexandria
• Alexandria Sheriff Lawhorne To Retire At End Of 2021
• Plastic Bag Tax Starts Jan. 1 In 3 Northern Virginia Localities
• First Night Alexandria 2021 Activities Canceled, Fireworks On
• Black Teen Lynched In 1897 Remembered In Alexandria
• Noah Lyles Takes Bronze Medal In 200M At Tokyo Olympics
• Olympic Medalist Noah Lyles Speaks On Mental Health In Alexandria
• Permanent King Street Block Closure Approved By City Council
• Alexandria Police Lose Parking Enforcement Officer To COVID-19
• Remembering 9/11 Victims From Alexandria 20 Years Later
• Centuries-Old Garden Wall Collapses At Lee-Fendall House
• Potomac River Generating Station Tours Draw High Interest: Photos
• Earl Lloyd Statue To Be Revealed In Alexandria
• Venomous Snake Sighting In Alexandria Leads To Capture
• Collective Bargaining Ordinance Approved In Alexandria
• Fines Eliminated At Alexandria Library Locations
• Alexandria Among Most Diverse U.S. Cities In 2021
• Resident Group Opposes Proposed Development In Southwest Old Town
• Alexandria's Overall Commercial Property Value Down In 2021
• Free Fares, Redesigned Bus Network Coming To DASH In Alexandria
• Alexandria Dog Born Without Front Legs Seeks New Wheels
• Alexandria Ranks Among Best Cities To Live In America
• Alexandria Named Third Best Small City By Condé Nast Traveler