Old Town North Community PARTNERSHIP — UPDATE
- Taste of Old Town North: The event is planned for May 18, from 5 to 7 pm in Montgomery Park. Jay Palermino is working with neighborhood restaurants to bring you a variety of food tasting experiences. The Parks and Recreation Department is providing music by the Richard Walton Group. OTNCP will offer a limited number of tables where neighborhood businesses can display their products and services, and another display area for use by City departments that have information pamphlets and resources applicable to our neighborhood. For more information or to volunteer, call Bruce Machanic at 703-836-8066.
- Montgomery Park Improvements: Construction will begin this spring on a number of improvements planned for the park. First in line is removal of the chain link fence blocking the park entrance along Fairfax Street and on First Street. Next will be construction of a handicapped-accessible path from Royal Street into the park as far as the planned picnic shelter structure. A community sign will be erected that will provide a central point for community information. OTNCP is raising funds for its promised share of these improvements. A number of naming opportunities are available through the purchase of benches and trash cans that will be labeled with the donor’s name. The second phase of improvements begins in October 2006 and includes extension of the path to Fairfax Street, reconfiguration of the dog park to provide the same amount of space but in a better arrangement, and landscaping.
- Community Information Sign: We are preparing a base map showing points of interest in Old Town North, including residential areas, bicycle and pedestrian paths, historic features, and retail areas. This permanent map will be combined with a bulletin-board type area that will provide listings up upcoming events and activities in the neighborhood and this newsletter.
- Neighborhood Business Directory: We have compiled a list of neighborhood-serving businesses and will soon publish a three-panel guide and map showing the types and locations of businesses in Old Town North.
- Summer Concerts: As part of our partnership with the Alexandria Department of Recreation, we are bringing you two summer concerts in Montgomery Park:
- On July 18, Blue Rhythm Boys
- On August 1, Jumpin’ Tonight
Concerts are free and open to all.
PROPERTY VALUES UP SHARPLY IN OLD TOWN NORTH
Our neighborhood has been discovered: Old Town North experienced sharply higher property values in 2005. Citywide, the average values as reflected by the City’s assessments on January 1, 2006 are up 19.5%. The average value of a single-family house in Alexandria (including townhouses) is $667,386, and the average value of a condominium is $363,592.
And now, a selection of current for sale listings in our neighborhood:
Alexandria House: 2BR 2 BA condo $ 529,900
Chatham Square: 3BR 3.5 BA townhouse $ 975,000
Harbor Terrace: 2BR 1.5 BA condo $ 407,000
Liberty Row: 2BR 2.5 BA condo $ 724,000
Potomac Shores: 1BR 1 BA condo $ 275,000
Portner House: 3BR 3 BA condo $ 855,000
Portner’s Landing: 3BR 3.5BA townhouse $ 924,900
Port Royal: 1BR 1BA condo $ 324,000
Rivergate: 3BR 4.5 BA townhouse $1,119,000
Watergate: 2BR 2.5 BA townhouse $ 517,000
Residential property (including multi-family rental buildings) accounts for 72% of all real property assessments in Alexandria. Office, retail, and service property makes up only 23.0% of total real property assessments, and vacant land is 2.6%. In case you are wondering, public service corporation property is the rest.
TC Williams Crew holds events in Old Town North
The TC Williams Crew Program, operating from the Boathouse at the foot of Madison Street, has kicked off the spring rowing season. On March 25, the annual Run vs. Row event took place in Oronoco Bay Park, and along Fairfax and Union Streets.
Coming up April 1 and April 8 are two local meets, starting at the Boathouse early in the morning. April 1, TC meets Washington-Lee, and April 8, TC hosts Robinson. Even if you don’t have a child at TC Williams, come and watch the races. The Boathouse is open, parents and volunteers are there to greet you, and you can go on the dock to watch the races. Come on over (preferably walking or biking!) and have some fun watching our high school team!
Did YOU KNOW…
At the site of today’s Radisson Hotel on North Fairfax Street, the Old Dominion Glass Company built a factory in 1901. Ravaged by fire in 1902 due to the explosion of a gas pipe, but soon reconstructed, the plant manufactured white flint beer and soda bottles, flasks and medicine bottles. Another fire in November 1920 destroyed 1,400,000 drug bottles. The plant closed and furloughed 250 employees. Eventually the plant was sold at auction in 1926.
Other glass companies were located along North Henry Street in the early 1900s. By 1930, Alexandria’s four glass factories were closed, either by fire or as a result of prohibition. These closures led to Alexandria’s decline as an industrial center before World War II.
Put these events on your calendar
City Council candidates’ forum, April 6 from 7:30 pm to 9 pm at the Radisson hotel, 901 North Fairfax Street
City Council election, May 2. Old Town North residents vote at the Ladrey highrise at 300 Wythe Street (between Fairfax and Royal Streets). School Board members are also elected at this time. We are in District A.
Taste of Old Town North, May 18, 5 to 7 pm in Montgomery Park.
Jamestown Festival, May 27 to June 3, various locations on the waterfront from Founders Park to Waterfront Park.
The 25th Annual Alexandria Red Cross Waterfront Festival is scheduled to once again take place in Oronoco Bay Park, on June 17 and 18. For more information, consult the festival’s web site at www.waterfrontfestival.org.
Summer concert, July 18, 7 to 8 pm, Montgomery Park:
The Blue Rhythm Boys (jazz)
Emergency preparedness guide available
The Alexandria Health Department has published “Are You Ready” a guide to preparing for emergencies at home and work. The guide tells you what to do in case of several specific emergencies, lists emergency contact phone numbers, and provides a list of basic supplies to keep on hand at your home. One key recommendation is to designate someone in another state as the person to receive phone calls from family members who cannot communicate with each other in Alexandria due to power outages and other disruptions; that person then acts as clearinghouse and coordinator until everyone in the family has been located. The guide is available from the Health Department at 703-838-4400 or at www.alexhealth.com.
SIGN UP FOR OLD TOWN NORTH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP MAILING LIST
Please send an email with your contact info@oldtownnorth.org. Or complete and mail the form below to Old Town North Community Partnership, c/o Montgomery Center, 300 Montgomery Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314.