Seminary Hill Members,

I hope that your 2024 has gotten off to a good start. Three things to cover with you...

Tonight's Board Meeting. The board meets tonight 2/8 in what has become a rare opportunity to meet in person. Please join us starting at 7 pm at Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary Road. Among other things, we will be discussing the King Street road diet planned for the area around Bradlee Shopping Center, the Potomac Yard Arena proposal, the upcoming city council election, plans to reconfigure the Duke/Cambridge intersection south of Bishop Ireton High School, and the continuing challenges for our residents on North Earley Street between West Braddock and Menokin. 

Zoning for Housing Challenged in Court. The Coalition for a Livable Alexandria, which became prominent during the Zoning for Housing debate this past fall, has filed a lawsuit against the City of Alexandria. They have raised over $25,000 to fund the legal fees, but will need much more to see the case throught. To refresh your memory, the bundle of ordinances passed by city council just after Thanksgiving would allow a property owner or developer to tear down a single-family home in most of our neighborhoods and replace it with (up to) a four-unit apartment building. It would also ease parking restrictions in all of our neighborhoods to accommodate greater density. The CLA is asking for the community's financial support on what appears to be a well-considered case. You can review information on the case and make a donation at www.LivableAlexandria.org

King Street Road Diet at Bradlee. City representatives briefed our board and members at our December meeting on an initiative to redesign the stretch of King between the intersection of King/Braddock/Quaker and Menokin. They are calling it "the King Street-Bradlee Safety and Mobility Enhancements Project." The information presented was vague but the project, if implemented, is likely to fundamentally alter what has been a very safe and well-functioning corridor for as long as anyone can remember, several decades at least. The city will hold an Open House from 5:00-7:00 pm next Thursday 2/15 at Fairlington Presbyterian Church, 3846 King Street. There will be a brief presentation at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. 

One other thing. We continue to hear reports that a few people do not feel like the board wants to hear from them. That could not be further from the truth. Please reach out any time to me at bill.rossello2@PROTECTED. I would be happy to discuss any issue with you or refer you to your area representative for a conversation. And you can always attend one of our monthly meetings on the second Thursday of the month and ask to be heard. Note that we do not meet in the months of July or August.

That's it for now. The board hopes that you can join us tonight at Immanuel-Church-on-the-Hill.

Best regards,

Bill Rossello, President