Alexandria Gazette Packet
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Spring Fun Alexandria Page 14 Who’s Who Gazette Packet In Real Estate Page 18 25 Cents Serving Alexandria for over 200 years • A Connection Newspaper March 29, 2012 A Changing City Census shows shifting black population and increase in African-born residents. By Michael Lee Pope Gazette Packet Up ❖ percent of workers commuting by transit increased from 16 percent to lexandria is getting 22 percent older and more edu- ❖ percent of foreign-born residents from cated, and its residents Africa from 24 percent to 27 percent A ❖ percentage with a bachelor’s degree are increasingly likely increased from 54 percent to 60 to take public transportation to percent work. These are the conclusions of the latest Census information, Down which shows that Alexandria is a ❖ median household income as a city in the midst of perpetual percent of the regional median change. income decreased from 98 percent to “This information is important 94 percent ❖ percent of school-age children Princess Ann (Helen Megel), the Prima Donna (Nina Learner) and Jack (Kalista for a number of reasons,” said decreased from 25 percent to 24 Diamantopoulos) listen as Cool Cat (Alex Bourjaily) explains why he is graduating Planning Director Faroll Hamer, percent from the Toy School. ❖ percent of foreign-born decreased See Census, Page 3 from 25 percent to 24 percent Youth Showcase Theatrical Talents ‘The Rock Stars ast weekend parents and patrons were “Toy School” was enacted by the Tweeners Ltreated to a showcase of rising talent on Creative Dramatic Class, middle school students stage at the Little Theatre of Alexandria. took Shakespeare on stage with the “Haunting Of Alexandria’ The Singing for Musical Theatre Class per- of Will Shakespeare” and the High School formed a “Broadway Musical Revue,” Creative Improv Troupe just created works out of sugges- Salute to Women Awards 2012. by Photo Dramatics went on stage with “Tales for Beatrix tions. The showcase was produced by Genie Potter,” “Leaping Beauty” came into action with Baskir and the stage manager was Rob Cork. At the members of the Animals in Action group, the Little Theatre, Roland Branford Gomez is By Jeanne Theismann the governor of education. Gazette Packet Jeanne Theismann Photos by Louise Krafft/Gazette Packet he Alexandria Commis- T sion for Women held its 32nd annual Salute to Women Awards March 26 in a cer- emony that honored 14 individu- /Gazette Packet als who have made outstanding contributions to the community. “I can’t believe I am standing here,” said Misha’s Coffee owner Andrea Seward, winner of the Fire Chief AdamThiel con- Leadership in Business and Career gratulates Capt. Rodney Masser, recipient of the See ‘Rock Star,’ Page 9 Vola Lawson Award. Alexandria, VA 22314 VA Alexandria, To: 1604 King St., King 1604 To: ted Address Service Reques Service Address material. Ben Belmont as a beetle Time-sensitive Postmaster: in “Leaping Beauty” joins Attention hands with his classmate The middle school students for “The Haunting of Will Permit #482 Permit before the performance Shakespeare” begin to apply make-up for their March VA Alexandria, PAID on Saturday morning. 24 performance. Postage U.S. PRSRT STD PRSRT www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Alexandria Gazette Packet ❖ March 29 - April 4, 2012 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Alexandria Gazette Packet ❖ March 29 - April 4, 2012 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Council Notebook News Kissing and Riding For years, city leaders have thought the surface parking lot at the King Street Metro is just too suburban. Rosslyn doesn’t have a surface parking lot. Neither does Clarendon. That’s why Alexan- dria transportation officials have put together a $7 million plan to rebuild the facility. Although city officials once considered add- ing $433,000 to minimize disruption by spreading the construc- tion out into six phases, that was abandoned to save money and fast-track the project. “It’s like peeling off a Band Aid,” said Rich Baier, director of Transportation and Environmental Services. “You can either do it very slowly or very quickly.” The new design has enhancements to pedestrian and bicycle facilities, additional landscaping, bus waiting areas, larger bus bays and additional bus layover spaces. Several items were spiked to bring the project in under $7 million, including “high-quality” shelters, dynamic message boards at the bus shelters and a brick sidewalk on Diagonal Road. “Some of the design options suggested for elimination are, in our view, of vital importance to the success of this project,” wrote Transportation Chairman Kevin Posey in a letter to City Coun- cil members. Nevertheless, council members took action this week on the scaled-down version of the plan. Perhaps the biggest change will be the elimination of 30 parking spaces, which are currently me- tered spaces that provide free parking on the weekends. All of these spaces will be removed in the reconstructed station design. “The fact that we have a parking lot there creates a conflict, Alexandria Department of Planning and Zoning and that conflict will exist if we have a parking lot there,” said Census Population of Alexandria Vice Mayor Kerry Donley. “It wasn’t that long ago that we had a pedestrian fatality here, so pedestrian safety has to be the num- ber one priority.” Census Shows City Midst Change Committee to Commission From Page 1 has a greater share of singles and young couples in Forget about the Waterfront Committee. Say hello to the Wa- their late 20s and 30s. It also has a much smaller terfront Commission. “not only because it determines our political rep- proportion of school-age children and seniors than In an effort to implement the waterfront small-area plan, mem- resentation but also we use it to anticipate demand the rest of the country. City planners say this age dis- bers of the Alexandria City Council took action this week to re- for city services.” tribution reflects Alexandria’s location close to the fashion the committee into a more muscular commission. The One of the most striking trends in the recent Cen- center of a large urbanized region, where residents group will help guide and track implementation of the plan. That sus data is the shifting black population in the city, are seeking housing close to work that is also at the includes advising the council on everything from flood mitiga- which has moved from the east part of the city to center of regional activity. tion and design guidelines to redevelopment and traffic studies. the West End. In the last decade, nearly all of the “This city is very attractive to young profession- “This action anticipates the appointment of a senior director areas with substantial black population and African- als,” said Mann. “We have a lot of families, but not within city government accountable for integrated management American population on the east side lost a substan- nearly as many as the nation as a whole.” of the waterfront,” wrote Waterfront Committee Chairman Nate tial share of that population. Meanwhile, in the West Macek in a letter supporting the change. “The Waterfront Com- End of the city, the share of black and African-Ameri- UNLIKE MOST communities in the U.S., Alexan- mission would provide complementary public oversight of this cans increased, most significantly in those areas with dria has been documented in every Census dating new office in a structure that parallels that of other city depart- a substantial foreign-born population. back to the first in 1790. With a population of 2,748 ments advised by commissions.” “This shift is striking,” said Pat Mann, urban plan- people in 1790, Alexandria ranked 22 in size among Although city officials first suggested that a member of the Traf- ner. “And it’s continuing a trend that we first saw in the 24 urban localities identified in the Census. It fic and Parking Board be included in the new commission, Coun- 1990.” was the fourth largest city in Virginia at the time, cilman Paul Smedberg offered an amendment to the plan that Another interesting demographic trend in Alex- ranking behind Richmond, Norfolk and Petersburg. removed that position. In its place, Smedberg suggested an at- andria is the age distribution. The city’s population In the early 20th century, Alexandria began to grow large member. dramatically with a series of an- “People understand the importance of getting the traffic study nexations, including Northridge, done,” said Smedberg. “But I think an at-large member would be Rosemont and Del Ray. able to bring a different expertise.” The city’s most dramatic growth took place in the 1940s and 1950s Biking to Work as a result of World War II and the beginning of the Cold War. The Spring has sprung, and the bicycles are already flooding city city’s population nearly doubled streets. That means Bike To Work Day is on its way. May 18 will between 1940 and 1950, a dra- be the 15th annual Bike To Work Day, an opportunity to promote matic increase that was followed cycling. Alexandria will host three of the 40 regional “pit stops” by the 1952 annexation of the where commuting cyclists can start the day with free food, gear West End. Since 1960, population and prizes. Alexandria pit stops will be located at Market Square, growth in the city has maintained John Carlyle Square and the Mark Center transit center. a relatively steady rate. “That’s when Frank Fannon takes his bike out of the “The data shows that the city Smithsonian,” quipped the vice mayor Tuesday night. continues to be characterized by “Wait until you see the new one,” Councilman Fannon shot back. a racially, ethnically and economi- “It’s the 1780 model.” cally diverse population, and a “So it’s more modern than the last one,” added Councilman high level of educational attain- Rob Krupicka.