Food for Thought
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WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM APRIL 11, 2013 | 1 Vol. 9, No. 15 Alexandria’s only independent hometown newspaper APRIL 11, 2013 Former city employee Food for thought wins whistleblower case City Hall mulls letting But the longstanding ban, food trucks into Port City which includes private prop- erty, could soon be lifted at People like BY DERRICK PERKINS the direction of city council the idea but — though officials are tight- really are protective City officials are cooking lipped about the proposal’s up a plan to allow food trucks details. of the [restaurateurs] in Alexandria as their Wash- “We’ll work through all who give so much. the ins and outs: the where, ington counterparts weigh I don’t know how new regulations on the popu- how and what,” said City lar mobile eateries. Councilor Justin Wilson. “I you get past that Despite the following that use the food trucks [in Wash- conflict.” food trucks enjoy in neighbor- ington] very regularly for ing jurisdictions, local ordi- lunches in my office. I think nances bar the four-wheeled it’s something that other com- -Stephanie Landrum FILE PHOTO munities have done, worked Senior vice president restaurants from rolling into of the Alexandria Economic A former city architect claimed a high-ranking official routinely town, with the exception of Development Partnership overstepped his authority during construction of the police head- visiting construction sites. SEE FOOD TRUCKS | 18 quarters building. Officials plan to appeal tween the city and the com- to state Supreme Court pany, according to court doc- uments. BY MELISSA QUINN An architect for more than 35 years, Lewis claimed A circuit court judge last McPike overstepped his au- month sided with former thority by signing invoices city employee Henry Lewis, on materials located off-site, who was fired after raising violating the terms of the concerns of fraud during agreement between the city construction of the police and Whiting-Turner, court headquarters. The case was documents stated. The prac- the first tried under the com- tice also went against the ar- monwealth’s new whistle- chitect’s better judgment. blower law. “Lewis further informed Lewis, a former city ar- McPike that his ultimate chitect who served as project responsibility was to the manager for the $81 million taxpayers of the City of Al- complex, accused General exandria to ensure that they Services Director Jeremy received full value for their McPike and contractor Whit- money and to ensure that the ing-Turner of failing to abide taxpayers were not defraud- PHOTO/DERRICK PERKINS by the parameters set ed,” the complaint stated. NEVER FORGET Mayor Bill Euille bows his head during a moment of silence at the city’s annual forth in the original Despite Lewis’ concerns, Days of Remembrance ceremony, part of a national, weeklong effort to commemorate the Holo- contract be- McPike continued to ap- caust. 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COURTESY PHOTO The former Chirst Church rectory, at 711 Princess St., was likely visited by former President George Wash- ington, who was a parishioner of the Old Town house of worship. The Georgian-style building is for sale for $2.85 million. Historic Old Town property back on the market An Old Town building once of Christ Church at the time. clined, though. likely frequented by former The building later housed a After considerable renova- President George Washington prominent commercial trading tions to the 5,827-square-foot is going back on the market family with interests on both building in the 1980s, the adver- and expected to net as much as coasts and was transformed into tising agency Williams Whittle $2.85 million. a law office in the 1960s by state moved in. The former Christ Church Sen. Armistead Boothe. Alexandria-based Tartan rectory, built in 1785, at 711 The appeal of the Georgian- Properties Commercial is han- Princess St. was home to the style structure was so great dling the sale. Rev. David Griffith, the historic that the Metropolitan Museum house of worship’s third rector. of Art wanted its front door for Washington was a parishioner an exhibit. The offer was de- - Ana Rampy Princess for a Night seeks donations ahead of prom season in Northern Virginia With the help of the Alexan- breaking the bank. of 325 students from 11 high dria community, teenage girls Princess for a Night began schools, and the drive continues from across Northern Virginia seven years ago, with dress- to expand each successive year. will sparkle and shine like roy- es and other items collected Donations are accepted at alty during the prom thanks to throughout April at various col- the T.C. Williams main office, the annual Princess for a Night lection points in the area. From located at 3330 King St. Orga- project. May 10 to May 11, prom-goers nizers are looking for an array With prom season fast ap- can attend events at T.C.