'Pushed to the Brink'
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Neighborhood Outlook, Alexandria Page 3 Winter Fun, Gazette Packet Page 12 25 Cents Serving Alexandria for over 200 years • A Connection Newspaper January 28, 2016 ‘Pushed to the Brink’ City digs out from epic snowstorm. By Jeanne Theismann Gazette Packet fter days of being at a by John Bordner Photos standstill, Alexandria is Aslowly recovering after nearly two feet of snow paralyzed the city in the worst single storm to hit the area since the Knickerbocker Storm of 1922. “According to the National Weather Service, Alexandria re- corded 22 inches of snow in less Yon Lambert, left, director of Transportation and than 36 hours,” said Yon Lambert, Mayor Allison Silberberg discusses the storm damage Environmental Services, talks with snow plow driver Director of Transportation and with arborist Matthew Barker Sunday near Van Dorn Leslie Wood, who was working to clear streets in the Environmental Services. “There is Metro station. West End Sunday afternoon. some debate over the official record at Reagan Airport but obviously this amounts of snow from the city streets. ally a great team effort.” neighbor, Dave Beck, made several hikes to was a historic event and pushed us to the “We are focusing today on residential Residents banded together during the the only open gas station on North Henry brink.” streets and managing traffic issues on pri- storm, with some like Rick Augusburger an- Street to get diesel fuel so we could keep City officials worked around the clock as mary and secondary routes,” Lambert added ticipating the massive clean up to clear working,” Augusburger added. snow began blanketing the region Friday Wednesday morning. streets and vehicles of snow and ice. As the weather improved, so did afternoon, with whiteout conditions devel- According to Lambert, no power outages “It was a whim,” said Augusburger, who everyone’s spirits with Beck barbecuing oping into Saturday before the storm moved were reported in the city by Dominion was able to rent a walk-behind Bobcat brats on a street grill and using the snow its way up the Mid-Atlantic coast. Power and it was not necessary to operate loader when one suddenly became avail- banks as a cooler for drinks. “Everyone in the city, from road crews to any emergency shelters. “That was one of able Friday morning. “But while I was the “We had a goal to get everyone’s car out those clearing sidewalks, was out and work- the most fortunate things to come out of one who made the call, the real story is before the NFL playoff games started on ing very, very hard,” Lambert said. “We did this storm,” Lambert noted. about how the entire block came together. Sunday,” Augusburger said. “I think we our best to manage the expectations of citi- Mayor Allison Silberberg spent Saturday It was a complete team effort.” freed up more than 50 cars and everyone zens and set a goal to have all streets pass- and Sunday with city crews during the Augusburger, who lives with his wife Jane who operated the Bobcat had a fun experi- able for emergency vehicles by 7 a.m. storm. “This was a real Level 3 storm,” in the 900 block of South St. Asaph Street, ence. It was like playing in a sandbox for Wednesday morning. We met that goal but Silberberg said. “That is the highest we have alternated 90-minute shifts with neighbor us.” we still have a lot of work left to do.” experienced and whiteout conditions Chris McCarthy operating the snow loader With snow removal continuing through- By the city’s definition, “passable” in some slowed down plowing. But I am really proud to keep their street and the side access roads out the city, trash collection was suspended instances means a single lane of access with of how everyone pulled together – citizens, clear during the storm. until Monday, Feb.1, to help keep streets more time needed to clear the massive law enforcement, road crews — it was re- “During the worst of the storm, another clear for the ongoing clean up. Achieving Jeanne Theismann/Gazette Packet ‘Passable’ by John Bordner Photo Roads n Wednesday morning, OJan. 27, the city an nounced that all streets in Alexandria were passable for emergency vehicles, but warned A snow plow makes its way through the streets of Old that “passable” may mean only Town Jan. 24 following the worst snowfall in the region Residents of Quay Street rest Monday afternoon after one lane is clear. since the Knickerbocker Storm of 1922. clearing their block of nearly two feet of snow. “People still need to be careful,” garbage would not be picked up this week in the city. Alexandria, VA 22314 VA Alexandria, said Craig Fifer, Alexandria’s director of the Office “It’s not as simple as just driving down the street,” St., King 1604 To: ted of Communications and Public Information. said Fifer. “It can take up to half an hour to clear a Reques Service Address Fifer said he understood residents’ frustrations, but single block. We have 560 miles of roads, and a single material. Time-sensitive that clearing away snow is a slow and tedious pro- lane takes at least two passes to clear, sometimes as Postmaster: cess. To clear the roads, Fifer acknowledged that the many as six, that’s not counting parking lots, side- Attention city may annoy local residents, particularly when walks, city facilities, fire stations, and all kinds of non- #482 Permit snowplows block in people’s driveways. There is also VA Alexandria, street areas that also have to be cleared.” PAID the added inconvenience that, because the dump Postage U.S. trucks were converted to impromptu snow plows, — Vernon Miles STD PRSRT www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Alexandria Gazette Packet ❖ January 28 - February 3, 2016 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Alexandria Gazette Packet ❖ January 28 - February 3, 2016 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Alexandria Gazette Editor Steven Mauren Neighborhood Outlook 703-778-9415 or [email protected] Developments Underway for Oakville, Eisenhower, Landmark Foundation’s exterior is nearly complete, populations are at critical mass, that’s when restarting the search.” Incemental steps but interior work will continue over the next we’ll start to see retail flourish. We’re see- “We’re waiting on formal notification 12 to 14 months, with an opening some- ing that now in Carlyle.” from GSA on the next step,” said Jinks. “The require time and time in 2017. However, the city has federal government Paradim, the high-rise apartment complex also faced major set- is not going to appeal negotiations. across the street, is also slated for an early backs in their plans for “It’s a critical part of the judge’s decision. By Vernon Miles 2017 opening. Behind Paradim, next to the the Eisenhower Valley. We expect that there The Connection beltway, another building project is still in The long vacant Victory the infrastructure to will be some kind of the planning phase, though it’s already been Center had been se- competition, but we ith the approval of the approved for a special use permit. The lected as the new head- make sure Eisenhower don’t know how Oakville Small Area Plan building will be a mix of residential and quarters for the TSA, lives up to its that’s going to work W by the City Council in late retail. According to Jinks, Harris Teeter has and city officials had ex- out or who is going 2015, that small corner of already filed a letter of intent to move into pressed enthusiasm that to be eligible… It’s Alexandria is receiving a major facelift. The one of the retail spaces. the new resident would potential.” very complicated, area referred to in council discussions as Jinks also noted that the nearby sports bring growth to the area — Stephanie Landrum, subject to significant the “Gateway to Alexandria” will see ex- field at the Alexandria Renew Enterprises the way the Patent and President, Alexandria Economic litigation. They’re panded density and retail as the city braces facility had opened in early January, though Trademark Office and Development Partnership wanting to do every- for the opening of the nearby Potomac Yard weather conditions have so far kept it from National Science Foun- thing perfectly right, Metro Station. being widely used. dation did to especially the second “Del Ray is an established small scale Moving a few blocks west, where Eisenhower East. However, in November, time around. We expect some kind of com- community main street,” said Stephanie Eisenhower crosses over Telegraph Road, U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge Charles petition, but we don’t know who is being Landrum, president of the Alexandria Eco- Rushmark Properties has submitted concept Lettow overturned the lease, citing miscon- invited in.” nomic Development Partnership, “so one of plans for two multifamily buildings for the duct by the Government Services Adminis- Jinks said the decision on the new pro- the exciting things about development at empty lot on the north side of Eisenhower. tration who had been handling the trans- cess could be arriving in weeks or months. Oakville is that we add density, retail, and The concept will be reviewed by the Plan- action. “The Victory Centre’s owners offered “We’ve been hearing ‘any moment now’ customers without threat- ening the scale of Mount Vernon Avenue.” 395 Early in the planning pro- 1 cess, residents expressed 7 frustration that their homes would be overwhelmed by 402 nearby retail and high den- 7 sity complexes. The project 395 1 features larger “anchor” re- tail stores in the 20,000- The Oakville project square-foot space, with out- 420 features larger “anchor” 402 door dining and restaurants 395 retail stores with outdoor 3 in a nearby plaza.