Alexandria Times Vol. 14, No. 42 Alexandria’s only independent hometown newspaper. OCTOBER 19, 2017 Alexandria is not immune to the nationwide opioid epidemic, as overdoses Council approves and arrests have grown exponentially here in the past two years, while treatment options have dwindled due to staffing shortages. This multi-part series examines various facets of the crisis, from statistics to Potomac Yard project stories of Alexandrians affected by the opioid scourge. Neighbors vociferous- Twelve residents spoke ly object to process, at the public hearing to 383 percent density outline their concerns. increase Several of the residents BY MISSY SCHROTT live on Watson Street across from the property City council voted to and had purchased their move forward with a con- townhouses within the A TIMES INVESTIGATION do development project at past year. Their repeated 2551 Main Line Blvd. in concerns were the height PART 3 Potomac Yard at its public and density increases, hearing on Saturday. The traffic congestion, disrup- vote was six to one in favor tive noise from trash pick On the front lines of of the project, with Mayor up and a parking garage Allison Silberberg casting opening on Watson Street. the lone dissenting vote. Resident Alexandra Alexandria’s opioid crisis With the vote, coun- Smith moved into her cil approved amendments townhouse on Watson to the Potomac Yard/Po- Street in June 2017. She Local emergency department contends tomac Greens small area said she felt confident in with increase in overdoses plan that will allow the her investment at the time number of units to in- because the 2010 develop- BY ALEXA EPITROPOULOS crease from 36 to 138 and ment plan for the proper- the height to go from 55 to ty across the street only As the only hospital within city limits, 70 feet. called for 36 units. The Inova Alexandria finds itself on the front The project has drawn change to 138 units in- line of an ever-growing local health epi- opposition from residents creases the original by 383 demic surrounding opioid abuse. who live on neighboring percent. Most individuals who overdose in the streets since the develop- “I don’t know how you city will come through Inova Alexandria’s er, Potomac Yard Develop- can argue that a 383 per- emergency department – and, over the ment LLC, a subsidiary of cent increase at this point past four years, that number has signifi- the PulteGroup Inc. pro- cantly increased. In the first week of Oc- posed the amendments. SEE POTOMAC YARD | 12 tober alone, for example, there were six overdoses and one death in the city, ac- cording to the Alexandria Police Depart- INSIDE ment. Sonoma Cellar Q&A: Shawn Colvin Dr. Martin H. Brown, chairman of the Devastating fires in wine country Twenty years after releasing Department of Emergency Medicine at hit close to home for an Alexan- "A Few Small Repairs," Colvin SEE OPIOIDS | 17 dria couple who owns Old Town's revisits the album that launched Sonoma Cellar. her career. Page 8 Page 24 SMILES Directly Across New Del Ray Location! FOR LIFE from the (703) 341-4418 • 609 East Monroe Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301 Simpson Field Now Accepting Appointments! Visit us at: www.lovekidsteeth.com in Del Ray 2 |OCTOBER 19, 2017 ALEXANDRIA TIMES Ask us how to SAVE 1.5% of your loan amount up to $10,000* ALEXANDRIA $1,499,000 WASHINGTON, DC $1,350,000 MCLEAN $819,900 ALEXANDRIA $724,900 Old Town – Stunning, detached rowhouse near the river. 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WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM OCTOBER 19, 2017 | 3 WEEKLY BRIEFING Local democrats urge city Paula Varsalona* council to increase salaries City council spent the ma- Belli said increased sal- at the city council legislative Turnk Show jority of its public hearing on aries would more accurate- session on Oct. 10, estab- October 27th – 29th Saturday deliberating a Po- ly reflect councilmembers’ lishes a phase-in period for Special promotions during event tomac Yard/Potomac Greens workload and would line up increased sewer connection *Designer in attendance small area plan amendment with neighboring jurisdic- fees. (See page 1), but also dis- tions. Both Belli and Schantz Council revised the or- cussed city council salaries requested that the council dinance so applicants for House of JonLei Atelier and sewer connection fees at conduct a study about a po- sewer connection would be 240.493.4502 the meeting. tential salary increase. The responsible for 60 percent of www.houseofjonleiatelier.com During the public discus- council and the city manager the increased fee before July sion period at the beginning will further discuss the topic 2018 and 80 percent before 153 Potomac Passage, National Harbor, MD of the hearing, two residents, at future meetings. July 2019. The original plan [email protected] Thomas Belli and Marta Council also voted to en- called for phase-ins of 50 and Call for appointments Schantz, spoke about a reso- act an ordinance to Section 75 percent. Despite not be- lution passed by the Alexan- 5-6-25.1 of the city code, ing recommended by the city dria Democratic Committee regarding sewer connection manager, the amendment Whole Maine Lobster regarding an increase in city fees. The topic, which gen- passed unanimously. Dinner council salaries. erated significant discussion [email protected] Maine Lobster Dinner $18.95 Whole MaineNot valid Lobster with other offers and vouchers Everything happens for a Reisling $18.95WholeDinner Maine Lobster Not valid with otherDinnerWhole offers Maine $18.95and vouchers Lobster NotDinner valid with $18.95other offers and vouchers Not valid with $18.95other offers and vouchers Not valid with other offers and vouchers From the founderFrom of theAu founder Pied de of CochonAu Pied de Cochon 235 Swamp Fox Road, Alexandria VA 22314 From the founderFrom of theAu founder Pied235 of Swamp de Cochon Fox Road, Alexandria VA 22314 FromAcross the founder from Eisenhowerof Au Pied Metro de Station CochonCochon Across from Eisenhower Metro Station 235 Swamp Fox235703-329-1010235 Road, Swamp Swamp Alexandria FoxFox Road,Road,• Open Alexandria VA 7 Days22314 VAVAa Week 22314 22314 Across from Eisenhower Metro Station PHOTO/MISSY SCHROTTAcross from EisenhowerAcross from703-329-1010 EisenhowerMetro Station Metro •Station Open 7 Days a Week The 42nd Annual Virginia Wine Festival was held in Alexandria last 703-329-1010703-329-1010 •• OpenOpen 7 Days aa WeekWeek weekend on Oct. 14 and 15. The annual festival took place at Orono703-329-1010- Every • Open Thursday 7 Days a Week Night co Bay Park and included tastings from 20 wineries across the state, gourmet local food vendors and the first ever VA Oyster Pavillon EveryEvery EveryThursdayThursdayEnjoy Thursday NightNight Night featuring freshly shucked oysters from Virginia's Chesapeake region.Every Thursday1/2 Price Night on a BottleEnjoyEnjoy of WineEnjoy CORRECTION 1/21/2 PricePrice on aa The article "Debate on sewer fees dominates council legislative session" that ran in the Oct. Enjoy 12 edition of the Times said residents would be responsible for an increased sewer connec- 1/2 Price on a tion fee. It is developers of commercial or residential redevelopments, not residents, who pay BottleBottle of Wine for connection to the city's sanitary sewer system. The Times regrets the error.