Originally designed as town house style condominiums, current plans call for rental apartments – a smart move given the glut of condominiums here in Alexandria.

The development will consist of two buildings, one to resemble town houses while the other will be a multi-level mid-rise structure, both with underground parking.  Plans also call for some retail shops to front Fayette Street.

The great appeal of this location will be the Braddock Metro Station to the west, the Charles Houston Recreation Center and Trader Joe’s to the east and the comfortable proximity to both Old Town and Del Ray.

We’re still looking for the official name and more details on this development so be sure and check back in with us as the weeks roll on.

Michael

Today, we are delighted to show you what a creative use of space, windows, and a coat of paint can do.

We’ve been told that this side exposure  will be separated from the street (Rt. 1) by an eight foot brick wall, creating an enclosed patio/garden area.

Hopefully our next set of pictures will include some interior shots – we had a chance to peak in those glass doors and it’s amazing.

Interested in the Old Town, Parker Gray area of Alexandria?  Give me a call at 703.927.4554 and let’s start looking for your house.

Michael

Cafe Nicole, the newest independent coffee/lunch spot/cafe in Alexandria has opened in the historic Parker Gray neighborhood at the corner of Queen and North Fayette.

Many of you will recognize Nicole Burlimann from her barista years at St. Elmo’s in Del Ray and at Starbucks in Potomac Yards. 

Her father Erwin, is a Swiss trained chef and was one of the original chefs for Bread and Chocolate. 

Both had always wanted a place of their own. 

Add an empty building and a burgeoning neighborhood need and voila – Cafe Nicole.  The building – formerly home to Sarge’s, a soul restaurant that burned and then closed in 2008 – is unpretentious but comfortable with large windows across the front and a variety of table sizes and shapes.

Sarge is still a frequent visitor in the neighborhood and even has a sandwich named after him.  He’s also picked out his favorite table – something I think a lot of folks are going to be doing.

Open just two weeks, Cafe Nicole has already gotten shout out’s on our neighborhood list serv and is drawing attention from the local workers and residents. 

Breakfast offerings include hot egg sandwiches with apple wood smoked bacon, ham or sausage, NY bagels delivered fresh daily, real oatmeal and classic Birchermusli.

Coffee is from the Chesapeake Roasting Company (formerly Expresso Outfitters).  Nicole, who is a self admitted coffee snob, looked long and hard for just the right roasting company. 

A bonus with the Chesapeake Roasters is that they give back two percent of their gross sales to help support the health and welfare of the Chesapeake Bay.

Another “give back” comes with the old-fashioned juke box directly across from the pastry case.  Full of standards from the 60s and 70s as well as some more recent tunes, proceeds (put in those quarters folks!) will benefit our favorite Dunbar Boys and Girls Club located just around the corner on North Payne.

But back to the food. Right now Nicole and her dad are working without a full kitchen so pastries, soups, and quiche are from Bread and Chocolate in Old Town (not a bad thing at all).

Salads, sandwiches, and wraps however are made right on the premises from open to close.

Plates of bite size goodies sit next to the cash register and beg to be tested.  I for one can say that the bread pudding is worth every calorie. 

A full kitchen is on the drawing board, as is the promise of outdoor seating, and a light dinner menu.  We already have visions of Chef Burlimann and a menu of Swiss delicacies dancing in our head.

For now Nicole is getting to know the neighborhood and letting them get to know her.  Just as you walk in the door there is an email sign up sheet and a folder for comments and suggestions.  Don’t be shy.  Stop by and say hello, get a cup of coffee and sit for awhile. The cafe is open Monday – Friday from 7am to 7pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 5pm.  Phone 703.717.9740.

Oh, did I mention the free WiFi and that Cafe Nicole is right on my way to the office?  Or maybe Cafe Nicole will be my new office!

Michael

Bordered on the north by First Street, on the south by Cameron, on the east by Columbus and on the west by Buchannon/Oronoco and parts of West Street, the area ultimately known as Parker-Gray was sparsely settled and and primarily rural throughout the Colonial, Federal and Antebellum periods.

Few structures survive from those eras but one of the most interesting would have been Alexandria’s gun powder house, built in the 1790’s at what is today the corner of N. Fayette and Queen Streets. Deemed a potential fire hazard it was deliberately located at a safe distance from the many wooden structures built along the Potomac River.

The largest historically black neighborhood in Alexandria, Parker-Gray was originally a haven for escaped slaves and freedman during and immediately after the Civil War.

Wartime conditions in Alexandria were grim and families crowded into flimsy shanties and shacks.  Few if any of these structures have survived and most of the historic buildings present today were built later in the 19th century.

In past years, the more popular nickname for the Parker-Gray neighborhood was “Uptown” to distinguish it from the ”downtown” areas closer to the Potomac River.

The official moniker comes from two schools whose names, in turn, honored leading black educators in the community:  Sarah Gray, principal of Hallowell School for Girls and John Parker, principal of the Snowden School for Boys.

Alexandria built the first black high school in 1950 at 1207 Madison Street, which was named  Parker-Gray. Prior to this, young African-Americans who wanted to continue their education past the eighth grade were forced to go into the  District of Columbia for high school.

Parker-Gray High School was re-designated as a middle school in 1965 and was closed completely in 1979.  A memorial plaque designates the school’s former location among the townhouses now standing on Madison Street.

A listing in the National Register of Historic Places provides formal recognition of a property’s historical, architectural, or archeological significance based on national standards used by every state.

The nomination recognizes the historic architecture of the district and social history of the Uptown/Parker-Gray Historic District, including the African-American contribution, that has occurred in this neighborhood since its inclusion within Alexandria City boundaries in the 1790s.

The listing identifies nearly a thousand contributing historic structures within the Uptown/Parker-Gray Historic District.

There are some wonderful properties available in this area – call me at 703.927.4554 and let’s find your historic home in this newly designated neighborhood.

Michael

Photographs courtesy of MarieMcC

Jefferson Houston - an integral part of the historic Parker-Gray neighborhood – has struggled since a controversial redistricting in 1999 that shifted many West End students to Tucker Elementary in Cameron Station. Inconsistent leadership was a key issue with five principals rotating through in a six-year period. Kimberly Graves was hired in 2006 and within weeks teachers and parents alike understood that meeting standards was a minimum expectation.

A modest Graves has credited community involvement, parental support, a determined staff and students who were willing to go the extra mile. English scores were helped by Saturday workshops and math scores benefited from after-school clubs.

One program in particular – the “power hour” – was key to raising reading scores. Students at Jefferson-Houston were arranged in small groups of five or six who had similar instructional needs for one-on-one reading time for an hour, every day. It was a group effort with teachers, reading specialists, and talented-and-gifted teachers all helping out.

As for the future, Graves noted that “Building a reputation is going to take time, but I’m patient. Jefferson-Houston is going to become one of the top performing schools in this city.”

Congratulations to Principal Graves and the parents, teachers and students for an enormous effort!

If you would like to know more about the Parker-Gray neighborhood, call me at 703.927.4554 and let’s talk.

Michael

Standing on the same site as the previous rec center, the new Charles Houston Center will feature green technology, an outdoor swimming pool, new gymnasium, dance room, fitness room, boxing room, children’s game room, computer lab, senior center, preschool program and community meeting rooms.  An open space/pedestrian area at the main entrance will feature a public art project to honor Charles Houston’s contribution to the Civil Rights struggle in Alexandria.

Situated on a major thorough fare and easily accessible, the Houston Center could, in theory, serve as a low cost recreation center for a wide swath of neighborhoods including Parker-Gray, Braddock Road Metro, Del Ray and even parts of north Old Town and Rosemont but concerns about safety make it clear that won’t happen.   

Also not clear is just how the city will regulate the use of the new center, what programs will be offered and what steps will be taken to insure that it is a drug-free/violence-free environment. 

The Alliance is a catalyst for community-based efforts to demonstrate how children receive what are known as the 5 Promises:

                                              CARING ADULTS

      SAFE PLACE

      A HEALTHY START

      EFFECTIVE EDUCATION

      OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP OTHERS

Alexandria’s commitment to creating partnerships and collaborations to address youth issues was sparked by the Early Childhood Commission and Youth Policy which, in turn, established an Early Childhood Development Plan and Asset Development Initiative.   

The initiative created two funds to channel money into specific areas.  The Children’s Fund has awarded more than $6.3 million to organizations to help provide quality childhood programs and services to at risk youth and the Youth Fund which has awarded nearly $1.6 million to youth programs that help build assets for youth.  Among the initiatives are an array of programs and services in teen pregnancy prevention, juvenile delinquency, education, post-secondary education, mentoring and youth development.

More than 300 communities in all 50 states applied for the honor.  The 100 winning communities span 37 states.  

In offering his congratulations, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine noted, “The Commonwealth is fortunate to have such an honor bestowed upon one of its most vital cities.  I commend the City of Alexandria for encouraging, educating and protecting the lives of youngsters.”

Thanks for stopping by,

 Michael

 The site uses Google Maps and business listings to compute a Walk Score for  any address in the   United States.  It bases the assigned points on the distance to local amenities and then averages the score.   Matt Lerner, one of the co-founders, says that since the site launched they have received lots of emails from users saying that walkability is the number one priority they focus on when buying a house.

That should come as no surprise to residents of Old Town Alexandria and Del Ray in particular, who have always boasted about walking to their favorite restaurant, coffee shop, bank, or farmer’s market as an everyday occcurence. 

Seattle based Lerner noted that while some of the benefits were obvious, like walking is good exercise and helps to reduce environmental pollution, walkability also supports local businesses and local culture.

While the MLS doesn’t offer a Walk Score yet, it’s a great way to start thinking about your own property. 

Our home in Del Ray got an 80.  What about yours? 

Thanks for stopping by,

Michael

Bordered on the north by First Street, on the south by Cameron, on the east by Columbus and on the west by Buchannon/Oronoco and parts of West Street, the area ultimately known as Parker-Gray was sparsely settled and and primarily rural throughout the Colonial, Federal and Antebellum periods.  Few structures survive from those eras but one of the most interesting would have been Alexandria’s gun powder house, built in the 1790’s at what is today the corner of N. Fayette and Queen Streets.  Deemed a potential fire hazard it was deliberately located at a safe distance from the many wooden structures built along the Potomac River.

  Parker-Gray Homes

The largest historically black neighborhood in Alexandria, Parker-Gray was originally a haven for escaped slaves and freedman during and immediately after the Civil War.  Wartime conditions in Alexandria were grim and families crowded into flimsy shanties and shacks.  Few if any of these structures have survived and most of the historic buildings present today were built later in the 19th century.

 Local Market

In past years, the more popular nickname for the Parker-Gray neighborhood was “Uptown” to distinguish it from the ”downtown” areas closer to the Potomac River.  The official moniker comes from two schools whose names, in turn, honored leading black educators in the community:  Sarah Gray, principal of Hallowell School for Girls and John Parker, principal of the Snowden School for Boys.

Alexandria built the first black high school in 1950at 1207 Madison Street, which was named  Parker-Gray.  Prior to this, young African-American’s who wanted to continue their education past the eighth grade were forced to go into the  District of Columbia for high school.

Parker-Gray High School was re-designated as a middle school in 1965 and was closed completely in 1979.  A memorial plaque designates the school’s former location among the townhouses now standing on Madison Street.

  West Street

Thanks for stopping by,

Michael

Photograhs courtesy of MarieMcC