Archive for the 'Potomac Yard' Category
Alexandria Named One of Nation’s “100 Best Communities for Young People”
February 6th, 2008 Categories: Alexandria, Del Ray, Old Town, Parker-Gray, Potomac Yard
On January 24th 2008, after a year long competition, Alexandria was recognized as a “One Hundred Best Communities for Young People” by the America’s Promise Alliance. The Alliance was founded in 1997 by General Colin Powell and is committed to children and the fundamental resources they need to succeed.
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
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“Walkability” - What It Means for Home Owners - and Buyers - in Alexandria
February 4th, 2008 Categories: Alexandria, Cameron Station, Del Ray, Old Town, Parker-Gray, Potomac Yard, Real Estate News
The benefit of living in a walkable neighborhood has gone to a whole new level with the Web site Walk Score, www.walkscore.com. Launched in the summer of 2007 by a group of tech geeks in Seattle, the site got over 1,000,000 hits in just four weeks from visitors who wanted to know a property’s Walk Score!
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
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