RCA Newsletter: April 2026

Jol Silversmith
Apr 30
3 min read

The Rosemont Citizens Association is 100% volunteer-driven, but it is readers, members, and donors like you who power it—thank you! Would you consider a gift to the RCA to keep it moving forward?

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A New Option to Connect

The RCA has established an email list to provide an additional means to provide information and updates about neighborhood and city developments, which also can be used for community discussion. To sign up, please visit https://groups.io/g/RCA .

Next RCA Meeting

Please plan to join us for the next Rosemont Citizens Association general meeting on Thursday, May 14 at 7pm at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 100 West Luray Avenue (please note the change of day). Our agenda includes an update on the rail bridge project from VRE and a general briefing on City zoning and how it affects Rosemont. We are also planning to experiment with a virtual option for viewing the meeting, and will plan to post a link.

Fourth of July

Planning is under way for the resumption of the RCA’s annual Independence Day event at Brooks Elementary School - 10am to 2pm on July 4. As the date draws closer, we will need volunteers to help make the event happen - please look for information soon

Happy Hour Returns

Meet your neighbors at the RCA-sponsored happy hour. Join us 5-7 pm on May 13 (and the second Wednesday of every month) at the Rosemont Cellar, formerly Grape & Bean, 2 East Walnut Street. The first 20 attendees get a free drink!

Braddock Road Project

The City Council is tentatively scheduled to hear an appeal of the Traffic and Parking Board’s approval of the addition of bicycle lanes and the removal of parking on Braddock Road at its Saturday, May 16 meeting. See https://www.alexandriava.gov/transportation-planning/project/braddock-road-corridor-improvements for more information and updates..

Neighborhood Businesses

The RCA website includes a list of physical businesses in the neighborhood (https://tinyurl.com/437mu8mx) but we would like to expand it to include home-based businesses, as well as businesses owned by Rosemonters even if located outside of the neighborhood. If you would like to be added, please email us at jol@thirdamendment.com.

PELT Committee

Culvert Improvements between Oak and Walnut Streets starting in June

The timeline. The City expects construction to begin in June on the section of the Hooff’s Run Culvert that runs underneath the tennis court and the little park between Oak and Walnut Streets. The project will last about six months. During this time, the tennis court and park area will be fenced off and inaccessible to the public.

What is being done? The top of the culvert will be removed; the walls and floors of the culvert will be repaired and a new ceiling slab put in place. During demolition, material will be trucked off site; during construction, concrete and building materials will be brought in. Two trees will be cut down and replaced with three new trees of native

species. The tennis court will be fully restored to its original condition.

What is the purpose? The project will reduce stormwater flooding along lower Commonwealth Avenue by increasing the culvert’s ability to move stormwater. This section was built 70 years ago; ragged decaying concrete surfaces on the walls and ceiling of the culvert snag debris during severe rainstorms. Obstructions in the culvert

cause surface flooding that seeps into the sanitary sewers and, yes, ultimately into our basements. Like all stormwater projects – there is a public health reason for this project.

Where can you learn more? Visit the City’s website for this project at Bridge Inspections and Maintenance | City of Alexandria, VA. Or contact the project manager, lisa.jaatinen@alexandriava.gov.

Resources from Alexandria Sheriff’s Office

The Alexandria Sheriff’s office offers a house-watching service (https://www.alexandriava.gov/sheriff/away-from-home-check). Additionally, the Sheriff continue to offer “Project Lifesaver” to help track adults and children with special needs (https://www.alexandriava.gov/sheriff/project-lifesaver).