Letter to the Editor: Walker Announces City Council Candidacy

Dear Alexandrians,

I am about to embark on a journey that I hope will be successful.

A journey into Alexandria’s past, and my past, but a journey that is primarily about the future, and what kind of future do we want for Alexandria.

My mother, Lois Walker, was a two-term City Council member from 1994 to 2000 and she was a great advocate for good multi-modal transportation and regional cooperation. I hope to continue her legacy working toward these two goals. 

My mother and father moved to Alexandria around the time I was born, in 1968 (a turbulent year for the nation) because houses were affordable and the schools good. My sister, who is now head of Volunteer Alexandria, went to Lyles Crouch. But these were turbulent times for Alexandria too, so my parents sent us to Burgundy Farm Country Day School, the first integrated school in the state of Virginia, and I still cherish the bonds we made there and the bond I have with that unique school.  Burgundy taught us a lifelong love of learning, and compassion for others that is still important to me today.

But both my sister and I wanted to become more involved in our community and chose to go to T.C. Williams. She graduated in 1982, and I graduated in 1986. I also went to George Washington Junior High School for 9th grade.

My daughter also went to Alexandria Public Schools, going first to Mt. Vernon Elementary and then to GW Middle School, and I enjoyed making even more friends with the parents and families there. Now she is enjoying the opportunity to go to an overseas school in Colombo, Sri Lanka, something that I am sure will be a life changing experience.

I have seen a lot of changes in Alexandria as well, through my lifetime, and after moving back here, after about 15 years in other places, I saw it through fresh eyes, and took a renewed interest in my hometown. It has a great history, incredible buildings, a unique and historic waterfront, and a rich diversity of people and neighborhoods. That is why I knew I wanted not just to move back but become involved, and I did.

After trying to save two buildings on King St., where the L’orien Hotel now stands, I started the Greater Alexandria Preservation Alliance to be an advocate for historic preservation in the city.

There were once condos planned for that site, but the project was switched as the market for condos dissolved during our legal effort, and I think the hotel and three businesses that are there are a great addition to the neighborhood.

I got involved again when I heard of a proposal to tear down the American Legion building at 224 N. Fayette St. Even the Parker Gray BAR and the City Council on appeal both voted for the demolition of the building. I worked with the African American community to help save this important landmark ( a model is on view now at the Black History Museum), and we won a critical court case

that has given the building a second chance to find a buyer willing to preserve it.

For the last year, I have worked to build a better Waterfront Plan. There is now a legal battle there that could overturn the vote by City Council to develop the waterfront, and I hope it succeeds.

But if it doesn’t, through the efforts of Citizens for the Alternative Waterfront Plan, we reduced the number of hotel rooms by more than half, from 625 to 300, and we educated citizens across the city and beyond about the importance of the Alexandria Waterfront.

We also challenged a flawed planning process where developers approach the city with a plan or request and then the city tries to manage it. This is a process being repeated across the city, and we need to start asking the residents of
Alexandria what they want before the developers even come forward.

We know there will be development, but we want it in the right places, and for it to have the best benefits like affordable housing. Like on the West End with the Beauregard Small Area Plan, we cannot reduce the number of existing affordable housing units with unaffordable “workforce” housing units. That is something I cannot support.

I will take the lessons of organizing citizens along the waterfront and help other efforts throughout the city so that the residents of Alexandria have a voice, and not one that is drowned out by those wanting to push development. Development must be smart and must start with a good, honest citizen driven process.

For instance that is what we need to do on Gen On. Before hiring a consultant from somewhere else and spending $350,000, let's get the community together and ask what they want for the site, and negotiate for those amenities first before we negotiate with a developer.

I would not be running for City Council if I did not think we could improve the way we work, improve the way we deliver services, and make Alexandria an even greater place to live.

I look forward to working and talking to people across Alexandria, about a campaign that will not be about me, but about working together to make our community better.

Boyd Walker