Port City Dispatches: Armed Robberies in Del Ray, Potomac Yard, Hunting Point and Seafaring Mutts

Here are some of this week's important, interesting and fun stories concerning Alexandria and its people.

From the City of Alexandria Patch sites:

Police: Victim in Myrtle Street Robbery Also Sexually Assaulted — By Drew Hansen, Del Ray Patch

The victim in an armed robbery that occurred Thursday morning on E. Myrtle Street was also sexually assaulted, according to police.

Mark Bergin of the Alexandria Police Department said at 10 a.m. a man wearing a mask covering his nose to his chin approached a 30-year-old woman while she was parking her van in the unit block of E. Myrtle Street near its intersection with Braddock Road.

The suspect showed the woman a black, semiautomatic pistol and demanded money. He then asked the woman to step out of the vehicle. The two met at the front of the van and the suspect put his arm around the woman, who handed him her cash.

Alexandria's John Braswell Identified as Michigan Drowning Victim — By Drew Hansen, Old Town Alexandria Patch

The Alexandria man who died Friday while swimming in a lake in northwestern Michigan has been identified as John Braswell.

Braswell, 58, was a partner at Redmon, Peyton and Braswell LLP. The law firm has an office in Old Town in the 500 block of King Street.

New Alexandria Department Will Oversee Waterfront Redevelopment, Other Projects — By Drew Hansen, Old Town Alexandria Patch

Alexandria City Manager Rashad Young announced the creation of a new city department Wednesday that will be charged with implementing the city’s waterfront small area plan and other projects.

The goal of the new Department of Project Implementation is to facilitate the work of city departments, contractors and external government organizations from planning to completion on the city’s most complex and highest priority capital projects.

Del Ray Resident Robbed at Gunpoint — By Sharon McLoone, Del Ray Patch

Del Ray resident Marquita Thompson was robbed at gunpoint Monday morning while sitting in her car near the intersection of E. Howell and Leslie avenues.

Thompson, 27, was leaving her home in the 300 block of E. Howell Avenue with her fiancé, Miguel Crouch, when she saw a man kneeling behind a white van parked behind her black Nissan. The man got on his knee, Thompson said, and it appeared as if he was tying his shoe.

Eviscerated Goat Remains Discovered in Dora Kelley Nature Park — By Drew Hansen, West End Alexandria Patch

The eviscerated remains of a juvenile goat were mysteriously found Tuesday within Dora Kelley Nature Park, located in the 5700 block of Sanger Avenue in the Alexandria’s West End.

An Alexandria Animal Control officer responded to the scene and found no entrails or other signs of violence, leaving police officers to believe the goat was disemboweled elsewhere and its remains were dumped in the park.

A New Look at Potomac Yard's South Pond — By Drew Hansen, Del Ray Patch

They may not be as famous as the Potomac River’s Three Sisters, but the constructed wetland islands that recently appeared in the south pond at Potomac Yard in Alexandria are certainly doing special things.

This week, three floating rings made of recycled-plastic and adorned with wetland plants were craned into the pond underneath the Monroe Avenue Bridge as part of a state-of-the-art water filtration system.

Old Town's Zento Offers Fresh Sushi and Booster Seats — By Drew Hansen, Old Town Alexandria Patch

There’s a new sushi restaurant in Alexandria, and it’s not afraid of highchairs.

Restaurant veteran Terrapong “Max” Tangjaitaweesuk and his wife Chayanist “Amy” Monlijarutusana recently opened Zento, a new Japanese spot located at 693 N. Washington St. The space was previously occupied by Burrito Grill.

From elsewhere:

'Mutts and Mimosas' cruises fill boats from bow-wow to stern — By Dave Nuttycombe, The Washington Post

On the docks in Old Town Alexandria, passengers are embarking on the good ship Matthew Hayes, many of them on leashes.

This is the Potomac Riverboat Company’s semi-regular Canine Cruise, also known as “Mutts and Mimosas.” Dog owners bring their pets for a 40-minute ride up and down the Potomac River. On a recent Saturday, the boat is nearing its 60-person capacity, if you account for all the four-legged patrons.

“The Alexandria community are die-hard dog fans,” said Charlotte Hall, vice president of Potomac Riverboat Co. She said “it was a no-brainer” to offer the dog-friendly excursions.

City Councilor Finds Inspiration in Prince George’s Affordable Housing Law — By Erich Wagner, Alexandria Times

A new law giving Prince George’s County, Md., first right of refusal to buy multiunit residential properties for affordable housing could work in Alexandria — provided it’s backed up with cash.

A bill passed by the county council last week gives officials the right to purchase complexes with at least 20 residential units before going on public sale. The move aims to bolster the Maryland county’s affordable housing stock.

City Councilor John Chapman said his ears perked up when he heard about the proposal. He already has asked staff to weigh its viability in Alexandria.

Laramar: Hunting Point will stay relatively affordable — By Julia Brouillette, Alexandria Times

Laramar’s top brass spoke out for the first time this week, defending the company’s plans for Hunting Point after tenants mounted a months-long campaign to keep the rental properties affordable.

Since the south Old Town buildings changed hands in the spring, city officials have fielded complaints from residents whose rents and utility fees have increased. Tenants felt Laramar’s intentions were poorly communicated and that the city did little to help.

Wasteful Spending: Alexandria Faces Difficult Decision on Raw Sewage — By Michael Pope, Alexandria Gazette Packet

Every year, Alexandria dumps 10 million gallons of raw sewage into Hunting Creek.

Now regulatory officials at the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality are pressing city leaders to figure out how to clean up the mess. Since the last time Alexandria received a permit for its sewer system, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality adopted new rules for Hunting Creek. Now state regulators want to see an action plan for the city to reduce the amount of bacteria it dumps into the creek by 80 percent to 99 percent.

Fortunately for the city, the deadline from Richmond is 2035. Unfortunately, the cost could be anywhere from $100 million to $300 million.

Local History Is in Her Heritage — By Michael K. Bohn, Alexandria Gazette Packet

The Carlyle House on North Fairfax Street has a new director — Susan Hellman. She started on June 1 and settled in immediately. She may be new to this 260-year-old national landmark, but her knowledge of area history has allowed an easy transition.

Hellman previously was deputy director and then acting director of Woodlawn Plantation, the home of George Washington’s step-granddaughter. Before that, she was the local history expert at the Fairfax County Planning and Zoning Department and historian in the county library’s Virginia Room. The Del Ray resident has a master’s degree in architectural history from the University of Virginia.

MRP and JBG, Still Happy Together — By Michael Neibauer, Washington Business Journal

Forget for a moment that The JBG Cos. is confounded, disappointed and probably flat-out angry at the District for spurning its bid to develop 965 Florida Ave. NW for that of MRP Realty.

The two developers still have to work together, across the Potomac River. MRP and JBG have partnered to build The Exchange at Potomac Yard, a 1.9 million-square-foot mixed-use project on 14 acres within the existing, 300-acre Potomac Yard community.

“The decision on Florida Avenue is a business decision independent of any other,” said Charlie Maier, a JBG spokesman. “We are fully committed to The Exchange and working closely with MRP as our partner on that development.”