We asked a number of residents for their brief thoughts on what Alexandria could be like in the decades ahead as part of Alexandria Living Magazine's 2050 project. Contribute your thoughts by emailing us at info@alexandrialivingmagazine.com and we'll publish a selection of comments on this page.
Learn more about the series and read more essays on the Alexandria 2050 project page here.
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By 2050, I hope southeast Fairfax County has seen our vision of the Richmond Highway Corridor (known as Embark) come to life. This means the Corridor will have premier mixed-use centers, new jobs, and a mix of incomes. This revitalization will be transit oriented, with a bus rapid transit system and Yellow Line Metro stations, and will showcase new housing protections to create more affordable housing and preserve the housing already in place. The area will have new parks and green space, and a safe main street ensuring the County is a destination, not just a commuter route. The community has met for years to map out this vision, and I’m confident we’re on the right path. I’m excited for what’s to come, and I remain as committed as ever to seeing it come to fruition.”
— Jeffrey C. (Jeff) McKay, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman
Nicole McGrew
What I would love to see in 2050 is a vibrant, climate neutral Alexandria that connects design and sustainability, education and the economy, arts and ecology — a thoughtful community that works together to sustain a lively, livable city ready for its next 300 years. To get there, I think we need to create a new, complementary model of planning that considers the true costs, benefits and impacts of any development or initiative across the entire City and that focuses on fostering our social goods.”
— Nicole McGrew, Owner, Threadleaf, an ethical fashion boutique in Old Town Alexandria
Alexandria 2050... The beauty and the soul of Alexandria is its diversity. With Amazon making it's way into the area in the near future, by 2050, I imagine Alexandria will be booming with diversity and a wealth of new residents. Along with this population growth I envision an entertaining night life, hip and cool new restaurants and more options for family and fun.”
— Simone Fennell, CEO, Good Brows
Would love to see our city be the next mecca for music, arts and entertainment. This is obtainable by supporting music and arts in schools and throughout the community.
— Steve McKay Owner, School of Rock Alexandria
I would like to see the neighborhoods in Alexandria become more racially and culturally integrated. That would mean working with housing in creative ways. If neighborhoods are more integrated, schools are more integrated and children learn diverse ways of thinking and being, which is essential for the future social health of our community and the world. When I first moved to Del Ray almost 20 years ago it was a more racially and culturally diverse neighborhood. As it gentrified that diversity lessened quite a bit. I believe this is connected to the increased cost of living in Del Ray, renting or purchasing a home. I'd like to see community leaders come up with creative solutions to this problem.
My hope and dream for Alexandria is for it to become a city that exemplifies and values fairness, equality and wellbeing for each and every citizen above all else. That means ALL citizens would have access to a quality education, quality health care, safety inside and outside of their home, and the chance to earn a decent living. Most of all, what will make that dream come true is a shared vision — a shared vision is the first step to making a collective dream come true. After that, making the vision into a reality requires the everyday efforts of citizens and leaders willing to do the hard work to make the necessary changes in their homes, businesses, schools and governing bodies.”
— Sara VanderGoot, Owner, Mind the Mat Pilates & Yoga, Doula, CMT, e-RYT 500, PRYT
Shelli Vasser Gilliam
Steeped in history, Alexandria, Virginia is a charming city that offers an urban feel with a suburban flair. A beautiful, walkable, quaint destination with specialty shops, award-winning, chef-owned and independent restaurants, gorgeous parks and walking paths, public art, spacious galleries filled with one-of-a-kind works from local artisans and creatives, as well as farmers markets in different communities, and a bustling waterfront! From Old Town to Del Ray to Alexandria West and all the pockets of cool communities in between, this is Alexandria Living!
What are some wish list ideas for 2050? We must continue with multi-modal transit options that link Alexandria West to Old Town. I also hope to see more parity with unique retail and business offerings in different parts of the City.
I recently noticed new construction condos in Old Town offered at a starting price of $3M. I appreciate development collaborations and partnerships, which specifically offer scaled affordable housing options. This is a sustainable solution that will eventually lead to lower rates of homelessness and recidivism. My sincere hope is that we continue to improve upon this model in the next few decades, while also offering more affordable housing.”
— Shelli Vasser Gilliam, Alexandria resident since 1995
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker
One bold move that would have an incredibly positive impact on our whole community is providing high-quality, affordable early education — and we need to ensure equitable access for every child in our community, regardless of their family’s income or their skin color.
We know the earliest years of a child’s life are when their brains are developing the fastest, and inclusive access to early childhood resources will be a crucial way to not only prepare them for a successful future, but also to build an even stronger Alexandria. Parents of young children are only able to participate in the labor force when they have access to child care. This was a challenge for families before COVID-19 and has been exacerbated since the pandemic.”
— Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, Vice Mayor and co-director, Together We Bake
