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Alexandria council approves Kent Place street vacation

Alexandria council approves Kent Place street vacation

Rule Changes Alexandria, VA local

Final passage Sept. 19 completes the Russell Road right-of-way vacations

September 19th, 2026: Public hearing and final passage vote

Overview

Updated Oct 18

City Council on Sept. 19 gave final passage to the ordinances vacating the unbuilt southern end of Kent Place next to 2702 and 2800 Russell Road (ORD. NO. 5650 and 5651), completing vacations first approved 4-2 in April. The vacated area is 7,620 square feet of unimproved, wooded right-of-way. Both parcels become private land once the owners pay their appraised values.

The vacation abandons the city's claim to a street it never paved. North Ridge neighbors had opposed the transfer, and two council members voted no in April, arguing the city should not give up land it has no plan to use. The Sept. 19 adoption ends the public right-of-way.

Why it matters

The ordinance passed Sept. 19, so the never-built street at 2702 Russell Road is now private land — the city's claim has ended.

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Key Indicators

$64,147
Appraised value of the 2702 Russell Road vacated parcel
One of two Russell Road parcels appraised after final plats shifted the boundaries.
$68,612
Appraised value of the adjacent 2800 Russell Road vacated parcel
The companion vacation on the same docket, adopted Sept. 19. An earlier April assessment put it at about $69,592 before final plat adjustments.
4-2
April council vote approving the Russell Road vacations
Chapman and Elnoubi cast the two no votes over handing land to owners with no city plan.
+1 sq ft
Growth in total vacated area after final plats
Boundary shifts nudged total vacated area up one square foot and reset valuations.
7,620 sq ft
Total vacated public right-of-way
Unimproved, wooded right-of-way at the end of Kent Place, per the city's April 18 report.

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People Involved

JC
John Taylor Chapman
Alexandria City Council member
Voted against the Russell Road vacations in April; the council adopted both ordinances on Sept. 19.
 Elnoubi
Elnoubi
Alexandria City Council member
Voted against the Russell Road vacations in April; the council adopted both ordinances on Sept. 19.

Organizations Involved

Alexandria City Council
Alexandria City Council
Municipal legislative body
Adopted the Russell Road vacation ordinances on Sept. 19, completing both vacations.

Adopted the Russell Road vacation ordinances on Sept. 19.
Alexandria Department of Planning and Zoning
Alexandria Department of Planning and Zoning
City department
Staff recommended approval of the vacation

The department that processes vacation applications, runs appraisals, and advises the council on land-use decisions.

Timeline

April 2026 September 2026

5 events Latest: September 19th, 2026 · 2 months ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Public hearing and final passage vote

    Latest Decision

    City Council convenes at 9:30 a.m. at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center to take public comment and a final vote on the ordinance vacating the southern end of Kent Place.

  2. Council adopts Kent Place vacation ordinance for 2702 Russell Road

    Decision

    City Council closed the public hearing and adopted ORD. NO. 5650, vacating the southern end of Kent Place adjacent to 2702 Russell Road (VAC No. 2025-00009).

  3. Council adopts 2800 Russell Road vacation ordinance

    Decision

    City Council adopted ORD. NO. 5651, vacating the southern end of Kent Place adjacent to 2800 Russell Road (VAC No. 2023-00004).

  4. Sept. 19 hearing agenda published

    Procedural

    City publishes the public hearing agenda listing second reading and final passage of the Kent Place vacation ordinance for 2702 Russell Road.

  5. Council approves Russell Road vacations 4-2

    Decision

    City Council approves the right-of-way vacations at 2702 and 2800 Russell Road over North Ridge objections; Chapman and Elnoubi vote no.

Scenarios

1

Council finalizes Kent Place vacation for 2702 Russell Road

Deadline passed (Sep 19, 2026)

Discussed by: City staff recommendation and the April 4-2 majority

The ordinance already cleared first reading at Tuesday's legislative meeting. Final passage at the Sept. 19 public hearing completes the vacation, and the city conveys the parcel to the adjacent owner upon payment of the appraised value.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

20th century

Municipal street vacations (20th century–present)

Cities have long stripped unbuilt or surplus streets and alleys from public maps, transferring the land to adjacent owners for cash. The practice returns idle parcels to the tax roll and sheds public maintenance costs, and it has funded countless infill projects.

Then

Adjacent owners absorb the parcels and cities take the compensation.

Now

Vacation became a routine, rule-bound process in most jurisdictions, requiring appraisals, public hearings, and a council vote.

Why this matters now

The Kent Place vacation runs on exactly this machinery — appraisal, public hearing, city vote. The only real dispute is whether the city should give up land it has no plan to use.

2000–2019

Washington-area alley vacation disputes (2000s–2010s)

Across the Washington metro area, property owners and developers sought to vacate alleys and side streets to expand lots, add parking, or build. The requests routinely drew neighbor objections and split local councils.

Then

Many vacated parcels went to private owners after contested votes; some requests were withdrawn.

Now

The pattern established a familiar template: staff recommend, neighbors object, councils divide.

Why this matters now

The Russell Road vote echoes that pattern — a 4-2 council split and neighborhood opposition over a small parcel that most residents never use.

Sources

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City of Alexandria Legistar Alexandria Brief Alexandria Times City of Alexandria Legistar Alexandria Brief