Alexandria Dispatches: Landmark Mall, HOT Lanes Ramp Protest

Welcome to Alexandria Dispatches, a collection of this week's top stories you may have missed in West End Alexandria and surrounding communities.

West End Alexandria Patch:

Public Meeting Scheduled on Landmark Mall Plans: The Howard Hughes Corp. plans to demolish the central area of the mall and replace it with a mixed-use residential and retail complex.

Jim Durham: Cycling as Transportation for All: The vice chairman of Alexandria’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee wants to see more bike lanes, more women and children choosing cycling.

Landmark HOT Lanes Off-Ramp Protest Set for April 6: Community members say off-ramp under construction would bring traffic, pollution to Landmark area of Alexandria.

Old Town Alexandria Patch:

State to Intervene in Jefferson-Houston School: Gov. Bob McDonnell signs legislation creating the Opportunity Educational Institution designed to aid the state's chronically failing schools.

Local Chef Armstrong Up for Elite 'Best Chef' Award: Cathal Armstrong has been nominated seven times for the James Beard Foundation award.

: Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association President and CEO Patricia Washington sees a city poised to progress.

Del Ray Patch:

Work Begins on The Exchange at Potomac Yard: MRP Realty and JBG Companies announce the construction of The Alric, a multi-family apartment development.

Construction of Bell Del Ray Continues Along Monroe Avenue: Five-story, 276-unit luxury apartment complex expects to be completed by the second quarter of 2014.

Four Mile Run Farmers Market Gearing Up to Reopen: Arlandria market is open April through October on Sundays.

Annandale Patch:

: The Annandale Blockbuster store closed this month. So what's replacing it?

: Representatives for the company gave an updated presentation to the Mason District Land Use Committee Tuesday evening in Annandale.

: Electronic ballot scanning machines and other tools could make lines at the polls shorter, Fairfax County Election Commission says.