City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JANUARY 13, 2026
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: EMILY BAKER, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Public Hearing, Second Reading, and Final Passage of an Ordinance to lease and manage the Torpedo Factory Art Center (TFAC) to Initiate And Establish The Process To Grant An Agreement For The Lease, Management, And Operation Of The Torpedo Factory Arts Center ("TFAC"), Owned By The City Of Alexandria And Located At 105 Union Street.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of an Ordinance to establish the process to solicit and grant a Franchise to lease, manage and operate the Torpedo Factory Art Center (TFAC).
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Introduce and adopt the proposed ordinance (Attachment 1) on first reading to initiate and establish the process to grant an agreement for the lease, management and operation of the Torpedo Factory Art Center (TFAC); and
2. Schedule the ordinance for second reading, public hearing, and final approval on January 24, 2026.
BACKGROUND: As part of the continued revitalization efforts of TFAC, the City established a stakeholder task force charged with helping develop a coherent approach to vibrancy and sustainability in alignment with the principles for TFAC adopted by City Council at their meeting on December 14, 2021. The TFAC stakeholder process, which concluded in 2023, provided recommendations for the long-term vibrancy and sustainability of TFAC, including the transition to an alternate governance structure. Following the conclusion of the task force, staff undertook market scan efforts to inform the parameters and approach to governance transition. The market scan comprised of (1) conducting comparable facility interviews in 2023 and early 2024, (2) facilitating focus group meetings among stakeholders in 2024, and (3) i...
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