The CEO of the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority says that significant changes in federal funding will lay the foundation to redevelop all of its public housing sites in the style of the recently unveiled Lineage development.
ARHA recently announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will convert the 213 units at three sites — Ladrey High-Rise, Park Place, and Saxony Square — from public housing funding to Housing Choice Voucher funding.
Mayor Justin Wilson said that characterizing the financing of ARHA’s properties has been years in the making.
“This gives us more flexibility in the future and makes it easier to refresh, redevelop and expand our public housing stock,” Wilson said.
Rents will not go up at the properties, although plans for each site include a mix of incomes, and “ultimately upgrade and sustain its entire 754 units of public housing, plus build new workforce and market rate housing,” ARHA said in a release.
ARHA expects to convert 504 affordable units at higher funding rates using HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration funds, as well as HUD’s Section 18 authorization, which okays the demolition of public housing properties for redevelopment. After that happens, the remaining 250 units will then “automatically be approved for Housing Choice vouchers, clearing the way for the entire public housing portfolio in Alexandria to be funded under this higher formula,” ARHA said. “Importantly, ARHA will retain ownership of these properties through its own nonprofit subsidiary.”
ARHA CEO Keith Pettigrew told ALXnow that the Lineage development was a springboard for the organization, in terms of what its other properties will look like in the future.
The Lineage met with controversy over concerns of increased density, as 52 affordable units (with 37 units for workforce housing) replaced the 15 public housing units that previously stood for decades at the Ramsey Homes site in Old Town. The project was made possible by tax credit financing and a $2 million loan from the city.
“Sustainability and affordability, go together hand-in-hand now in these days and times,” Pettigrew said. “I think it’s a win-win for everybody. The reality is I’m quite sure that somebody would love to see a brand new building next to them as opposed to what they’re looking at now, right?”
Pettigrew said he is conscious of concerns over gentrification in the city, and that rent will not increase and residents will not be displaced in the event of redevelopment or construction..
“With Alexandria growing the way it’s growing, you got Amazon coming and you’ve got Virginia Tech coming, that’s going to be bringing a lot of people,” he said. “The reality is, we want to make sure that we take advantage of all that, by still maintaining our public housing numbers. That’s the goal.”
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Monarch Montessori School located in the heart of Del Ray is enrolling children 6 weeks to 6 years of age for our half day and full day program.
Our hours of operation are 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday-Friday. Monarch Montessori School is open year round, with intermittent breaks.
Children engage in self-directed, self-initiated activities under the guidance of a trained Montessori teacher. Classroom sizes range from 8-12 students. Our robust curriculum includes botany, sensorial activities, the social graces, culture, math, science, practical life, geography, music appreciation and language arts.
You’ll get half off of the registration fee when you register and begin care with us before April 30, 2023.
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The HIPAA Seal of Compliance is issued to organizations that have implemented an effective HIPAA compliance program through the use of The Guard, Compliancy Group’s proprietary compliance tracking solution.
Clients and patients are becoming more aware of the requirements of HIPAA compliance and how the regulation protects their personal information. Forward-thinking providers like EDBS Dental Billing Solutions choose the HIPAA Seal of Compliance to differentiate their services.
Del Ray Dog Fest & Yappy Hour
The 1st Annual Del Ray Dog Fest is a fun outdoor event that will include dog-centered activities, dog menu items, live music, vendors and food on Sunday, April 2 from 11am- 3pm at the George Washington Middle School parking lot.
