Sanse Apartments, described by city leaders as one of the biggest affordable housing projects in Alexandria, is making progress and is scheduled to start vertical construction this fall.
Director of Housing Helen McIlvaine told the City Council at a meeting this week said the housing development, which the city is developing with nonprofit Housing Alexandria, is “larger than any project we’ve undertaken with a partner.”
“It’s one we’ve frequently called the city’s highest priority,” McIlvaine said.
The project is broken into three buildings at the intersection of Mount Vernon Avenue and Glebe Road. Each building is classified as its own phase. Phase 1 is a tower with 206 rental units along West Glebe Road. Phase 2 is a tower along Mount Vernon Avenue with 210 rental units. The last building, Phase 3, will be predominately commercial space along with 58 rental units.
In total the project is set to deliver 474 units, all of which will be affordable housing for those at 80% of area median income or below. More than 25% of those classified as “deeply affordable” units available to those making at or below 40% of the area median income.
The update was positive: that the development is on budget and on schedule. McIlvaine said the underground parking garage is nearly complete, with vertical construction — the above ground construction of the main building — is scheduled to kick off in October. Vertical construction of Phase 2 is scheduled to start in March 2025.
McIlvaine said the first homes will be available starting next summer or fall.
At the meeting, the city approved a $14 million loan to Housing Alexandria from the City Housing Opportunities Fund to help complete the construction. McIlvaine said the project had been expecting investment from Amazon but that it never materialized.
“I wanted everyone’s attention on this because everyone is going by this particular lot,” said Vice Mayor Amy Jackson. “It’s an active site. We have some places in Alexandria that aren’t, so this is a very positive moment here.”
