News

Alexandria hosting Saturday open house on draft plan to address housing needs through 2040

By James Cullum
As seen at the 204-unit affordable housing apartment complex Samuel Madden Homes, Nov. 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s draft plan to address city housing needs between through 2040 will be available for public review at an open house this Saturday.

The Office of Housing is hosting the free open house to discuss the Housing 2040 draft recommendations and strategies at the Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center (1108 Jefferson Street), with interactive stations and breakout sessions from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Sessions will focus on topics like homeowner resources, housing options for seniors and people with disabilities, landlord tenant resources and rights and affordable housing preservation. The open house will run on the following schedule, according to the city.

  • 10:30 – 11:15 a.m.: Homeowner Resources and Common Interest Communities
  • 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Housing Options and Resources for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities
  • 12:30 – 1:15 p.m.: Landlord Tenant Resources and Rights
  • 1:30 – 2:15 p.m.: Affordable Housing Preservation

A “light lunch and refreshments” will also be provided, and registration is strongly encouraged.

An online comment form will be available this week, according to the city. The plan is expected to be docketed for public hearings in June.

“Feedback received will help inform the final draft Housing 2040 Plan which is anticipated to be presented for City Council consideration in June,” the city said in a release.

This is the first time that the Housing Master Plan has been updated since it was first approved in 2013.

The draft plan includes the following 10 goals and recommendations on achieving them to address housing needs.

  1. EXPAND the supply and diversity of housing options to enhance affordability and accessibility at all income levels, life stages, and abilities to meet the City’s current and future needs.
  2. PRESERVE the affordability, livability, and long-term financial viability of existing committed and naturally occurring affordable housing to minimize displacement.
  3. STRENGTHEN tenant protections and ENHANCE resources to support renters and landlords.
  4. CREATE rental housing that prioritizes affordability up to 60% of the area median income to expand opportunities for renters and workers with the fewest housing options.
  5. EXPAND affordable homeownership opportunities to enable more residents and workers to become first-time homebuyers and ENHANCE resources to support existing homeowners.
  6. STRENGTHEN existing common interest/condominium communities to improve governance and build capacity to address deferred maintenance, capital needs, and other challenges common to such communities.
  7. EXPAND resources and options for seniors and persons with disabilities to live and age safely within the city.
  8. ENHANCE housing quality, safety, and livability to support resident health, security, and wellbeing.
  9. EMPOWER residents to attain housing stability and economic mobility, and FOSTER pathways to help them build and sustain wealth.
  10. SUPPORT efficiency improvements and weatherization and ADVANCE green building practices to lower energy costs, make homes healthier, and build resilience to extreme temperatures and weather.

 

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.