While supportive of the city overall, Alexandrians have issues with the cost of living and housing affordability in the city, according to a survey of 634 residents that the City Council will receive at its meeting tonight (Tuesday).
The Community Livability Report’s Resident Survey 2020 includes opinions on the livability of Alexandria, and while the reviews are mostly positive there are a number of areas that need work, according to the respondents.
“As with many attractive communities, affordability was an issue,” the report says. “The cost of living and housing affordability were rated positively by fewer than two in 10 community members. These ratings were lower than the national benchmarks and received the lowest quality ratings of any items on the survey.”
The city plans on working with a number of city departments, as well as Jacqueline Tucker, the city’s Race and Social Equity Officer, to “further analyze and use these results to inform and continuously improve City services,” according to a powerpoint presentation that will be provided to council.
According to the report:
- Most residents were positive about the quality of life in the city, with 58% rating it as good, 28% as excellent, 12% as fair and 2% as poor
- A majority of residents said the city was a nice place to live, with 45% rating it as excellent, 46% as good, 8% fair and 1% poor
- 85% have an overall feeling of safety
- 77% said Alexandria is a good place to raise children
- 58% said the police department is excellent
- 56% approve of the overall quality of city services
- 46% said the city is a good place to retire
- 41% said there was a good sense of community
- 37% said the city was excellent or good at repairing streets
- 31% said there is enough public parking
- 18% approved of the cost of living
Staff photo by James Cullum
Recent Stories
A look at the most and least expensive single-family homes sold in Alexandria last month, April 2024.
The Traffic and Parking Board endorsed one intersection change that could make Lynhaven/Del Ray a little safer but did not approve the proposed reversal of a one-way street. The proposed…
No charges were filed against a man arrested for a suspected misdemeanor assault and battery on Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray on Sunday. A passerby called 911 at around…
Here’s a roundup of all the events, live music, and entertainment happening around Alexandria this weekend; enjoy! Are you organizing an event? Submit events to ALXnow. Friday, May 3 Things…
Good news, D.C. area. You can save money on your next home cleaning with Well-Paid Maids. It’s easy!
We offer a discount when you set up recurring cleans — and the discounts just increased this week!
For weekly cleans, get $30 off each cleaning.
Potomac Harmony is Back! Following a gap year of competing, then virtual rehearsals during the pandemic, followed by the well-earned retirement of our long-term director, a year of a director search, Potomac Harmony hit the regional contest stage in Concord, North Carolina in March for the first time since 2018! It was exhilarating, reaffirming, and rewarding!
The chorus hit all of its goals, the biggest of which was to have fun and sing our best on contest stage — we did both! Because we earned a score over 400 points, our new Director, Allison Lynskey, was awarded the Novice Director award, photo above. Additionally, one of our charter members, Jackie Bottash, was nominated for and honored with the Leadership Excellence award. It was a celebratory weekend!
What’s next? So much! We now look forward to upcoming performances, growing our membership, and expanding our musical product with new arrangements and an education component each week. It’s an exciting time to be part of this ever-growing ensemble!
Alexandria NAACP, Shiloh Baptist Church, DPC to hold City Council…
The Alexandria Branch of the NAACP, Shiloh Baptist Church, and The Departmental Progressive Club to hold the City Council Candidate Forum for ALL Candidates in the City of Alexandria Virginia. The event is Free of Charge and Open to The