On Tuesday (April 28), City Council adopted a resolution authorizing up to $20 million in revenue bonds by the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority for the redevelopment of The Ladrey Senior Hi-Rise in Old Town North.
City Council was presented with ARHA’s new plan to redevelop the 11-story, 1970s-era building at 300 Wythe Street, which was deemed obsolete last year by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, prompting the authority to relocate all of the building’s residents.
The new plan will convert the 170-unit affordable apartment building — intended to house seniors and residents with disabilities — into a 159-unit building with 10 new two-bedroom units, a fitness room, a game area with a pool table, a children’s play area and a rooftop deck. The plan also eliminates all studio apartments in the building and modernizes its HVAC systems, windows and elevators.
A previous plan approved by Council to replace The Ladrey envisioned a 270-unit L-shaped building with heights ranging from six to seven stories. That plan was deemed infeasible and abandoned by ARHA’s former CEO, who is currently suing the organization for firing him last summer.
According to the city:
The goal of The Ladrey project is to preserve deeply affordable senior housing while achieving high-quality spaces and amenities for residents. The project will result in the preservation of housing for 159 senior and disabled households. The building redesign will eliminate existing studio units and introduce 10 two-bedroom, two-bath units to accommodate live-in aides. There will also be the addition of 17 fully accessible units, significantly exceeding the 5% minimum accessibility requirement. New one-bedroom units will be added within the underutilized elevator lobby space. The building design will accommodate residents that wish to return.
The ground floor will also be redesigned to include attractive and flexible resident amenities, a security desk, and management offices with a direct view of the entrance, as well as a clear path and line of sight from the entrance to the courtyard. A new lounge on the 11th floor will provide additional amenity space and highlight views of the Potomac River and surrounding areas.
ARHA anticipates construction starting in January 2027 and wrapping up in the third quarter of 2028.
