The Alexandria City Council on Tuesday (Oct. 27) got a sneak peek at plans to replace three apartment buildings with a 91-unit affordable housing building in the city’s Arlandria neighborhood.
Last February, Community Lodgings, Inc. [CLI] asked the city for an extension on the construction timeline for its project at 3908, 3912 and 3916 Elbert Avenue. The special use permit to demolish three 1940s-era buildings with 28 apartments and replace them with a six-story, 91-unit building with 182 total bedrooms was previously approved by City Council in 2023, but it expired earlier this year.
CLI’s plan would keep all 91 units in the building affordable for renters earning between 30% and 60% of the area median income.
“This project is a long time coming, so we’re almost there, almost across the line,” City Councilman Canek Aguirre said. “Really excited about it.”
Aspasia Xypolia, the city’s housing director, said that construction on the $58.8 million project is expected to break ground in April 2027. She also said that City Council will need to approve a new zoning text amendment and tax abatement.
“Tax credit equity has been identified,” Xypolia told City Council. “The first mortgage lender has been identified, and it’s paired with about $16 million in ARHA-issued (Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority) tax-exempt bonds. CLI will close on those bonds before the end of this calendar year, and that financing structure is why a zoning text amendment is also needed.”
Xypolia added, “Construction is expected to start in April of 2027, and even with these sources in place, a funding gap remains and CLI has requested the tax abatement from the city to close that gap.”
The residents in the 28 apartments were moved out during the summer and will be allowed to return to the property once construction is finished, Xypolia said.
It was also announced that Wesley Housing has been chosen as the development partner on the project.
The Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing on a zoning text amendment for the project on Nov. 5, followed by a City Council public hearing on Nov. 14 and an implementation hearing on Dec. 12. City Council will also consider tax abatement on the project at its Nov. 14 public hearing.
Image 2 via Google Maps
