affordable housing | ALXnow

Senators Warner and Kaine task Southern Towers owners to resolve eviction conflict with residents

Published June 27, 2023 at 3:30PM | Updated June 29, 2023 at 12:15PM

The Sherwood apartment building at Southern Towers in Alexandria's West End. (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated at 11 a.m. on June 29) U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine sent a letter to CIM Group highlighting the concerns of residents regarding evictions, increased rents and living conditions at their Southern Towers Apartments complex.

In a letter Monday, the Virginia Democrats urged the building owner to resolve long standing disputes with residents. Since buying the property at the height of the pandemic in 2020, residents have protested against evictions, claiming that CIM Group has raised rents and evicted hundreds of residents from deteriorating properties.

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Covid funding could help restore ‘Green Book’ lodging in Parker Gray

By Vernon Miles

Published June 14, 2023 at 1:35PM

1022 Pendleton Boarding House (image via City of Alexandria)

The owners of an Alexandria rooming house could have gotten a significant paycheck from developers for the property, but the home owner is working with the city to keep it affordable.

At a City Council meeting last night, the Council unanimously authorized to pay $1.95 million from the city’s American Rescue Plan Act grant funding to renovate and preserve a rooming house at 1022 Pendleton Street.

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New Mark Center development is first in the area to use new density-for-housing trade

By Vernon Miles

Published June 5, 2023 at 3:50PM

The Rutherford at Mark Center (image via DCS Design/City of Alexandria)

The 367-unit residential development The Rutherford is headed to Planning Commission review tomorrow and makes use of a relatively recent new policy that codified an older trade.

The project is a multifamily building set on a 4.5 acre site at 5000 Seminary Road, next to the Hilton Mark Center. Of those 367 units, 25 will be committed affordable units. The developer is also contributing $811,547 to the Housing Trust Fund.

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Alexandria considers extension of public comment period for controversial zoning for housing plan

By James Cullum

Published May 4, 2023 at 2:30PM

What two additional stories looks like on a 45-foot-tall structure. (Via City of Alexandria)

After a request from the Del Ray Citizens Association, Alexandria is leaning toward extending a public comment period by two months after it releases its controversial zoning for housing plan later this year.

The massive plan would upend a number of zoning ordinances. One of them is a bonus height amendment that would incentivize developers to add affordable housing to projects in exchange for two additional stories of construction in areas where height limits are 45 feet or more.

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Alexandria officials say some property owners discriminating over eviction assistance

By Vernon Miles

Published April 26, 2023 at 1:45PM

A rally to extend the moratorium on rent evictions in front of the Alexandria Courthouse on Wednesday, July 1, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

During a City Council meeting last night, discussion of a new report shed light on property owners discriminating against residents who received eviction protection aid — a move the city says is illegal.

Helen McIlvaine, director of the Office of Housing, and housing analyst Kim Cadena shared a report on the specifics of where the city’s housing investments are going.

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Del Ray residents want deferral of controversial zoning plan to desegregate Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published April 10, 2023 at 3:55PM | Updated April 10, 2023 at 4:50PM

What two additional stories looks like on a 45-foot-tall structure. (Via City of Alexandria)

A controversial proposal to expand Alexandria’s housing availability is running into opposition in Del Ray.

The Del Ray Citizens Association (DRCA), on Wednesday, will vote on asking the city to extend the timeline for its Zoning For Housing/Housing For All initiative. City leaders say that the massive plan essentially desegregates Alexandria, and includes an incentive for developers to build affordable housing up to 70 feet in height in areas where height limits are 45 feet or more.

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Housing Alexandria breaking ground on new Arlandria affordable housing development this summer

By Vernon Miles

Published March 28, 2023 at 2:45PM

Concept rendering of Sansé and Naja development in Arlandria (courtesy of Housing Alexandria)

Local nonprofit Housing Alexandria said it will break ground on a new 474-unit affordable housing project in Arlandria this summer at the intersection of Mount Vernon Avenue and Glebe Road.

The project — a pair of buildings the nonprofit announced will be called Sansé and Naja — will create 474 units of affordable housing, 36,000 square feet of commercial space and a two-level underground parking garage. All of the units will be affordable for households making up to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) with 105 units set aside as deeply affordable — available to those making 40% AMI.

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What does Arlington’s ‘Missing Middle’ vote mean for Alexandria?

By Vernon Miles

Published March 23, 2023 at 3:30PM

Community members at the Missing Middle vote in Arlington (staff photo)

After the Arlington County Board voted this week to allow multifamily structures in single-family home zoning, some Alexandrians looked north as a hopeful example and others as a warning of what could be ahead.

The Missing Middle vote — referring to the multi-family structures that proponents hope will help make housing more affordable — created nearly unprecedented levels of controversy in Arlington County.

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Massive housing reform process for Alexandria kicks off this month

By Vernon Miles

Published March 9, 2023 at 1:45PM

The Eisenhower Square townhouse development (staff photo by Brandi Bottalico)

Alexandria is preparing to launch a massive overhaul of its housing zoning with a kickoff event later this month.

The Zoning for Housing/Housing for All initiative was announced late last year but has been in the works since 2020. The initiative is essentially a top-t0-bottom review of the city code to rewrite the city’s zoning code to emphasize affordability and equity.

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ARHA requesting $1 million loan and tax credit help after cost increases for Braddock project

By Vernon Miles

Published February 21, 2023 at 3:55PM

The proposed North Building of the Samuel Madden redevelopment (via City of Alexandria)

The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) is requesting a $1 million loan after unexpected development costs and a new designation that could give it a tax credit boost.

Both the loan and the tax credits would go toward the Samuel Madden Redevelopment Project. The project involves the demolition of the existing 66-unit Samuel Madden Homes and replacing them with two multifamily buildings at 899 and 999 N. Henry Streets.

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Transformative Samuel Madden redevelopment in Braddock area goes to Planning Commission tonight

By James Cullum

Published February 7, 2023 at 3:45PM

The proposed North Building of the Samuel Madden redevelopment (via City of Alexandria)

A major affordable housing development in the city’s Braddock area is headed to the Planning Commission tonight.

Tonight’s meeting on the proposed Samuel Madden redevelopment comes after more than a year-and-a-half of back-and-forths between city staff and the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority.