affordable housing | ALXnow

Legislative discussion highlights Alexandrians’ struggle with rising rents

Published December 20, 2022 at 1:30PM

Organizers outside Southern Towers lead residents in a protest against CIM Group (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

As the City of Alexandria gets ready to kick off its advocacy for the upcoming general assembly session, one of the main talking points is how the city could use more help from the state in handling affordable housing.

Meronne Teklu, speaking on behalf of the Economic Opportunities Commission, the Landlord-Tenant Relations Board and the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee, told the City Council this weekend that each of the groups expressed concerns about the rising rate of evictions.

News

Alexandria enters tricky waters with affordable housing financing deal

By Vernon Miles

Published December 19, 2022 at 11:00AM

Samuel Madden redevelopment rendering (image via Torti Gallas + Partners/City of Alexandria)

There’s nothing unusual in Alexandria financing an affordable housing project, but one specific request from the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) could set a notable precedent.

The Samuel Madden redevelopment would replace the 66 affordable housing units with a new mixed-use development featuring around 530 units. Two-thirds of those units would be available at various levels of affordability, while the other third would be available at “market rate” –rents without any affordability baked in.

Opinion

Poll: How important is affordable housing investment to you?

By Vernon Miles

Published December 19, 2022 at 9:50AM

ARHA and the City of Alexandria host a ribbon-cutting event for the Lineage, a new 52 unit affordable housing complex on North Patrick Street. (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Over the next year, Alexandria will launch an ambitious affordable housing overhaul that could reshape the city’s zoning code with a renewed emphasis on affordable housing.

The overhaul is following in the footsteps of years of zoning reforms in Alexandria that aim to get developers to help produce more housing. The city is pushing for committed affordable housing units — buildings with residences set aside specifically for those making less than the area median income — to try and keep up with the loss of 14,300 market-rate affordable units over the last two decades.

News

All-affordable development opening in Huntington next month

By Vernon Miles

Published December 14, 2022 at 3:00PM

The Arden concept rendering (image via Wesley Housing)

The Arden, a 126-unit residential development just south of Alexandria, is opening early next year.

The development from housing nonprofit Wesley Housing is set to host a grand opening on Jan. 13, marking the completion of a major affordable housing project for an area in desperate need.

News

Wesley Housing won’t expand affordable housing properties beyond D.C. Metro area

By James Cullum

Published December 7, 2022 at 4:00PM

A rendering of Wesley Housing's affordable housing project ParcView II at 5380 Holmes Run Parkway. (Via Wesley Housing)

After five years of rapid growth, Wesley Housing’s new CEO says that the organization has no plans to expand beyond the D.C. Metro area.

Kamilah McAfee was promoted to lead the organization last month, and will take over for longtime CEO Shelly Murphy on January 2. She has been the vice president of development for Wesley Housing since 2018, and before that was the deputy director of real estate development for six years.

News

ARHA renames headquarters to celebrate local civil rights champion

By Vernon Miles

Published November 21, 2022 at 9:50AM

A. Melvin Miller building (image courtesy ARHA)

Last week, the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) gave its headquarters an official name — one honoring a local civil rights activist and affordable housing advocate.

The newly christened A Melvin Miller Building honors A. Melvin Miller. After serving two years in the army, Miller move to Alexandria in 1958. Miller launched a criminal law practice but worked pro bono on school desegregation issues. Miller served as spokesperson for The Secret Seven, a group of Black civil rights pioneers in Alexandria. Miller was chair of ARHA from 1970 to 1977 and from 2001 to 2012.

News

Southern Towers residents and activists protest rent increases and lingering health issues

By Vernon Miles

Published November 18, 2022 at 2:00PM

Organizers outside Southern Towers lead residents in a protest against CIM Group (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

At a rally outside Southern Towers (4901 Seminary Road), residents and community activists shared stories of rent increases and poor living conditions, shouting slogans against property owner CIM Group.

CIM Group purchased the buildings in 2020. Relations between tenants and owners were already fraught after the pandemic left many residents in Southern Towers — one of the last bastions of market-rate affordable housing in Alexandria — without work. Since then, community activists have raced to try and support residents facing eviction after pandemic-related protections expired.

News

Alexandria launching ambitious new zoning reform with a emphasis on affordable housing

By Vernon Miles

Published November 18, 2022 at 11:00AM

Homes along the waterfront in Old Town, Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria could be on the verge of some of its biggest steps yet in the fight to make housing affordable in a city where housing prices continue to outpace wages.

At a meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 22, the City Council could jump-start a process set to run through next year that could dramatically reshape pieces of the city’s zoning code in an effort to make land use more equitable and inclusive. The “Comprehensive Zoning for Housing and Housing for All Package” involves a full sweep of large swaths of city zoning to look for ways to rewrite them from the ground up with a new emphasis on affordable housing and equity.

News

Alexandria holding lottery for new affordable condos in Potomac Yard

By Vernon Miles

Published November 17, 2022 at 11:10AM

Dylan Condominiums in Potomac Yard (Rendering via Dylan Condominiums/Facebook)

The City of Alexandria will select nine locals via lottery for a chance to buy one of the handful of affordable condos built near the new Potomac Yard Metro station.

The units are committed affordable units — part of a trade for extra density from new development — in the Dylan Condominiums development at 701 and 737 Swann Avenue.

News

City Manager: Trading height for affordable housing means ‘unlikely’ impact on historic districts

By James Cullum

Published October 26, 2022 at 3:45PM | Updated October 26, 2022 at 11:35PM

A packed house at the Agenda Alexandia discussion on building heights and affordable housing, October 24, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

The most contentious part of last Monday’s Agenda Alexandria discussion on building heights was when City Manager Jim Parajon told the audience that the City Council’s priorities on affordable housing have the best interests of residents in mind.

Many members of the audience voiced disapproval by groaning, “No,” that they don’t.

News

New Duke Street development replacing car dealership with affordable housing

By Vernon Miles

Published October 26, 2022 at 10:45AM

Witter Place (Community Housing Partners (CHP)

The Beyer Land Rover dealership at 2712 Duke Street could soon be replaced with a new 94-unit affordable housing development (item 9).

The project, Witter Place, is being put together by Community Housing Partners (CHP). The Virginia-based non-profit has worked in affordable housing development since 1975, but this is CHP’s first project in Alexandria.