affordable housing | ALXnow

Morning Notes

Published September 17, 2021 at 5:00AM

Friday Night Lights debut at Alexandria High School stadium — “A ribbon cutting for the newly renovated Parker-Gray Memorial Stadium will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 17 ahead of the Titans’ first home game at 7 p.m. Speakers will include Superintendent Dr. Gregory Hutchings Jr., School Board Chair Meagan Alderton, Mayor Justin Wilson, and more. Gates will not open to the public until 6 p.m.” [Patch]

City Council extends State of Emergency to January 2022 — The Alexandria City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to extend the state of emergency to January 31, 2022. [ALXnow]

News

New policy could open up more ‘co-living’ options in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published September 2, 2021 at 10:45AM

Apartment kitchen, via Naomi Hébert/Unsplash

At an upcoming meeting on Thursday, Sept. 9, the Planning Commission is docketed to look at over a new policy that would open up more “co-living” across the city.

Co-living, as defined by the city, is a residential use which allows housing where private bedrooms can be connected to shared spaces, like kitchens, bathrooms and living rooms. Suites can have private bathrooms, but no private cooking facilities are allowed in individual suites or bedrooms under this use.

News

School Board Member Michelle Rief praises ACPS COVID response in reelection bid

By James Cullum

Published August 25, 2021 at 4:10PM

ACPS Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr. and School Board member Michelle Rief (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The last three years on the Alexandria School Board have been marked by a pandemic, social strife and a soured relationship with the City Council, but Michelle Rief is still proud of it.

“I’m running for School Board because I care deeply about our public schools,” Rief told ALXnow. “It would be an honor to serve in the leadership capacity on the School Board.”

News

HUD Secretary Fudge visits Alexandria, says affordable housing is a Biden Administration priority

By James Cullum

Published August 13, 2021 at 2:45PM

HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge jokes around with Rep. Don Beyer (D-8th) and Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson at the Spire apartment complex on Friday, August 13. (staff photo by James Cullum)

U.S. Housing and Ubran Development Secretary Marcia L. Fudge was in Alexandria Friday to tour The Spire affordable housing complex and tout the Biden Administration’s Build Back Better agenda.

“There are so many people who live on the outskirts of hope in this country,” Fudge said. “I am in a community now… where the median value of a home is nearly $640,000. Most people can’t afford to live here. There is no place in this country today where a person making minimum wage can rent a two-bedroom apartment.”

News

Alexandria opens up on details for new guaranteed basic income program

By Vernon Miles

Published August 9, 2021 at 3:40PM

Alexandria City Hall (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

One of the most high-profile uses of American Rescue Plan funding in Alexandria is the city’s foray into providing a guaranteed basic income for some of the city’s lowest-income residents. At a meeting today (Monday), leadership of the program shared new information about how the program will work.

Kate Garvey, director of the department of community and human service, outlined the basics of the program in a Zoom meeting today.

News

Former ACPS administrator Tammy Ignacio says experience matters in School Board bid

By James Cullum

Published August 6, 2021 at 1:05PM | Updated September 14, 2021 at 4:21PM

Former Alexandria City Public Schools administrator Tammy Ignacio says her 30-plus years of experience will help take up the slack since six of the nine members of the School Board aren’t seeking reelection.

“I am well aware of the complexities of running the school system,” Ignacio recently told ALXnow. “I’m excited for the work. I feel like I still have work to do. I think what I can bring to the table is expertise in living the life of an educator and as a parent in the school system.”

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 23, 2021 at 3:30PM

What an unexpectedly busy summer week in Alexandria. Here’s the rundown.

Our top story was on an Alexandria woman who claims she was roofied at a restaurant on the waterfront on the evening of July 9. A police report has been filed, and no charges have been made.

News

Del Ray affordable housing completes long-awaited overhaul

By Vernon Miles

Published July 19, 2021 at 9:45AM

Ribbon-cutting for the Bellefonte Apartment Community renovations, courtesy AHDC

The residents of Del Ray’s Bellefonte Apartment Community (11 East Bellefonte Avenue) are back after a pair of local non-profits announced they’ve finished extensive renovations to the affordable housing community aimed at caring for adults with special needs.

Sheltered Homes of Alexandria (SHA), Alexandria Housing Development Corporation (AHDC) spearheaded the renovation of 12 apartment units. According to a press release, the renovations included a complete interior gutting and redesign of the building; changing some units to be fully wheelchair accessible, improving the stormwater systems, and updating security at the building.

News

ARHA documents outline affordable housing organization’s shift toward rental-assistance

By Vernon Miles

Published July 13, 2021 at 4:45PM

Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s (ARHA) newly released Annual Agency Plan outlines the public agencies ongoing efforts at modernization and acquisition of affordable units in Old Town, with a particular focus on being more involved in rental-assistance programs.

The plan outlines areas of change for the organization, with the organization required to explain new activities in the current fiscal year. This year, one of those categories involves changes in “Mixed Finance Modernization or Development”. In its explanation, the document explained that ARHA is continuing to work on demolition of older units under Housing and Urban Development code Section 18 and rental assistance demonstration — rental assistance that ensures existing low-income units remain affordable — of others.

News

School Board Member Jacinta Greene faces reelection, wants race relations taught in ACPS

By James Cullum

Published July 13, 2021 at 1:15PM | Updated July 13, 2021 at 2:19PM

Alexandria School Board Member Jacinta Greene is seeking reelection. (via Facebook)

School Board Member Jacinta Greene thinks the history of race relations should be taught in Alexandria City Public Schools.

“Systemic racism and race relations should be taught in schools,” Greene told ALXnow. “What has happened to Black people and minorities in our country has been deplorable and when you don’t teach history, that’s when it repeats itself.”

News

AHDC unveils new designs and specs for planned Chirilagua affordable housing

By Vernon Miles

Published July 8, 2021 at 2:30PM

Rendering for Mount Vernon and Glebe, via AHDC

As the Alexandria Housing Development Corporation (AHDC) moves forward with its plans to build a 482-unit affordable housing complex in Chirilagua-Arlandria, the local non-profit unveiled the first renderings for the site and stats that raised some eyebrows online.

The City Council approved a loan for the AHDC project in May as part of an ongoing effort combat gentrification likely incoming with Amazon’s arrival in nearby Crystal City. The new development will come at the intersection of Mount Vernon and Glebe Road.