affordable housing | ALXnow

Morning Notes

Published March 10, 2020 at 9:00AM

City Releases Multi-Language Coronavirus Fact Sheets — “The Alexandria Health Department has made multiple resources available regarding the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (now called “COVID-19″), and the Department of Community and Human Services encourages residents to read and share this information, especially in communities where languages other than English are primarily spoken, and with vulnerable residents, including those who may not have access to traditional media.” [City of Alexandria]

ARHA Looks to Redevelop Affordable Housing Properties — “Alexandria is now looking to redevelop five of its public housing communities, putting out a call for developers to replace 288 affordable homes around the city while building new “mixed-income communities… The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority recently issued a request for qualifications for interested developers on the projects, renewing a similar effort launched more than six years ago.” [Washington Business Journal]

News

City and School System to Create Committee to Evaluate Affordable Housing Co-Location Options

By James Cullum

Published March 5, 2020 at 3:25PM

After months of confusion, the city and Alexandria City Public Schools plan on creating a committee to evaluate the co-location of affordable or workforce housing on the grounds of public schools slated for renovation.

“I feel like as a board that we’re being kind of we’ve been already left behind in this process. And and so I think that that we need to try to remedy that in some way,” School Board Chair Cindy Anderson said at a joint budget work session on Wednesday night.

News

City Reviewing Accessory Dwelling Policy, Soliciting Feedback at March Meetings

By Vernon Miles

Published February 28, 2020 at 11:45AM | Updated March 15, 2024 at 2:37PM

Example of accessory dwelling regulations in neighboring Arlington County (image via Arlington County)

Alexandria is looking to study a new accessory dwelling unit (ADU) policy in Alexandria with some community input.

ADUs are defined by the city as secondary, independent living units with a separate kitchen, sleeping area and bathroom, in converted garages or new structures detached from a primary residence.

News

Council Amends Eisenhower East Plan to Add Hundreds of Potential Affordable Housing Units

By James Cullum

Published February 25, 2020 at 3:15PM | Updated February 25, 2020 at 6:41PM

Alexandria is a little ahead of schedule increasing the number of affordable housing units in the city, and two new deals are getting it closer to meeting its regional housing goals.

On Saturday, Council unanimously adopted proposals to increase the number of affordable housing units in Eisenhower East by the hundreds, and to add nine affordable units in a new mixed-use Aspire Alexandria development in Braddock.

News

Affordable Senior Housing Included in Proposed New Development

By Vernon Miles

Published February 19, 2020 at 2:00PM

Rendering of Aspire Alexandria (image via City of Alexandria)

Among the benefits of the new Aspire Alexandria project headed to the City Council this Saturday (Feb. 22) are a handful of new homes that could meet a critical need in the city.

Aspire Alexandria is a new housing development at 1112 First Street, where Tony’s Auto Service is today, aimed at offering independent senior living. The anticipated move-in age is between 77-82, but the facility will not offer direct assistance with daily living activities or memory care needs.

News

Wilson: Affordable Housing Legislation in Richmond ‘Well-Meaning’ but Misses Mark

By James Cullum

Published February 3, 2020 at 10:55AM

Andrew Adkins, an affordable housing neighborhood in Braddock (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

It’s widely accepted that localities throughout Virginia face an affordable housing crisis, but is the new Democratic majority in Richmond missing the mark on addressing the issue?

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson said that a swath of bills addressing the issue hurts rather than helps. Wilson, in a recent op-ed in the Alexandria Gazette Packet, instead recommended an increase in state funding for affordable housing instead of bills forcing localities to meet development and zoning benchmarks.

News

First Look at the Top Priorities in New Del Ray and Arlandria Plan

By Vernon Miles

Published January 31, 2020 at 10:35AM

After months of gathering feedback, city staff have a better idea of what residents of Arlandria and Del Ray think their communities need.

The public feedback is the first step in an ongoing effort to update the plans for Del Ray and Arlandria made in the early 2000s.

News

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published January 31, 2020 at 8:00AM

Alexandria Dog Featured in Puppy Bowl — “The Puppy Bowl features dogs from shelters and rescue groups like Alexandria-based dog rescue Operation Paws for Homes. The rescue group is holding a watch party Sunday, Feb. 2 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Wag & Brew, 614 S Pickett Street, Alexandria.” [Patch]

Crash Snarls Rush Hour Traffic — Just before 5:30 p.m. last night a crash, reportedly involving a car and a motorcycle, shut down portions of Sanger Avenue and Beauregard Street, snarling rush hour traffic. [Twitter]

News

MacArthur PTA Survey Finds Most Opposed to Affordable Housing on School Grounds

By ALXnow.com

Published January 30, 2020 at 10:00AM | Updated January 30, 2020 at 12:40PM

(Updated at 12:40 p.m.) A proposal to co-locate affordable housing on the grounds of MacArthur Elementary is unpopular with PTA members.

The MacArthur PTA recently conducted a survey asking how current and future MacArthur families felt about co-locating housing or city facilities on the site of the soon-to-be renovated school, an idea encouraged by the city and under consideration by the School Board.

News

City Manager: Co-Locating Affordable Housing Would Not Have Major Effect on ACPS Plans

By James Cullum

Published January 28, 2020 at 2:15PM | Updated January 29, 2020 at 10:45AM

Alexandria Councilman John Chapman (left) and Alexandria City Manager Mark Jinks (right)

Alexandria is experiencing an affordable housing crisis, city officials say, and that means using school property to try to address the crisis should remain on the table.

School officials, however, are reluctant to rush through plans for housing at schools currently set for redevelopment.

News

School System Apologizes, Says There is No Plan to Build Housing at George Mason Elementary School

By James Cullum

Published January 24, 2020 at 4:05PM | Updated January 25, 2020 at 3:20AM

City and Alexandria School System officials want to be clear: there is no plan to build a four-story housing structure as part of the plan to rebuild George Mason Elementary School.

Last weekend, a feasibility study commissioned by ACPS with architect Studio Twenty Seven Architecture, was mistakenly shared with the George Mason PTA. It showed an outline of an apartment complex in the middle of the George Mason baseball field. The study was quickly shared and denounced by members of the Beverly Hill Listserv, which spread it further and created an uncomfortable situation for ACPS administrators.