affordable housing | ALXnow

Alexandria’s public housing authority suspends evictions amid reorganization

Published November 25, 2025 at 3:45PM

ARHA properties in Old Town, Alexandria. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

In the wake of the restructuring of Alexandria’s public housing authority and its board of commissioners, the organization has temporarily halted eviction proceedings against its tenants.

Mark Jinks, the new chair of the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority‘s board of commissioners, made the announcement at the board’s monthly meeting in Old Town last night (Monday). Jinks and five other board members were installed last month by City Council to reverse a “system failure,” as described by Mayor Alyia Gaskins.

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Alexandria staff zero in on options to prevent displacement and preserve affordable housing

By Katie Taranto

Published November 18, 2025 at 3:45PM

As seen at the 204-unit affordable housing apartment complex Samuel Madden Homes, Nov. 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

City staff laid out numerous possible policies for preserving affordable housing in Alexandria and preventing tenant displacement at a meeting yesterday (Monday).

The city is seeking to update its 12-year-old Housing Master Plan with solutions to address needs over the next 15 years. In a virtual seminar on the Housing 2040 Master Plan, Housing Program Manager Tamara Jovovic and other staff members discussed dozens of possibilities based on input from stakeholders, literature reviews, public meetings and a survey of roughly 1,200 residents.

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Housing Alexandria distributes 300 Thanksgiving meals to families in need

By Katie Taranto

Published November 18, 2025 at 9:15AM

Thanksgiving meal items for donation by Housing Alexandria (courtesy of Housing Alexandria)

A nonprofit affordable housing provider in Alexandria has distributed Thanksgiving meals to 300 families in need, following its annual holiday food drive.

The drive organized by Housing Alexandria surpassed its collection efforts in 2024 by 15%, according to a release. Each meal provides enough food to feed a family of four, totaling more than 1,000 servings of food.

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Living in mold and disrepair, ARHA tenants decry unsafe living conditions, neglect

By James Cullum

Published November 17, 2025 at 3:45PM

Asia Ford inside her home on Madison Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Past and present residents at Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) properties are continuing to speak out against years of neglect and unsafe living conditions at their homes.

Chronic mold and cockroach infestations, ignored maintenance tickets and denied rehousing requests are just some of the many grievances ARHA tenants described in conversations to ALXnow this month and during a protest last Wednesday.

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Project leaders break ground on Samuel Madden Homes affordable apartment complex

By James Cullum

Published November 12, 2025 at 3:45PM

Groundbreaking for the 204-unit affordable housing apartment complex Samuel Madden Homes, Nov. 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

City and public housing leaders joined developers today (Wednesday) to break ground on the Samuel Madden Homes affordable housing apartment complex in Old Town.

The project will replace the former 66-unit public housing apartment complex with 532 new affordable homes across two phases. The first phase, costing $120 million, will redevelop the site into 207 units of affordable and mixed-income housing, with an estimated completion date of fall 2027.

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Alfred Street Baptist Church seeks permission to redevelop Old Town apartments with affordable housing

By James Cullum

Published November 4, 2025 at 1:45PM | Updated November 5, 2025 at 4:00PM

Rendering of the proposed 145-unit affordable apartment complex at 598 S. Alfred Street in Old Town, viewed from Wilkes Street and S. Alfred Street (via City of Alexandria)

The Alfred Street Baptist Church is asking for the city’s permission to construct a four-story, 145-unit affordable apartment complex at an existing Old Town apartment.

The church is proposing to demolish a 1.2-acre portion of the Olde Towne West apartment complex and redevelop it to “expand the number of affordable housing units” in the neighborhood, according to a proposal. The plan is slated for review by the Planning Commission at its Dec. 2 meeting.

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Housing Alexandria hosts Fall Festival fundraiser Oct. 9

By James Cullum

Published September 25, 2025 at 12:45PM

Housing Alexandria staff will celebrate their annual Fall Festival fundraiser on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025 (courtesy image)

Housing Alexandria is hosting a “laid-back gala” next month with music, games and food.

This year, the annual fundraising event will be held Thursday, Oct. 9, from 4 to 8 p.m. at The Garden Alexandria (5380 Eisenhower Avenue) and will celebrate the nonprofit’s completion of the Cardinal Path Homes project. The project provides 36 townhomes and condos to first-time homebuyers, available via lottery.

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8 affordable units available via lottery at new luxury condo building in Old Town North

By James Cullum

Published September 4, 2025 at 5:00PM

The Whitley at 811 N. Columbus Street in Old Town North (courtesy image)

A new luxury condominium building in Old Town North is offering eight affordable units to first-time homebuyers who live or work in Alexandria.

The city’s Office of Housing announced on Thursday (Sept. 4), that the eight units at  The Whitley, a new 78-unit complex at 811 N. Columbus Street, are available and due to high demand buyers will be chosen in a lottery. The units, ranging from one-to-three bedrooms, will start accepting applications from Friday, Sept. 26, to Friday, Oct. 24 at 5 p.m.

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JBG Smith giving update on mixed-use project that adds 600+ new homes to Potomac Yard

By James Cullum

Published August 21, 2025 at 5:47PM | Updated August 22, 2025 at 6:08AM

Potomac Yard parcels under development by JBG Smith (via City of Alexandria)

Developer JBG Smith will soon discuss an updated proposal to build a mix of multifamily, townhome and committed affordable housing across from the Potomac Yard Metro station.

Next Wednesday (Aug. 27), the Potomac Yard Design Advisory Committee (PYDAC) will review updated plans for Landbays G and H (see rendering above),

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Alexandria seeks resident input on Housing 2040 plan at Monday open house

By James Cullum

Published August 12, 2025 at 1:45PM | Updated August 12, 2025 at 4:50PM

The Alexandria skyline (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria is seeking feedback on its 15-year plan to address affordable housing issues. Once approved, the Housing 2040 Master Plan will provide City Council and staff with clear goals, strategies, and direction on the city’s housing plans. The city is hosting an open house this Monday (Sept. 8) to get feedback on Housing 2040 draft recommendations for landlord-tenant rights and resources, and homeownership programs in the city. The event will be held at the Minnie Howard Campus of Alexandria City High School (3775 W. Braddock Road) from 6 to 7 p.m., and registration is encouraged.

The current master plan is set to expire in 2025. The new plan will require a 2024 housing needs assessment from the city, and input from residents to “establish new housing affordability goals and examine housing policies, programs, and tools to support all Alexandria residents and workers,” according to the city.

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Alexandria seeks public input on new affordable housing goals for 2040

By James Cullum

Published July 15, 2025 at 2:35PM | Updated July 15, 2025 at 8:03PM

Housing Alexandria Launches New Rent Ready Online Application System for Affordable Housing (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria has exceeded the 2030 regional goals for developing new affordable housing, and now the city is setting its sights on establishing a new benchmark for 2040.

On July 30 (Wednesday), the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee will discuss housing affordability targets and other considerations going into the city’s Housing 2040 Master Plan. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. via Zoom.