Alfred Street Baptist Church

JUST IN: Mayor Gaskins rallies Alexandria church to settle $1M in ARHA back rent

Published March 19, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated March 20, 2026 at 4:35PM

Mayor Alyia Gaskins speaks at the No Kings Rally at Market Square in Old Town, June 14, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Mayor Alyia Gaskins launched the “Fresh Start Initiative” today (Thursday), rallying the city’s faith and nonprofit leaders to pay approximately $1 million in back rent for nearly 450 residents living in the city’s public housing properties.

The initiative brings together the city, the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, the Department of Community and Human Services and nonprofit fundraiser ACT for Alexandria to create a temporary charitable fund to “connect residents to financial empowerment resources, and to ensure improved systems at ARHA,” according to the city. Alfred Street Baptist Church has pledged to raise more than $1 million to cover the back rent. The initiative is solely funded through private donations.

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New Old Town affordable housing building and 640-unit Potomac Yard project receive approval

By Katie Taranto

Published December 15, 2025 at 2:45PM

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)

Two proposed housing developments in the city of Alexandria are officially allowed to move forward after receiving City Council’s approval during its Saturday meeting.

A 640-unit, multi-building project in southern Potomac Yard and a 145-unit affordable housing redevelopment in Old Town each received unanimous approval for development special use permits (DSUPs) after advancing through the Planning Commission earlier this month.

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Affordable housing redevelopment plan for Old Town apartments gets commission greenlight

By Katie Taranto

Published December 3, 2025 at 3:45PM

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 Planning Commission has given its approval to plans to redevelop an Old Town apartment building with more affordable housing.

The commission gave its blessing last night (Tuesday) to Alfred Street Baptist Church’s proposal to construct a four-story, 145-unit affordable housing complex on the grounds of the 1970s-era Old Towne West building. The current parcels at 901 Wolfe Street and 598 and 601 S. Alfred Street have 77 units, including 34 affordable units and two offices.

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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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Alexandria pastor’s Charlie Kirk comments lead this week’s top stories

By James Cullum

Published September 19, 2025 at 3:30PM | Updated September 19, 2025 at 3:47PM

The Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley delivers his Sunday sermon at Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va., on Sept. 15, 2025. During the sermon, Wesley criticized the decision to fly flags at half-staff for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, calling Kirk "an unapologetic racist." (Screenshot via YouTube)

It’s been quite a week, Alexandria. Here’s a look at our top stories.

Our most-read story this week is on Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley sermonizing against President Trump’s decision to fly flags at half-staff across the country for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Speaking at the historic Alfred Street Baptist Church, Wesley condemned the Sept. 10 assassination, but said he should not be expected to honor Kirk, who he called an “unapologetic racist who spent all of his life sowing seeds of division and hate into this land.”

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Alexandria pastor’s Charlie Kirk comments spark national debate

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 15, 2025 at 9:41AM | Updated September 15, 2025 at 11:51AM

The Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley delivers his Sunday sermon at Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va., on Sept. 15, 2025. During the sermon, Wesley criticized the decision to fly flags at half-staff for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, calling Kirk "an unapologetic racist." (Screenshot via YouTube)

A video of the Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley condemning the decision to fly flags at half-staff for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk has ignited a firestorm on social media, drawing both support and fierce criticism for the Alexandria pastor.

Speaking to his congregation at Alfred Street Baptist Church on Sunday, Wesley didn’t mince words about Kirk, who was shot and killed last Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University.

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For Black men, fashion has been a tool of self-expression — and a way they’ve been judged

By DEEPTI HAJELA Associated Press

Published May 1, 2025 at 12:06AM | Updated May 1, 2025 at 7:43PM

This combination photo shows various fashion worn by rapper A$AP Rocky. (AP Photo)

NEW YORK (AP) — Growing up on the south side of Chicago, the Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley was given the message early on: What one wore as a Black man mattered.

Wesley’s pastor father, who migrated from Louisiana after World War II in search of more opportunities than those readily available to Black people in the Deep South, “always had an impeccable sense of shirt and tie and suit.”

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Alfred Street Baptist Church cancels annual Kennedy Center performance over arts venue controversy

By Vernon Miles

Published February 18, 2025 at 11:05AM

Alfred Street Baptist Church (photo via Alfred Street)

On Sunday, Alexandria’s Alfred Street Baptist Church announced it would be cutting ties to the Kennedy Center after President Trump purged the arts center’s board.

Alfred Street Baptist Church joins a list of events and shows canceling on the venue. The church formerly hosted an annual Christmas performance at the Kennedy Center.

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NEW: Man sentenced 41 months for targeting Alfred Street Baptist Church, journalists and others in ‘swatting’ conspiracy

By James Cullum

Published May 4, 2021 at 1:55PM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

A 27-year-old Texas man was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison today for his role in calling in a bomb threat to Alfred Street Baptist Church, as well as other “swatting” incidents against a U.S. Cabinet member, journalists and Old Dominion University.

John Cameron Denton of Montgomery, Texas, a leader with the Atomwaffen Division neo-Nazi group, participated with three others in at least 134 swatting attacks around the country between October 2018 and February 2019. He pleaded guilty last year after being arrested in a sting operation to committing an offense against the United States and interstate threats to injure.

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Alfred Street Baptist Church’s Annual HBCU Festival Goes Virtual, College Applicants Sought

By James Cullum

Published February 17, 2021 at 3:30PM

The largest festival for historically black colleges and universities in the country is going virtual, and all application fees have been waived for this year’s annual event.

The Alfred Street Baptist Church HBCU Festival has been held annually since 2003, and the church is calling for high school students and parents to register. The festival is on Saturday, Feb. 20, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published June 11, 2020 at 9:00AM

Walking on King Street in Old Town, Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

ACT for Alexandria Calls COVID-19 a Racial Issue, Sends $900K to Nonprofits — “To work towards a community where all Alexandrians have an equal chance of living prosperous, fulfilling lives, we must work together to address systemic racism. That is a tall order. But together we can make a difference. Your support of the ACT Now COVID-19 Response Fund is an important step. That support allows our community to better respond to the needs of our neighbors facing overwhelming challenges.” [ACT for Alexandria]

Beyer Finds Fault in Indicted Fairfax County Police Officer — “This officer’s actions were unjustified, and he failed his oath to protect and serve. Body-worn camera footage clearly shows he escalated the situation with unnecessary violence against an unarmed black man.” [Twitter]