ARHA | ALXnow

UPDATE: Fireworks suspected in fire that displaced ARHA residents in Braddock Metro neighborhood

Published July 6, 2026 at 12:55PM | Updated July 6, 2026 at 4:19PM

Firefighters responding to a fire in the Braddock Metro neighborhood, July 5, 2026 (courtesy of Geoffrey Brown)

Fireworks are believed to be the cause of a fire at an Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority home in the Braddock Metro neighborhood yesterday (July 5).

The fire was reported around 11:01 p.m. on the roof of the home at 1318 Madison Street, part of the Samuel Madden Homes community. Units from Alexandria, Fairfax County and Arlington County had responded to the call and encountered smoke coming from the roof of a three-story rowhome. An Alexandria Fire Department spokesperson told ALXnow the fire had started on the exterior at the gutters and spread to the roof and attic.

News

ARHA board promotes housing director as acting deputy CEO

By James Cullum

Published June 19, 2026 at 1:45PM

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

With its interim chief executive officer stepping down today (Friday), the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners has promoted its director of housing to help provide continuity of leadership.

ARHA’s interim CEO Rickie Maddox submitted her resignation last month, leaving behind Alexandria’s struggling housing authority nearly a year after its previous CEO Erik Johnson was fired for living in a public housing unit — and the organization’s nine-member board resigned and was replaced. Now, Board Chair Mark Jinks says that Janell Diaz, ARHA’s director of housing, has been appointed the acting deputy CEO.

News

ARHA interim CEO resigns seven months after predecessor’s ousting

By James Cullum

Published May 29, 2026 at 10:30AM

ARHA properties in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

The interim CEO of the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority is stepping down from her role, according to a letter submitted to the organization’s board of commissioners.

On May 20, Rickie C. Maddox informed the board in a short letter that her last day would be Friday, June 19.

News

City Council backs $20M revenue bond funding for Ladrey redevelopment in Old Town North

By James Cullum

Published April 30, 2026 at 3:45PM

The Alexandria City Council in session at the Del Pepper Community Center (staff photo by James Cullum)

On Tuesday (April 28), City Council adopted a resolution authorizing up to $20 million in revenue bonds by the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority for the redevelopment of The Ladrey Senior Hi-Rise in Old Town North.

City Council was presented with ARHA’s new plan to redevelop the 11-story, 1970s-era building at 300 Wythe Street, which was deemed obsolete last year by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, prompting the authority to relocate all of the building’s residents.

News

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

By James Cullum

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.

News

Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority board served with lawsuit by fired CEO

By James Cullum

Published February 25, 2026 at 9:45AM

Erik C. Johnson, former CEO of ARHA, asks City Council to back the Silver Fox plan, June 10, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board was served with a $4.5 million lawsuit by its former CEO Erik Johnson on Monday.

ARHA’s former board fired Johnson in September after it was revealed that he and his family were living in an ARHA property in Old Town. Johnson’s filing alleges that, with the blessing of the previous board, ARHA staff selected a moving company for his family, chose a hotel for them to stay in and renovated the property.

News

ARHA bond agreement for Old Town apartment complex project receives approval

By James Cullum

Published December 23, 2025 at 1:15PM

Rendering of Block 1 of the Heritage Project, via City of Alexandria

A $20 million bond financing agreement by the Alexandria Redevelopment Housing Authority (ARHA) for the second phase of an Old Town affordable housing project is set to move forward.

City Council unanimously approved the bond agreement on Dec. 13, which will support the conversion of the 4.76-acre, 244-unit mixed-income “Heritage at Old Town” complex into three buildings with approximately 750 apartments across three blocks, according to a Nov. 24 board report from ARHA.

News

Alexandria’s public housing authority struggles with budget uncertainty

By James Cullum

Published December 10, 2025 at 12:45PM

ARHA properties in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s public housing authority is struggling to put together its budget in the wake of the recent government shutdown.

The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority has a goal of submitting its budget to its Board of Commissioners next month, ARHA’s Chief Financial Officer Sheila White told the board on Monday night.

News

Alexandria’s public housing authority suspends evictions amid reorganization

By James Cullum

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.

News

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.

News

JUST IN: Fired ARHA CEO sues organization, alleging misleading statements over termination

By James Cullum

Published November 14, 2025 at 3:05PM

Erik C. Johnson, former CEO of ARHA, asks City Council to back the Silver Fox plan, June 10, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The former CEO of the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority is now suing the organization for millions of dollars in damages, according to paperwork filed yesterday (Thursday) in the Alexandria Circuit Court.

ARHA fired Erik Johnson in September after it was revealed that he and his family were living in an Old Town ARHA property. In the new filing, Johnson alleges that ARHA facilitated his move into the property and was trying to protect itself by pleading ignorance when it sent ALXnow a statement claiming it was unaware he lived there.