Housing | ALXnow

Spanberger signs Alexandria legislators’ bills on guns, immigration, national popular vote

Published April 14, 2026 at 12:30PM | Updated April 14, 2026 at 1:43PM

(Left to right) Virginia House Majority Leader Del. Charniele Herring (D-4th), State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39th) and Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-3rd) at the Alexandria Democratic Committee's Labor Day Picnic at The Garden Alexandria, 5380 Eisenhower Avenue, Sept. 1, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Numerous pieces of legislation from Alexandria lawmakers are officially set to become law or are heading back to the General Assembly with amendments after action by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D).

Among the approximately 1,200 bills passed out of the 2026 session, legislation on guns, housing, the national popular vote, energy and immigration enforcement all came by way of state senators and delegates representing Alexandria. Most signed bills will take effect on July 1, 2026, unless otherwise specified.

News

Alexandria’s home sales stable, prices see mixed results in early 2026

By Scott McCaffrey

Published April 14, 2026 at 9:15AM

Real estate home interior (via Francesca Tosolini/Unsplash)

First-quarter home sales were flat across Alexandria while pricing data was mixed, according to new data.

A total of 401 city properties went to closing between Jan. 1 and March 31, up three homes — 0.8% — from the 398 transactions during the same period a year before, according to data reported April 11 by MarketStats by ShowingTime.

News

Alexandria’s apartment rents are rising again but remain below 2025 costs

By Scott McCaffrey

Published April 2, 2026 at 8:30AM

The Stratford apartment complex at Southern Towers (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s median apartment rental rate in March was up 2.5% during the first quarter of 2026 but remains 2.7% below where it stood a year ago.

The median citywide rental rate was $2,032 for one-bedroom units, $2,497 for two bedrooms and $2,219 overall, according to figures reported March 30 by Apartment List.

News

Gov. Spanberger signs first group of bills on housing, health care, energy

By Emily Leayman

Published April 1, 2026 at 8:30AM

Gov. Abigail Spanberger signs bills on March 31, 2026 (via Office of the Governor of Virginia)

After more than 1,200 bills passed in the Virginia General Assembly, Gov. Abigail Spanberger has signed the first set of bills tackling several areas of affordability.

The governor’s action marks the first major set of bills signed from the 2026 General Assembly session. Spanberger had previously signed voter referendum legislation allowing mid-decade congressional redistricting to go before voters on April 21. The signed bills address housing, health care and energy.

News

‘Faith in Housing’ bill helps churches build affordable housing, Alexandria pastor says

By Emily Leayman

Published March 20, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated March 20, 2026 at 4:33PM

The Waypoint at Fairlington site in September 2022 (via Wesley Housing/Facebook)

A bill that would make it easier for churches to pursue affordable housing development on their properties is on its way to Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D). An Alexandria church leader whose church brought affordable housing to its property says the bill would help churches that have faced greater challenges with getting local approval.

The “Faith in Housing” bill would remove the rezoning step for faith-based organizations and other tax-exempt organizations seeking to develop housing on their land. Under the bill, the developments must be at least 60 percent affordable units for a minimum of 30 years. Church-based developments would be subject to property tax unless the locality chooses to exempt them.

News

Alexandria home sales are solid, but Iran war tensions add uncertainty

By Scott McCaffrey

Published March 16, 2026 at 9:15AM

Couple moves into new home (via Vitaly Gariev/Unsplash)

A modestly solid start to home sales across the city in 2026 could be complicated by Middle East war anxiety.

Home sales in Alexandria totaled 116 for February, according to figures reported March 10 by MarketStats by ShowingTime. That’s up 1.8%, from sales in February 2025.

News

Alexandria joins N. Va. opposition to bill that would allow by-right housing in commercial zones

By Emily Leayman

Published March 3, 2026 at 3:45PM

Virginia State Capitol in Richmond (staff photo)

Despite opposition from Alexandria and other Northern Virginia localities, bills permitting by-right multifamily development in commercial zones are advancing in the Virginia General Assembly.

HB 816 by Del. Dan Helmer (D-10) and SB 454 by state Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg (D-16) would require local zoning ordinances to permit by-right multifamily and mixed-use residential development on a portion of commercial or business zoning district land. The amended bills calls for localities to allow by-right development on at least 50% of commercially zoned land, which is less than the 75% originally proposed.

Around Town

New apartment building for seniors opens next to sister location in Potomac Yard

By James Cullum

Published March 2, 2026 at 3:00PM

The Riviera at 2700 Main Line Boulevard in Potomac Yard (Courtesy photo/Mark Boisclair Photography, Inc.)

A new senior living community opened today in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard neighborhood.

The Riviera, a new 129-unit senior apartment building located at 2700 Main Line Blvd, held a grand opening today (Monday) for its facilities, which are owned by Texas-based Silverstone Senior Living. The property is located next door to its sister senior community, The Landing, which opened in 2022 and offers “luxury assisted living and memory care rental retirement options.”

News

Plaintiffs against Alexandria’s Zoning for Housing initiative raise $28K needed for appeal

By James Cullum

Published February 27, 2026 at 3:00PM

The Alexandria courthouse in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

The plaintiffs in Alexandria’s Zoning for Housing/Housing for All lawsuit say they have raised the $28,000 required to pay for attorneys in their appeal against the Circuit Court’s November dismissal.

The plaintiff group, the Coalition for a Livable Alexandria, announced this morning (Friday) that it raised the funds for a fee agreement to move forward with attorneys at Dunn, Craig and Francuzenko. Last month, members of the group asked for donations in their continuing effort to reverse the city’s 2023 zoning overhaul, setting a Feb. 27 deadline.

News

Reduced apartment rents in Northern Virginia likely to rise as springtime comes

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 27, 2026 at 9:45AM

The Alexandria skyline (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A springtime uptick is expected, but for now, Alexandria apartment rental costs are running below last year’s rates.

The median apartment rental cost of $2,187 in the city was down 2.8% year-over-year in February, according to data reported by Apartment List. Median city rental rates were $2,003 for one-bedroom units and $2,460 for two bedrooms.

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.