Housing | ALXnow

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

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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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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New data: Alexandria eclipsed D.C. region in home cost by square footage last month

By Scott McCaffrey

Published November 13, 2025 at 8:15AM

Real estate home interior (via Kenny Eliason/Unsplash)

Homes that sold across Alexandria in October garnered the highest per-square-foot price of any jurisdiction in the metro area for the month.

City sellers pocketed, on average, $516 per square foot for their properties, according to new data from Bright MLS, the region’s multiple-listing service.

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Prospective homebuyers active across Alexandria as sellers adjust prices

By Scott McCaffrey

Published November 6, 2025 at 12:30PM

Alexandria house in the fall (staff photo by Kalina Newman)

Homebuyers are out in force across Alexandria, and more sellers in the city are dropping their prices to encourage faster sales, according to new data.

Alexandria saw a total of 625 home showings for the week ending Nov. 2, according to new data from Bright MLS. That’s up 6.1% from the same week a year before and is well above the D.C.-area increase of 3.6% to 23,070 showings during the same period, reflecting “a significant amount of pent-up demand,” according to the report.

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Alexandria apartment rates dip but remain above regional median this month

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 31, 2025 at 1:45PM

The Mark Apartments (courtesy of Washington Property Company)

Alexandria’s month-over-month and year-over-year apartment-rental costs declined this month but remain above the regional median, according to new data.

The median rental costs of $2,027 for one-bedroom units and $2,490 for two bedrooms represents a 1% decline from September and a 1.1% drop from October 2024, according to data reported yesterday (Thursday) by Apartment List.

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Alexandria officials to join regional housing reform rally Sunday

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 16, 2025 at 8:45AM | Updated October 16, 2025 at 3:03PM

VOICE's Homes for All Assembly will push for housing justice, shape bold solutions, and build a future where everyone has a place to call home. (Credit: Commonwealth Housing Coalition)

Alexandria leaders will join more than 600 people Sunday afternoon at a major gathering aimed at launching a statewide movement to address Virginia’s housing shortage and affordability crisis.

Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley, and City Council members Canek Aguirre and Jacinta Greene are expected to attend the assembly organized by VOICE (Virginians Organized for Interfaith and Community Engagement) and the Commonwealth Housing Coalition, according to organizers.

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Alexandria’s historic Pendleton Rooming House getting a makeover

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 17, 2025 at 3:45PM

1022 Pendleton Street (Credit: Corrine Jackson Lee Dixon)

A 100-year-old rooming house in Alexandria’s Parker-Gray neighborhood is getting a significant facelift to keep providing affordable housing.

The Pendleton Rooming House (1022 Pendleton St.) is starting a big renovation project, according to the City of Alexandria’s Office of Housing. They’re upgrading the building’s central systems to make it safer and more accessible while preserving its historic charm.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published May 2, 2025 at 3:50PM

This man was among three men shot in the 3800 block of Old Dominion Boulevard in Arlandria on Sunday, April 27, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s been an intense week in Alexandria.

Here’s a look back on this week’s top stories. Our most-read post was on the shooting of three men in Arlandria on Sunday night (April 27). Police found the victims with gunshot wounds shortly after being called at around 9 p.m. They were transported to area hospitals, and no arrests have been announced. Witnesses heard a barrage of gunfire, and the Alexandria Police Department is asking for help in the investigation.

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Virginia scores B- in housing affordability and homebuilding report

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 24, 2025 at 8:30AM

The Alexandria skyline (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Virginia ranks 11th nationwide for housing affordability and homebuilding efforts, according to a new Realtor.com report released today (April 24).

The state receives a B-grade in the “Grading the States: Affordability & Homebuilding Report Cards,” which evaluates all 50 states on their ability to tackle housing challenges and meet future supply needs.

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Alexandria unveils Draft Annual Action Plan for Housing and Community Development

By Ryan Belmore

Published March 17, 2025 at 11:15AM

Market Square (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

The City of Alexandria is asking residents to weigh in on its Draft One-Year Action Plan for Housing and Community Development for fiscal year 2026. The plan, covering July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, opened for public review starting today (March 17, 2025).

Residents have a 30-day window to provide feedback, ending April 16, 2025. The city offers several ways to participate, including written comments and speaking at a public hearing.