Alexandria Housing Develoment Corporation

Background: Solving the affordable housing problem in Alexandria takes lots of new ideas. When the City brokered a deal with the developer of the Potomac Yard complex to obtain donated land and $6.6 million toward the cost of a new fire station, City planners recognized that the new firehouse could provide a rare opportunity to create additional housing for low-income residents and city workers, many of whom have been priced out of the local housing market. The big question was whether families should be housed over a firehouse; would it be too noisy? However, times have changed in the way firehouses operate. New regulations prohibit fire trucks from turning on their sirens until they have moved a distance from the firehouse and many new materials exist to mitigate sounds in the units above a firehouse. People who live next to firehouses report few problems. As a further incentive, the PY developers agreed to make a voluntary affordable housing contribution of $6 million to defray the cost of developing the affordable housing portion of the building. After extensive vetting of the project with the community, City officials agreed the project was a win/win for everyone and unanimously approved it.

AHDC's Role: AHDC was designated by the City to develop, finance, own, operate, and manage the residential portion of the project, and to maintain it as long term affordable housing. In March, 2007, AHDC submitted a successful application for low income housing credits and the project was awarded more than $10 million in tax credit equity. The balance of the project financing will be provided through below-market mixed-use, mixed income loans available from the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA).

Affordable and Workforce Housing: The four-story residential component will include 12 one-bedroom, 49 two-bedroom, and 3 three-bedroom units, ranging in size from 700 to 1300 square feet. Forty-four units will serve households with incomes at or below 60% of the area median income. The remaining twenty units are designated as "workforce" housing, serving households with incomes up to 80% of the area median income. Amenities include a community room, a rooftop terrace, access to an on-site fitness room, and underground parking. Neighborhood-serving retail is planned for the first floor.

Design and Construction: This project provides an excellent example of "Smart Growth," with the ground level fire station planned to be LEEDS certified and the housing component designed in conformance with Earthcraft program guidelines on energy efficiency to provide maximum long term savings for residents. The structure is a model of sustainable design, construction, and livability, designed by two leading architectural firms, Rust Orling and Lemay Erickson. Whiting Turner, a nationally recognized general contracting firm, is building the project. The residential component will be leased, managed and operated by Equity Management, Inc. Construction is well underway and the project is projected to be completed around October, 2009.

Awards: This project has already won two prestigious awards. The first is an outstanding project award from the National Capital Area Chapter of the American Planning Association. The second was awarded to the City of Alexandria from the U.S. Conference of Mayors for The Station project. This award, just announced on January 24th, was given for Excellence in Public-Private Partnerships. (See the City of Alexandria News Release [PDF] dated January 24, 2008.)

For more details and background information about The Station at Potomac Yard project:

Alexandria Housing Development Corporation
P.O. Box 11494
Alexandria, VA 22312 703/578-1835 telephone
703/578-3144 facsimile
info@housingalexandria.org