City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 22, 2016
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Update Regarding Ramsey Homes Joint Work Plan to Facilitate Selection of Redevelopment Option.
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ISSUE: Which redevelopment option should be advanced as a DSUP for Ramsey Homes?
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council indicate a preference for the Alternate concept, including preservation of one existing Ramsey building and plan on utilizing James Bland loan repayment proceeds and federal CDBG funds as City financial support for the project.
SUMMARY: Staff considered multiple factors in weighing the merits of two redevelopment proposals (Attachment 1). City staff recommends the Alternate concept, including preservation of the existing building as two family-sized replacement units for ARHA's future RFP redevelopment initiative. Chief merits of this concept include community support, including for the preservation of a building considered by some to have historic and cultural significance, and for increased ground level open space, as well as for a more efficient multifamily building design, including operational savings for ARHA over time. ARHA staff concur in this recommendation and state that their Board is supportive of either concept, so long as the City provides grant funding for costs associated with rehabilitation of a preserved building.
BACKGROUND: In March 2016, City Council and the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners (ARHA Board) approved a Joint Work Plan (Attachment 2) which directs staffs of the organizations to work collaboratively to study options and permutations for the redevelopment of ARHA's 15-unit Ramsey Homes property, subject to ongoing guidance from the ARHA Redevelopment Work Group (Work Group). The Work Group ...
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