City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MARCH 31, 2021
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Arlandria-Chirilagua Planning Process Update and Discussion of Draft Housing Affordability Recommendations.
BODY
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ISSUE: What housing affordability recommendations should be included in the Arlandria-Chirilagua Plan?
RECOMMENDATION: That Council receive this planning process update and provide feedback to staff on the Draft Housing Affordability Recommendations for the Arlandria-Chirilagua Plan.
BACKGROUND: In Fall 2019, the City launched a community planning process in Arlandria-Chirilagua and Del Ray to update the 2005 Mount Vernon Avenue Business Plan and the 2003 Long-Term Vision and Action Plan for the Arlandria Neighborhood.
In early 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic, staff shared with Planning Commission and City Council progress and momentum gained during the Fall 2019 Arlandria-Chirilagua and Del Ray community listening sessions. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City recommended two separate planning processes to ensure appropriate community engagement. The first phase has focused on Arlandria-Chirilagua, prioritizing housing affordability as the first topic.
DISCUSSION: Beginning in Summer 2020, City Staff conducted in-person and virtual outreach in English and Spanish in the community to solicit input on housing affordability issues and needs. Staff categorized the feedback into the following broad themes:
1) Expand the number of deeply affordable housing units.
2) Preserve and invest in existing housing.
3) Empower and protect residents.
These themes were shared back with the community and became the basis of the draft housing affordability policy recommendations below.
DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS:
Expand the Number of Deeply Affordable Housing Units
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