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Samuel Madden Redevelopment
Since 1989, the City's goal for the two block area of public housing on North Fairfax Street known as "the Berg" has been comprehensive redevelopment, which would include the construction of replacement public housing units. City Council unanimously approved an innovative public/private partnership plan which provided for the construction of 152 residential units on the Samuel Madden site (52 of which would be public housing units and 100 units would be market rate townhouses for sale to the public) and 48 other public housing units on three other sites in the City. In addition, federal tax credits were awarded to these projects, providing nearly $9 million toward the plan's completion.
Affordable Housing Opportunities
In FY 2003, the Office of Housing undertook two new study initiatives. One was to develop a new entity for providing affordable housing in the City. This resulted in City Council establishing the affordable housing work group to consider multiple options and make a specific proposal to the Council in the fall of 2003. The other initiative was to develop a way to provide affordable assisted living in the City. An Assisted Living Work Group was formed to study options and make a specific proposal to Council in the spring of 2004.
In FY 2003, the Office of Housing closed 42 loans under the City's homeownership assistance programs. These programs provide second trust financing for first-time home buyers who live or work in the City. FY 2003 loan totals reflect a 68% increase over the number of loans made in each of the past two fiscal years. In addition, 13 loans were provided to current homeowners to enable needed rehabilitation activities to take place.
Programmatic changes approved by City Council in FY 2002 contributed to increased levels of loan activity. These changes included increases in the maximum loan limits (from $25,000 to $35,000 in one program and from $15,000 to $20,000 in another), the development of the Seller's Incentive Fund, and streamlining of the City's loan processes. Increased marketing of City homebuyer assistance has also served to greatly increase program participation.
Eisenhower East Small Area Plan
In May 2003, Council approved the Eisenhower East Small Area Plan chapter of the City's Master Plan, which outlines a dynamic vision for the area's future growth. The 18-month process led to a plan that is focused on land uses, transportation impacts and enhancements, economic analysis, and design considerations. In the process, consensus was reached among business and land owners, residents and staff for maximizing utilization of mass transit, reducing reliance on the automobile, coordinating design and integrating public amenities, and creating a vibrant environment of distinctive architecture, a mix of businesses, residences and retail spaces, and attractive boulevards, parks and gardens.
The City is already seeing a strong market response to the Eisenhower East plan, in the form of high-quality residential, retail and commercial development proposals for the area.
Mill Race Development
This project, at the corner of Eisenhower Avenue and Mill Road, was approved by Council in September 2002. It will consist of about 700 condominium, apartment and affordable housing units. The proposal also includes a 225,000 square foot office building. It incorporates approximately 31,000 square feet of critical new retail space, and provides an area for a future Metro platform, as well as funding for future park linkages with adjacent new developments. The project is an excellent example of "smart growth" as it provides for transit-oriented mixed-use development adjacent to the Eisenhower Avenue Metro station.
PTO On-Site Innovations
The City's Office of Code Enforcement opened a field office at the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) construction site in an effort to expedite the plan review and permitting process. The field office is staffed by three full-time employees from Code Enforcement an engineering aid, Code Enforcement Architect and field inspector under a compensation agreement with the project developer.
During FY 2003, the City's PTO field office viewed approximately 274 new building and trade permit applications and code modifications for the 10 buildings presently under construction for the project. In addition, about 92 revisions to these permit drawings were processed, and 42 shop drawings were reviewed in this same time period. The on-site field inspector performed 15 to 20 inspections per day. In addition, the office collected approximately $2 million in permit, revision, and inspection fees.
Freedmen's Cemetery
Significant progress was made in FY 2003 toward the acquisition and enhancement of the Freedmen's Cemetery site. Located in the 1000 block of South Washington Street, the cemetery was abandoned by the federal government in 1869 after almost five years of use as a burial ground for African Americans who fled slavery. Today, portions of the site are located beneath a gas station and are part of a bluff overlooking the Beltway. In August 2002, an agreement between the City and the United States Department of Transportation was reached that defined a number of enhancements, and established a schedule and budget to guide the project, which will include the cemetery's acquisition by the City, an archaeological investigation of the site, the protection of graves, and the design and construction of amenities for a fitting memorial to those buried in this cemetery. The City is cooperating with the Friends of Freedmen's Cemetery group and other stakeholders in this process.
Potomac Yard
The first phase of the development of Potomac Yard - - the Potomac Green project - - was approved by Council in May 2003. The project consists of 227 townhouse residential units and incorporates 2.5 acres of open space within the site, as well as a 16 acre public park. There remains 127 acres of undeveloped or underdeveloped land in the Potomac Yard which are subject to a land use concept plan approved by Council in 1999.
Lloyd House Renovation
During FY 2003, the City rehabilitated one of Alexandria's most historic buildings, Lloyd House, at the corner of Queen and North Washington Streets. The work included corrective repair to structural supports in the floors and walls, wall plastering, painting, floor refinishing and systems upgrades. The Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission, which owns the Lloyd House, has leased Lloyd House to the City for use by the Office of Historic Alexandria. The space will be open to the public and will provide needed space for public meetings of boards and commissions. The garden and public rooms on the first floor will also be available a few times a year for private parties and receptions.
New
Facility for Health Department, Clubhouse
and Substance Abuse Treatment
In June 2002, the City acquired a six-story
property, at 4480 King Street, which will become the new main facility
for the Alexandria Health Department, the Clubhouse and substance abuse
treatment programs operated by the Department of Mental Health, Mental
Retardation and Substance Abuse. The Health Department facility, located
at 517 N. Saint Asaph Street, no longer meets modern building and space
standards, lacks adequate patient parking, and is not convenient for the
majority of City residents served by the Health Department. In January
2003, an architecture firm was selected by the City to design the new
facility. General Services staff is facilitating the space planning and
construction management for the new facility, with a tentative late spring/early
summer of 2004 move-in date.
Economic
Indicators
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