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The painting of a large-scale public mural began on Monday on the exterior of Witter Place Apartments, a $53 million affordable housing development under construction at 2712 Witter Dr.
The city's Office of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities announced the start of work on the mural by artist Yulia Avgustinovich, a muralist known for colorful, nature-inspired compositions. The project is expected to be among the most visible pieces of new public art in the city when the building opens in December 2026.
The mural will span a full exterior wall of the development and incorporate Alexandria landmarks, including Christ Church and Carlyle House, alongside Virginia state symbols and regional wildlife — cardinals, ospreys, magnolia blossoms, and coneflowers. Avgustinovich designed the work in a collage or quilt style, blending vivid color with black-and-white detail.
"In my opinion, nothing symbolizes growth, hope, rebirth, and buoyancy as much as blooming flowers," Avgustinovich said at the project's May 20, 2025, groundbreaking ceremony. "Their cheerful and bright colors bring onlookers life, joy, and warmth, even in the winter months."
In a statement released by Community Housing Partners last year, Avgustinovich said she embeds hidden elements throughout her work — small animals, local symbols or objects — for residents to discover over time. "I think these surprises make the mural more fun and interesting, especially for people who see it every day," she said in the statement.
She also said her background as an immigrant informs her approach. "I'm always looking for visual ways to reflect the complexity of identity and place and how beauty can emerge from many different fragments coming together into a cohesive whole," she said in the statement.
Witter Place is being developed by Community Housing Partners, a nonprofit affordable housing organization headquartered in Christiansburg, Va. It is the organization's first development in Alexandria. The 94-unit building will offer two- and three-bedroom apartments along with underground parking, free in-unit Wi-Fi, telehealth access, indoor bicycle storage and a community room. The site overlooks the Witter soccer fields and sits near the intersection of Duke Street and Telegraph Road, with planned streetscape enhancements along both Duke Street and Witter Drive. CHP is pursuing EarthCraft green building certification for the project.
Funding for the development includes Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, support from Virginia Housing, the City of Alexandria, NeighborWorks, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, Burke & Herbert Bank and Trust, and Hudson Housing Capital LLC. Total construction costs are $34 million.
Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins, speaking at the May groundbreaking, called the development a "transformational moment" for the community.
Harkins Builders is the general contractor. Moseley Architects and Winstanley Architects designed the building. Completion is expected in December 2026.
