Alexandria City Council approves affordable housing projects in final meeting before City Hall renovation
Council unanimously backs two major developments bringing hundreds of units; historic chambers hosted local governance since 1961
City Council approved two major affordable housing developments Saturday during its final meeting in chambers that have hosted local governance since 1961.
The council unanimously approved a rezoning and development permit for Alfred Street Baptist Church’s affordable housing project at 598 S. Alfred St. in Old Town West. The project will construct a multi-unit residential building as part of the church’s long-term commitment to affordable housing.
Mary Catherine Gibbs, representing the applicants, told the council the project “supports and satisfies all of the facets of the South Patrick Street affordability strategy.”
Pastor John Wesley, Dallas Evans, head of the church’s affordable housing team, and other congregation members attended to support the project. The development includes provisions for current residents to relocate during construction with assistance and maintains their right of first refusal to return to new units.
Council also approved three development permits for the final phase of Potomac Yard, bringing 620 housing units of various affordability levels to the area. The project includes 88 committed affordable housing units through a partnership with Wesley Housing Development Corporation and approximately 13,100 square feet of retail space facing the Metro station.
Councilwoman Jacinta Greene praised the retail component.
“I want to walk off the metro and walk straight into a shop. It creates community space,” Greene said. She also highlighted amenities in the affordable building, including in-unit washers and dryers and a community room.
The council spent considerable time debating commercial zoning text amendments designed to streamline business operations by changing certain commercial uses from requiring special use permits to permitted uses.
However, the council removed several provisions for further consideration, including regulations on outdoor fitness activities, indoor live entertainment venue size limits, and exterior speaker restrictions for restaurants.
Anne Horowitz, principal planner, explained the staff’s cautious approach to entertainment venues.
“We have not had issues with any of the venues, to be honest. But we want to take a measured approach,” Horowitz said. “Start with 2,000 [square foot] venues and then eventually we can work our way up.”
Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley expressed reservations about the regulatory approach.
“I’m just increasingly eager to see us regulate the impacts, the actual lived impacts, and not sort of what’s happening inside the building as it’s designed to function and serve,” Bagley said.
Mayor Alyia Gaskins ultimately voted against the modified zoning package.
“I think we’re approaching a thin line between how do we respond to the concerns we want to address, but also overregulation of certain things within our community,” Gaskins said.
Planning and Zoning Director Paul Stoddard urged the council to act, noting that the text amendments took more than a year to develop, and key staff members are departing.
Council also approved the city’s 2026 legislative package for the General Assembly session. The package includes priorities for affordable housing, school infrastructure funding, and public health initiatives.
Councilman Canek Aguirre opposed expanding ranked choice voting options in the package, citing concerns about public understanding.
“I would say it’s still very much not understood by the public, and especially in minority communities and immigrant communities,” Aguirre said.
Councilman Kirk McPike proposed amendments, including language about reducing heating costs for low-income families and improving building code adoption processes for clean energy goals.
The meeting featured a proclamation honoring Chris Collins Dance Studio’s 50th anniversary, with dancers and families filling the chambers.
“Most of the people, in fact, all the people on the stage, weren’t even born when I opened up,” Collins said. “So 50 years is a long time where we’ve come a long way, and I’m still at it, thanks to a fabulous staff and our family of students.”
Gaskins opened the meeting by reflecting on the chambers’ significance, noting they have witnessed “276 years of public gatherings and local governance” at the site.
“This isn’t just City Hall. This is the people’s Hall,” Gaskins said during a proclamation ceremony honoring the legacy of the chambers.
Following the meeting, Gaskins posted on social media: “These chambers have been a true reflection of our democracy: a place where we do the people’s work.”
Several former mayors attended the ceremony, including Bill Euille, Allison Silberberg, and Justin Wilson, along with former council members Del Pepper, Paul Smedberg, and Rob Krupicka. The chambers have witnessed many historic moments, including the election of the city’s first woman mayor, first Black mayor, and, most recently, Gaskins as Alexandria’s first Black woman mayor.
Council will temporarily meet at the Del Pepper Senior Center during renovations before returning to updated chambers.