Invitation to Open Dialogue with ARHA Leadership – August 20th

Please see below for the following letter from ARHA CEO Erik Johnson:

Letter to residents page 1

 

Letter to residents page 2

Transcript:

Dear Valued ARHA Residents,

On Wednesday, August 20th at 10:00 a.m., representatives of the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) Resident Council have scheduled a protest at ARHA headquarters, located at 401 Wythe Street. This demonstration is in response to concerns raised by many of you regarding property conditions, tenant ledger accounts, treatment by ARHA staff, and calls for greater transparency from the agency.

I want to acknowledge that many of these concerns are valid. ARHA must continue to improve. We recognize the need for more consistency in operations, clearer communication, and a stronger commitment to resident engagement.

Our Doors Will Be Open

On Wednesday, our office doors will be open. We will have chairs set up in the main conference room, and I, along with members of the ARHA team, will be available to speak with you directly. If you have specific concerns about your tenant account or property conditions, Housing Specialists and Maintenance personnel will be onsite and ready to assist.

 

Our Commitment to Transparency and Progress

We agree that ARHA has not always done enough to share our work and progress with residents and the broader community. We are committed to doing better. Here are a few recent initiatives we want you to know about.

  • The Alate Acquisition: ARHA has acquired The Alate, a 133-unit senior living community (62+) in Alexandria. Residents from Ladrey Senior High Rise will have the opportunity to relocate there.
  • Madden Redevelopment: Construction for the first phase of the Madden redevelopment is underway. ARHA and its partner Fairstead anticipate the completion of the 215-unit building in 2027.
  • Capital Improvements: We’ve completed upgrades at Hopkins Tancil, including landscaping and exterior painting. Similar improvements are planned for Andrew Adkins and Cameron Valley this fall.
  • Playground Program: Launching in September, this initiative will replace playground equipment across ARHA properties, starting with Andrew Adkins.
  • Ladrey Redevelopment: We’ve resumed redevelopment planning for Ladrey Senior High Rise with Winn Residential Development. Construction is projected for 2026.

 

A Call for Shared Transparency

We are asking the Resident Council to join us in our commitment to transparency. The Resident Council, which is affiliated with the ARHA Board, plays a vital role in representing residents. To strengthen our partnership, we are requesting the Resident Council collaborate with the ARHA team to:

 

  • Update the Resident Council webpage.
  • Publish a schedule of meetings open to all residents.
  • Share meeting minutes and notes.
  • Provide transparency on the use of ARHA-provided resident engagement funds.
  • Share contact information for all Resident Council leaders and the areas they represent.

Our shared goal is to serve and represent the interests of our community. We believe that by working together, we can build a stronger, more responsive ARHA.

 

I look forward to meeting with you on Wednesday and continuing our work to preserve and create affordable housing communities in Alexandria.

 

Warm regards,

 

Erik Johnson

Chief Executive Officer

Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority

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