-
@ Dec 31
PRESS RELEASE: ARHA celebrates opening of Lineage, 52-unit Affordable Apartment Building
NEWS RELEASE
ARHA Cuts Ribbon on Lineage at North Patrick Street
Newly constructed building replaces Ramsey Homes, more than tripling the number of affordable rentals from 15 to 52
(Alexandria, VA – April 20, 2021) – The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) today celebrated the opening of Lineage, a 52-unit affordable apartment building on the site of the former Ramsey Homes in Alexandria’s Parker-Gray Historic District.
“The opening of Lineage represents a remarkable transformation of this property,” said ARHA CEO Keith Pettigrew, as he joined other leaders to cut the ribbon on the four-story building at 625 North Patrick Street. “This building also ushers in a new model at ARHA in which residents come from a wide range of income levels and increase the availability of affordable housing across the city. I want to thank Virginia Housing for awarding us the tax credits that made this construction possible.”
The name Lineage pays tribute to the property’s history. The original structures, 15 two-bedroom apartments, were built as temporary housing for African American war industry workers in the 1940s. The homes then served as permanent affordable housing for Alexandria residents until 2018.
Former Ramsey residents who were relocated to make way for the 2019 demolition and construction were offered priority to move back to Lineage.
“In selecting the name, we wanted to pay homage to this site’s important past while also embracing ARHA’s development and the growth of Northern Virginia,” said ARHA Board Chair Peter Kleeblatt. “We are also especially proud of having developed this property in-house. I want to acknowledge the leadership our CEO Keith Pettigrew has shown in bringing this project to fruition.”
Six-foot-tall windows give Lineage a distinctive look and allow for lots of daylight to fill the one, two and three-bedroom affordable apartment homes. There is also underground parking and a beautifully landscaped park next door.
The building sits directly across the street from the Charles Houston Recreation Center and is a short walk to the Braddock Road Metro station.
Construction financing was provided by Capital One, and Enterprise Community secured the equity through the syndication of Low Income Housing Tax Credits. To make this project a reality, ARHA worked closely with Alexandria’s Office of Housing under the leadership of Director Helen S. McIlvaine. Additionally, ARHA worked collaboratively with the Mayor, City Council and City staff to ensure the success of this project.
“The City congratulates ARHA on completion of the redevelopment of Ramsey Homes, and is proud to be a partner in Lineage at North Patrick Street, which replaces 15 outdated public housing units within a new mixed-income community,” Mayor Justin Wilson said. “The range of affordability enables former residents to return, and also welcomes 37 new households, to live in an Alexandria neighborhood of opportunity that is close to transit, shopping, recreational services, great public schools, and more. We appreciate ARHA and our community’s tenacity in supporting this project over many years to its grand opening today.”
"We all know how badly we need more affordable housing in Alexandria,” Pettigrew added. “We saw an indication of that demand earlier this year when ARHA opened its waiting list for just three days and received 45,000 applications. With Lineage completed, we are very excited about plans to bring similar mixed-income developments to other ARHA sites.”
Lineage is being managed by Edgewood/Vantage of Maryland. Pettigrew noted “they have done an incredible job of leasing up this building under challenging circumstances…congratulations to the Edgewood team. We could not have done it without them!”
For more information on the building, please visit the Lineage website.
About Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority
For over 80 years, the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority has provided affordable housing, economic opportunities, and a suitable living environment free from discrimination for the citizens of Alexandria. Our mission is to be an industry leader in the development and management of model mixed income communities that provide the opportunity for residents to achieve self-sufficiency and to participate in economic opportunities that are made possible through this model.
To learn more, visit http://www.arha.us/.