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The Council Connection
your connection to City Council by:
Mayor Justin M. Wilson
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Alexandria, Virginia
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April 1, 2020
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In This Edition

Council Initiatives
Latest on COVID-19
A Very Different Budget
Potomac Yard Metro
2020 Census
Freedom House
Housing For Alexandria's Future
Host a Town Hall
Upcoming Issues: Inova HealthPlex & Landmark Mall Redevelopment

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Quick Links
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E-Mail Me [mailto:[email protected]]
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Past Newsletters [[link removed]]
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City of Alexandria Website [[link removed]]
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Pay City Taxes Online [[link removed]]
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Review Real Estate Assessments [[link removed]]
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Crime Mapping & Statistics [[link removed]]
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Alex 311 [[link removed]]
(Submit Service Requests to City Agencies)
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Board & Commission Vacancies [[link removed]]
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Alexandria Health Department Restaurant Inspections [[link removed]]
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Report Potholes [[link removed]]
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Schedule Child Safety Seat Inspection [[link removed]]
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Smoke Detector Installation Request [[link removed]]
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Real Estate Tax Receipt Calculator [[link removed]]
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License Your Dog or Cat [[link removed]]
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Report a Street Light Outage [[link removed]]
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Events/Updates
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Real Estate Assessment Appeals
Any appeal of 2020 Real Estate Assessments must be filed by June 1 for hearing by
the Board of Equalization.
The form is available online [[link removed]]
and can be submitted by mail.
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Ordinarily, this is the busiest and one of the more enjoyable times of the year
in our City.
The Council is typically in the home stretch for our budget process. The weather
is usually quite nice. Our community is full of the type of events that bind us
together as Alexandrians.
Yet, this is a year unlike any other. Our schools are closed. All community gatherings
have been cancelled. Our public interactions have been relegated to the virtual
realm. One event after another has been cancelled or postponed.
There is a palpable sadness in our community and a longing for the return to "normal."
Our City is waging war with the COVID-19 virus that has caused havoc around the
planet. Already, 44 of our fellow residents tested positive for the virus. Every
resident is at risk. This will challenge every aspect of our community.
At a time of unique and unprecedented challenges, as a leader in this community,
I feel an obligation to inform and attempt to find a way forward. It will not be
easy. I do not know all of the answers, but I do know this:

* We have a while to go. Most projections show that the peak of infections in the
Commonwealth of Virginia is still several weeks off.

* The lives of many members of our community depend on our ability to comply with
the guidance of public health experts and direction of our Governor [[link removed]]
to stay home, distance ourselves and avoid transmitting or contracting this virus.

* Many of our fellow residents are facing sudden food insecurity, housing insecurity
and unemployment or underemployment.

* Commerce in our City, particularly for our small businesses, has taken a body
blow.

* Our City's finances will now suffer the most significant decline in our lifetimes.
But ultimately we will get through this challenge with the spirit that has made
this community the great place it has been for hundreds of years.
The lone bright spot of this experience has been the irrepressible volunteerism
and generosity of the residents of our City and the commitment, professionalism
and bravery of the women and men who serve in our City government, our school system
and our healthcare providers. We will follow them out of this crisis.
Please continue to support the ACT Now COVID-19 Response Fund [[link removed]],
which is already distributing money [[link removed]]
into our community to support the many needs this crisis has created.
The latest updates will continue to be posted regularly on the City's Coronavirus
website [[link removed]].
Volunteers are needed throughout our community. Please refer to Volunteer Alexandria
for opportunities to give back to those in need. [[link removed]]
If you have any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that you can donate, please
submit information online [[link removed]].
ACT For Alexandria has moved up their annual community giving campaign. Spring2ACTion
will now be held on Wednesday April 15th [[link removed]].
Last year, this campaign raised over $2 million for the many non-profits that serve
our City. This year the need is greater than ever. Please join me in giving.
Last month, my colleagues and I worked to propose a list of emergency actions to
support our residents, our businesses and our municipal finances. This will only
be the beginning of a long road back for our City. [[link removed]]
Thursday evening, I will be hosting a live "Living Room" Town Hall using Facebook
Live (you do not need to be a member to participate). Join us at 8 PM to learn the
latest and ask questions. [[link removed]]
Contact me anytime [mailto:[email protected]]. Let me know how I can
help.
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Council Initiatives
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The City Responds to COVID-19
If you have the symptoms of being infected with COVID-19, the Coronavirus [[link removed]],
which include coughing, a fever of over 100.4 F and shortness of breath, please
contact your primary care physician for information on an exam and testing. If your
physician is not available or you do not have a primary care physician, an urgent
care center [[link removed]],
one of the Inova Respiratory Health Centers [[link removed]],
or the Inova Alexandria Hospital Emergency Department can assist you.
If you have questions about the outbreak that cannot be answered by your physician,
the Alexandria Health Department has set up a hotline staffed during business hours
at 703-746-4988. Additionally, the Virginia Department of Health [[link removed]]
has a hotline at 877-ASK-VDH3.
On Monday, the Governor issued Executive Order 55 which imposed a statewide "Stay
at Home Order [[link removed]]."
This order limits travel from the home to specific exceptions for essential activities,
bans public or private gatherings and closes some additional public places.
Yesterday, I joined with my counterparts from throughout the region in supporting
this order and asking our residents to stay home to slow the spread of this virus.
[[link removed]]
This order remains in effect through June 10th.
The Alexandria Health Department is advising residents to practice social distancing
by maintaining 6-feet of separation from any other person and washing hands frequently
with soap or hand sanitizer [[link removed]].
This is not only to protect your health, but to protect the health of others.
The City's Medical Reserve Corps is seeking volunteers, both with and without medical
training, to assist during this crisis. You can sign-up on-line. [[link removed]]
On the 14th of March, the City Council ratified the City Manager's declaration of
a Local Emergency [[link removed]].
This expands City Government capabilities to respond to this challenge.
The Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) are closed [[link removed]]
and will remain closed through the end of the school year.
ACPS has arranged food for ANY child 2-18 and ANY family who needs it [[link removed]].
Food pick-up is available from a variety of locations around the City.
ACPS has set up "ACPS-At-Home" to provide details to students and families during
this extended closure. [[link removed]]
Our educators are doing an amazing job continuing to teach our students during
this closure.
Last month, I sent a letter to all of the multi-family landlords in the City and
asked that they be lenient on late rent payments and defer evictions during this
time [[link removed]].
The impact of the on-going Virginia Judicial Emergency provides that evictions remain
deferred until at least April 26th.
Additionally, I joined with my counterparts in other Northern Virginia jurisdictions
to ask the Governor to delay evictions and implement flexibility into a variety
of human service programs. [[link removed]]
The City is working quickly to assist businesses that have been hard hit by this
crisis.
Visit Alexandria launched "ALX At Home" to make it easier for residents to support
shopping at Alexandria businesses. [[link removed]]
Last month, the Council approved a variety of business tax deferrals and fee waivers
to assist businesses with cash flow challenges. [[link removed]].
We have already suspended enforcement of a variety of regulations and laws to facilitate
restaurant carry-out, delivery and hours, as well as sidewalk vending for restaurants
and retailers. [[link removed]]
We worked with businesses across the City to implement new delivery and pick-up
parking zones in front of their establishments.
Yesterday, I sent a letter to Governor Northam requesting further regulatory changes
to allow restaurants to offer carry-out of mixed beverages during this time. [[link removed]]
Additional financing and support options are being made available for small businesses
throughout the City. [[link removed]]
The recently enacted Federal legislation provides additional supports for businesses
that may require assistance [[link removed]].
Effective last month, Comcast is now providing free "Internet Essentials" service
to low-income families for 60-days. Sign-up is available online [[link removed]].
All of the utilities serving the City have suspended disconnects due to non-payment,
including:

* Alexandria Renew [[link removed]]
* Dominion Virginia Power [[link removed]]
* Virginia-American Water Company [[link removed]]
* Washington Gas [[link removed]]
* AT&T [[link removed]]
* Verizon [[link removed]]
* Comcast [[link removed]]
For those whose jobs have been impacted by the virus outbreak, details are available
from the Virginia Employment Commission [[link removed]].
Inova Blood Services has significant need for blood donations during this time.
Schedule a donation today. [[link removed]]
Beginning today, DASH is running all service for free, with boarding occurring using
the rear door. [[link removed]]
Metro has also made significant reductions to service and is reserving the system
for "essential trips only." [[link removed]]
We have cancelled many city meetings and events [[link removed]].
All activities and programs produced by the Alexandria Department of Recreation,
Parks & Cultural Activities have been cancelled [[link removed]]
through June 22nd. Facilities, playgrounds, and fenced areas are closed [[link removed]].
The Alexandria Library has closed all of its branches indefinitely. [[link removed]]
Changes have been made to visitation and procedures at the Alexandria Jail by the
Alexandria Sheriff's Office [[link removed]].
The City has suspended enforcement of a variety of parking regulations and rules.
[[link removed]]
The City has suspended yard waste collection, bulk waste collection, compost collection
and mulch deliveries. [[link removed]]
With a declared State Emergency declaration in effect, price gouging laws are in
force right now across the Commonwealth. Report suspected violations to the Virginia
Attorney General's Office [[link removed]].
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Starting Over on the Budget
In February, the City Manager presented his proposed Fiscal Year 2021 Operating
budget and the 10-year Capital Improvement Program for Fiscal Year 2021 - Fiscal
Year 2030 [[link removed]].
That was the beginning of the City's annual budget process.
Under ordinary circumstances, the City Council would be knee-deep in an extensive
process of receiving public input on the proposed budget. The Council would be beginning
to near consensus on a variety of core items in the budget as we sprinted towards
budget adoption at the end of April.
Instead, we are starting over. Tonight, the City Manager will deliver revised revenue
estimates that will reflect the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the City revenues
and expenditures.
The carnage that the outbreak left on the City's current budget is sadly a preview
for what is in store. With our current fiscal year ending on June 30th, the City
was heading towards an expected surplus of $5 million - $10 million. The current
estimates are that we are now projected to have a SHORTFALL of $35 million [[link removed]].
This is a financial calamity without precedent in our City's history.
To conclude this current fiscal year in balance, the City Manager will immediately
institute emergency measures, including:

* Hiring Freeze
* Reduction of discretionary operating costs
* Reduction/freeze of pending capital projects
* Draw-down on contingency funds
These measures will get the City through the current fiscal year, but revisions
to the proposed Fiscal Year 2021 budget and the Fiscal Year 2021 - 2030 Capital
Improvement Program will now be required.
Given the level of revenue deterioration, it is expected that such proposals will
be significant, painful to the community and hamper the services that the residents
of our community rely on.
The adoption of the $2 trillion "CARES Act" [[link removed]]
is a positive move by the Federal government. It will provide money to our residents,
our businesses, and to state and local governments in a few ways. Yet, even the
full impact of these investments are unlikely to prevent painful reductions for
our City.
The scale of the reductions now required dwarf what was required during the Great
Recession or the period after 9/11. We will need community input over the next few
weeks as we attempt to salvage the core services of our government during this unprecedented
time.
We will be making adjustments to our budget adoption schedule to provide the community
the opportunity to provide input on these difficult decisions.
This outbreak, and the financial impacts, come at a time where the City was finally
seeing moderate health in the growth of our tax base.
From 2002 until 2009 the City was enjoying the run-up in the residential real estate
market. Our General Fund budget increased by an average of 6.5% per year. The work
force in City Government grew from 2,229 Full Time Equivalents (FTE) to 2,660 FTEs
during that period.
In Fiscal Year 2010, a decade ago, the bottom fell out as the Great Recession took
hold. The City adopted its first negative budget in at least 40 years, reducing
spending from Fiscal Year 2009 to 2010 by over 2%. From 2010 to 2019, the General
Fund budget increased by an average of 3.7% per year. The budget that Council adopted
last year grew 1.7% from the previous year.
The work force in City Government is now 2,643 FTEs, essentially what it was a decade
ago. That's in spite of the fact that our population has grown significantly during
that period of time.
While the impacts of this outbreak are presently being felt on the consumption portion
of the City's revenues (Dining tax, Sales Tax, and Transient Lodging Tax), these
challenges will eventually impact the City's real estate tax base, which is decisive
for the City's financial fortunes.
Twenty years ago, the City Council of Alexandria received its assessment report
from our City Assessor. The City Council learned that between 1999 and 2000, the
City's real estate tax base grew by a little over 9%. For the next 6 years, annual
tax base growth never went below double digits, as the City AVERAGED 15.3% ANNUAL
tax base growth between 1999 and 2006. This was an unprecedented appreciation in
our tax base.
From 2006 to 2007, the City's real estate tax base grew by just a little over 4%.
For the next 12 years, annual growth in the tax base never again reached 4%. From
2008 until 2019, the City's tax base grew annually by an average of 1.47%. There
were two years during this period where the tax base actually shrunk.
In February, the City Council received the City's 2020 real estate assessments.
They showed that for the first time since 2007, our real estate tax base has grown
4.15%.
The most important decision the City Council makes each year is the adoption of
the annual operating budget and capital improvement program. I have been a part
of 9 budget adoptions prior to this one.
Working to adopt a budget reflective of our values and the need of this community
will be an extraordinary challenge in this environment. Please let us know your
thoughts as we work to conclude this process.
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2020 Census
Today is Census Day! A few weeks ago, residents throughout Alexandria received a
census questionnaire. Surveys can be submitted online, by the phone or by mail.
Political representation for our City and Commonwealth as well as millions of dollars
of Federal funding will be distributed based on this count.
Please be counted!
Complete your survey today! [[link removed]]
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Potomac Yard Metro Southwest Access
Since November of 2018, when the Commonwealth of Virginia announced the investment
of $50 million into the Potomac Yard Metro Station [[link removed]],
the City has been working to apply that investment to improve access to the station
from the southwest. Adding a $50 million+ investment to a $320 million capital project,
after the contract has been awarded, is not an insignificant undertaking.
That process has now concluded and a deal has been struck with the contractor building
the Metro station to construct Option 1 within the $50 million allocated by the
Commonwealth. [[link removed]]
For a quarter of a century, the City has been working to bring an inline Metro Rail
station to Potomac Yard. In December, we broke ground and formally began construction
of that station. [[link removed]]
You can watch my remarks at the groundbreaking, as well as other remarks from those
who participated, including the Governor, in the video the City has posted from
the event [[link removed]].
On the front page of the Final Environmental Impact Statement [[link removed]]
for the Potomac Yard Metro Station are the seals of four entities: Federal Transit
Administration, Department of the Interior, WMATA and the
City of Alexandria. Later in the report there is additional input from the US Army
Corps of Engineers, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the National Capital
Planning Commission.
The breadth of the entities involved clearly demonstrates the complexity of the
project. This project is deeply complex and has been challenging to bring to reality
for decades.
In September of last year, one of the final permits required for construction of
the station to proceed was approved. The State Water Control Board approved a
permit which reflects the mitigation required for impacts on the wetlands by the
construction of the station [[link removed]].
In November of last year, the US Army Corps of Engineers issued the final permit
approval required. [[link removed]]
As the design efforts have continued, there are "virtual tour" videos of the future
station available online for review [[link removed]].
Three months ago, Council authorized the issuance of General Obligation bonds to
support the construction activity related to the new station [[link removed]].
Once our AAA/Aaa ratings were affirmed the City returned to the bond markets. In
December, the City successfully sold the bonds at a record low rate of 2.67% [[link removed]].
A year and a half ago, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
announced the selection of Potomac Yard Constructors as the prime construction contractor
[[link removed]]
.
Potomac Yard Constructors is a joint venture of Halmar International [[link removed]]
and Schiavone Construction Company [[link removed]].
The bid was ranked the highest technically during the procurement process and had
the lowest price.
The Potomac Yard Metro project will facilitate the creation of up to 26,000 new
jobs and will bring up to $2 billion of new tax revenue to the City (over 30 years).
It removes thousands of vehicles from one of the most crowded corridors in our City.
It promotes the creation of the kind of walkable community our City has long desired
in Potomac Yard. [[link removed]]
In 2008, along with then-Councilman Rob Krupicka, I proposed a new start to efforts
to bring Metro to Potomac Yard. We included language in the City's Transportation
Master Plan [[link removed]]
explicitly calling for a new station at Potomac Yard. We also tied the construction
and funding of Metro to the development occurring in the Yard.
The result is a funding plan for Potomac Yard Metro [[link removed]]
that not only leverages the development activity in Potomac Yard, but also does
so without requiring the contributions of General Fund taxpayers.
The largest environmental, economic development [[link removed]],
and transportation initiative in our City's history is being accomplished using
one of the most innovative funding mechanisms used anywhere in the country [[link removed]].
The current schedule calls for the station to open in early 2022.
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Freedom House
Between 1828 and 1861, over 100,000 enslaved African-Americans passed through 1315
Duke Street in the City of Alexandria. This building was the headquarters for one
of the largest domestic slave trading operations in our nation. [[link removed]]
As of last week, the City now owns the building, having purchased it from the Northern
Virginia Urban League to ensure the preservation of this important historic resource.
[[link removed]]
While the purchase will be locally funded [[link removed]],
the General Assembly's approved budget included $2.4 million of state funding [[link removed]]
to support the rehabilitation and development of the historic resources on the site
Operating from a prominent location, this human trafficking operation brought enslaved
African-Americans from the Chesapeake Bay area to a holding pen surrounding the
building, where they were then forced by foot or by ship to Natchez, Mississippi
or New Orleans.
Today, known as Freedom House, the building has been owned by the Northern Virginia
Urban League since 1996 and is being operated as a museum in partnership with the
City.
Last year, the City extended financial support when the Urban League's finances
prevented successful operation of the museum [[link removed]].
Facing the financial burden of supporting the maintenance of the old facility, the
Urban League placed the property on the open market. [[link removed]]
This property is a significant piece of Alexandria and our nation's history. The
history depicted in the museum today, and the history yet to be unlocked in the
building is a story that must be told. I believe we must work to ensure this history
remains accessible to the public.
Additionally, fundraising efforts have begun immediately to support private interest
in this important resource. Please join me in donating to support this effort. [[link removed]]
I am excited about the opportunity that this acquisition presents for the City to
better discover, interpret and educate the public on a vital part of American history.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Housing for Alexandria's Future
In September, the Board of Directors of [[link removed]]
the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) [[link removed]]
unanimously adopted new regional housing creation targets [[link removed]].
This is the first regional commitment to accelerate the development of housing supply
as a means to address our affordability crisis.
These targets commit the City to the creation of additional units, with most of
those units committed to be affordable for low to middle income households. To ensure
that this housing creation does not exacerbate existing transportation challenges,
most of this new housing must be located near job centers and high-capacity transportation
infrastructure.
Last month, the City Council became the third jurisdiction in the region to endorse
these targets [[link removed]].
In 2013, while adopting our Housing Master Plan [[link removed]],
City Council set an ambitious goal to create or preserve 2,000 affordable units
by 2025. We are on track to meet this goal [[link removed]].
With Council's unanimous adoption of the COG targets, we will increase our current
target of 200 units per year to 325 affordable units per year.
I served on the COG Housing Strategy Group which developed these recommended targets,
along with elected officials from Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.
The groundwork for this effort was laid In September of 2018, when the Board of
Directors of COG accepted a report that identified that 100,000 additional housing
units will need to be constructed within the region just to meet expected job growth
[[link removed]].
That is 100,000 units BEYOND what is already planned to be developed.
The COG analysis focuses on the housing production required to meet the economic
competitiveness and transportation efficiency goals for the region. Even with increased
housing production at the levels recommended, it's unlikely to be sufficient supply
to address affordability challenges.
The recent Amazon and Virginia Tech economic development announcements have stoked
concerns regarding the impacts on affordability that may result throughout the region.
While analysis shows the potential for impacts on affordability, in a region with
over 3.3 million jobs [[link removed]],
an additional 25,000 jobs entering the market over a decade is not likely to have
a dramatic impact.
Yet these economic development "wins" have served to shine a light on an issue that
has bedeviled our City and this region for decades. As the region's job supply has
grown, the housing supply has not sufficiently grown to match [[link removed]].
While the paired announcement of Amazon and Virginia Tech presents risks for affordability
in the region, it also provides some critical opportunities:

* For the first time ever, the Commonwealth included new housing investments in
an economic development incentive package [[link removed]].
* In the aftermath of the announcement, Governor Northam proposed new investments
in the Commonwealth's Housing Trust Fund as part of his package of amendments to
the budget for the 2019 General Assembly session [[link removed]].
* There is some reason to believe that the Amazon/Virginia Tech investment will
prompt new housing production, thus alleviating some of the crunch.
While the national media [[link removed]]
has highlighted the potential impact of this new growth on Arlandria and other vulnerable
neighborhoods, the City recently commenced a long-planned effort to update our plans
in Arlandria and Del Ray [[link removed]].
Housing affordability, namely how to preserve the market-rate affordability remaining
in Arlandria, will be a significant component of that process.
As we try to keep the planning effort on track in an era of social distancing, you
can watch our Planning Staff's presentation on the updated Plan's principles [[link removed]].
You can review the presentation [[link removed]]
without the video. We would love your feedback on the proposed principles between
now and April 17th [[link removed]].
In response to requests by Council, our staff returned last month with revisions
to our Interdepartmental Work Program to include a comprehensive review of zoning
tools available to advance affordability. The so-called "Zoning For Housing" effort
is now moving forward with findings scheduled to come to Council and the Planning
Commission over the next few years. [[link removed]]
In the next 2 years, this includes study of:

* Accessory Dwelling Units [[link removed]]
* Inclusionary Zoning [[link removed]]
* Townhouse Zoning
* Property Conversions
* Expansion of the Residential Multi-Family Zone (RMF) [[link removed]]
* Expansion of Density Bonuses [[link removed]]
* Co-Housing/Rooming Houses
When the City attempts to address housing affordability, it is going up against
powerful economic forces. Employing market-based solutions to these affordability
challenges is where the City can be most effective.
In late 2015, Jason Furman, then the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers
[[link removed]],
made a speech that drew a direct connection between one of the most challenging
issues for us in Alexandria to one of the most challenging issues facing our nation.
He laid the blame for these challenges squarely at the feet of local policymakers.
In this speech, Mr. Furman addressed the large and growing challenges of housing
affordability in communities. He connected those challenges with growing income
inequality around our country. [[link removed]]
But most relevant to us in Alexandria, he assigned blame for a lack of housing
affordability on local zoning restrictions.
Said another way, our limitations and restrictions on development have driven the
cost of housing to unaffordable levels thus exacerbating income inequality. He even
traces the impact of these restrictions to reductions in employment [[link removed]].
Furman writes "Zoning restrictions--be they in the form of minimum lot sizes, off-street
parking requirements, height limits, prohibitions on multifamily housing, or lengthy
permitting processes--are supply constraints. Basic economic theory predicts--and
many empirical studies confirm--that housing markets in which supply cannot keep
up with demand will see housing prices rise."
Some have even suggested that removal of some local authority over land use can
help address the affordability issue [[link removed]].
Others have ascribed even more nefarious motives to how zoning restrictions are
applied [[link removed]].
A year and a half ago, Minneapolis approved one of the more radical approaches to
addressing affordability, by rethinking the entire construct of "Single Family Zoning."
[[link removed]]
A recent analysis looked at similar approaches in our region, including Alexandria
[[link removed]].
All of this leads us to the fundamental question as to whether Alexandria's efforts
to address affordability are helping, hurting or having no effect.
Our discussions on affordable housing have generally been focused on funding questions
[[link removed]],
debates about the impacts of individual projects [[link removed]],
and the contention between affordability and other City priorities [[link removed]].
Yet, if Furman and other economists are to be believed, we in Alexandria have rarely
tackled the fundamental root of housing affordability. Most of our efforts are aimed
at creating or preserving housing that will ultimately be in the public domain or
under nominal public control. However, it is through our zoning authority that we
can truly impact housing affordability in privately owned housing.
Obviously zoning restrictions have a place and serve a need to protect the quality
of life within our community. I would also suggest that we have done some things
right in tweaking our current restrictions to improve affordability.
For instance, in 2015, the City Council adopted new parking standards for multi-family
housing [[link removed]].
By rightsizing parking, we significantly reduced the cost of construction for multi-family
residential development, provided new incentives for the use of transit, and freed
up resources for alternate community investments.
However, these new standards went even farther, by providing steeper parking incentives
for restricted affordable housing units. The City essentially adopted our largest
financial incentive for the creation of new affordable housing [[link removed]],
while also reducing the overall cost of private housing development.
In 2017, at the suggestion of Councilman Chapman and myself, the City expanded our
"density bonus" program for affordable housing [[link removed]].
The program essentially trades additional market density with landowners in exchange
for new committed affordable housing.
As we work to implement the City's Housing Master Plan, the new COG Housing targets
and advance our "Zoning for Housing" effort, we must seek to comprehend and be willing
to address all of the factors that challenge affordability in the City. Amazon's
arrival and Virginia Tech's expansion doesn't dramatically change the affordability
challenge in our region, but it does perhaps give us the impetus to make the difficult
decisions to address it.
Let me know your thoughts! [mailto:[email protected]]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Host a Town Hall in Your Living Room!
As Mayor, I am continuing my regular series of Town Hall Meetings.
You supply the living room and a bunch of your friends and neighbors. I will supply
the Mayor who will hopefully have the answers to any of your questions about our
City.
Just drop us a line [mailto:[email protected]] and we'll get a Town
Hall on the calendar! Thanks for the interest!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Upcoming Issues

Inova Health Plex/Oakville
Last month, Inova announced the planned expansion of healthcare services in our
City with the development of a new Inova HealthPlex in Oakville Triangle [[link removed]].
Oakville Triangle is a 13 acre parcel of land nestled between Del Ray and Route
1, immediately across from Potomac Yard. It holds some of the last light industrial
space that remains in the City.
Almost five years ago, the City Council approved the Oakville Triangle and Route
1 Corridor Vision Plan [[link removed]].
The site was approved for increased mixed-use density along with expansion and improvement
of existing green spaces, new affordable housing, "maker space" to replicate some
of the existing light industrial spaces and improvements to the road network in
the plan area.
However, the plan was likely ahead of the market and the plan approval sat dormant
for several years. In late 2018, implementation of the plan was immediately accelerated
with the announcement that the new Virginia Tech Innovation Campus would be located
within Oakville Triangle. Yet, that announcement did not last long, as Virginia
Tech ultimately decided they needed more room to grow and they moved across Route
1 to North Potomac Yard [[link removed]].
With the announcement of the new Inova HealthPlex arriving in this location, the
Oakville Triangle plan is back to life, with planning efforts moving forward.
While hampered by current the current COVID-19 outbreak, community engagement efforts
have now begun. A recorded presentation by the applicant can be viewed online [[link removed]].
Additionally, the presentation itself is available [[link removed]].
Between now and April 9th, the City is collecting initial community feedback on
this proposal. Let us know what you think! [[link removed]]
Landmark Mall Redevelopment
Nearly 55 years ago, then Virginia Lieutenant Governor Mills Godwin Jr. (later Virginia's
60th and 62nd Governor) came to Alexandria to open Landmark Mall [[link removed]].
Today, the work continues to restore the Landmark Mall site to a productive use
of real estate for our City.
In June 2013, after taking over ownership of the mall site, the Howard Hughes Corporation
received approval by the Planning Commission and City Council for a redevelopment
of their portion of the site [[link removed]].
A slower than expected leasing market slowed their intentions to redevelop.
In 2015, Howard Hughes Corporation was back at City Hall to apply for very minor
amendments to the approval that was issued in 2013. These changes were approved
by City Council in April of 2015. [[link removed]]
Sears spun-off a new Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) in 2015 called Seritage
Growth Properties to maximize value out of their remaining real estate. The Landmark
Mall Sears store property is now owned by this REIT [[link removed]].
Early in 2017, Macy's announced the closure of their store at Landmark. [[link removed]]
The Howard Hughes Corporation later announced that it had purchased the Macy's store
site. [[link removed]]
The Howard Hughes Corporation subsequently announced that the existing mall site
is closing [[link removed]].
A year ago, Council approved revisions to the Master Plan to advance a comprehensive
redevelopment of the site [[link removed]].
Later this year, we hope that additional approvals will come forward to finally
facilitate redevelopment.
There have been discussions between the City and Howard Hughes about potential public/private
partnerships that will help spur the redevelopment, but as Howard Hughes continues
with a restructuring, it remains to be seen who will ultimately bring Landmark through
redevelopment [[link removed]].
There is no clearer demonstration of the City's financial challenges than the predicament
that currently faces Landmark Mall.
Nineteen years ago, when the ownership of the properties at Landmark Mall received
their tax assessments from the City, the actual mall site was assessed at $76.4
million [[link removed]].
The Sears store was assessed at $19.7 million [[link removed]].
The Macy's store site was assessed at $17 million [[link removed]].
At the City's tax rate in 2000, these three sites alone generated $1.25 million
in real estate tax.
Today, the three properties are assessed at $25.2 million, $14 million, and $12.6
million, respectively. They generate about $500,000 in real estate tax today, less
than half of what it used to be.
To make the situation even more severe, real estate tax is only a portion of the
picture. The reduction in revenues from sales tax,dining tax, and other business
taxes has also been dramatic at this site.
While no one should be convinced until they see bulldozers knocking down the existing
mall site, there is a lot going on. Landmark Mall redevelopment has been complicated
from the beginning, but I believe we can be cautiously optimistic that it is finally
coming together.
The redevelopment of the Landmark Mall site has been a long time in coming to fruition.
I am optimistic that we are finally making real progress in this effort.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mayor Justin M. Wilson
703.746.4500
[email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
www.justin.net [[link removed]]
Alexandria City Hall
301 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Paid for by Wilson For Mayor
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Mayor Justin M. Wilson | 301 King Street | ALEXANDRIA | VA | 22314