Rust Orling, Architects, via AHDC.
A conceptual rendering showing the elevation of townhomes proposed on Seminary Road.
The Alexandria Housing Development Corp. has released updated architectural plans for its new Seminary Road development, which will provide opportunities for families to purchase condos at an affordable rate instead of being stuck renting.
The development will be just east of the Seminary Road Fire Station (206) and will take the place of three single family properties, including one group home currently used by Sheltered Homes of Alexandria. The homes are at 4547, 4555 and 4557 Seminary Road (see map below).
AHDC is hosting a virtual community meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 25 to discuss the updated plans for the property with AHDC officials and representatives from Alexandria-based project architect Rust Orling. Click here to register for the Zoom webinar.
In a virtual community meeting earlier this year, AHDC officials said the townhomes will be aimed at those making 80 percent the area median income (AMI), which is generally $70,000 to $100,000 per year depending on the size of the family. AHDC is working on figuring out both how to make — and keep — the townhomes affordable, including putting restrictions into place that allow families to build equity but ensure affordability into the future. ADHC is looking at a variety of models to do this.
According to AHDC:
Since the initial proposal, the design has undergone substantial changes. The latest changes are reflected in this “Concept 2” plan (PDF). Included in concept 2 are:
- 37 homeownership units (31 townhomes and 6 condominium flats).
- 3 flats owned and occupied by Sheltered Homes of Alexandria (SHA).
- 2 garage spaces per townhome, plus 18 surface parking spaces (for SHA, condominium flats occupants, as well as guests)
- Preservation of approximately 51% of the site’s open space, as well improving pedestrian access to city-owned park land on the site.
