ALEXANDRIA, VA — A completely affordable housing redevelopment in the Southwest Quadrant of Old Town in partnership with Alfred Street Baptist Church won unanimous approval from Alexandria City Council on Saturday.

The project calls for redeveloping one block of the 34-unit Olde Towne West affordable multi-unit community into a multifamily building with 145 affordable units at 598 South Alfred Street. The redevelopment is a partnership between Alfred Street Baptist Church and The Community Builders. According to a city staff report, Alfred Street Baptist Church owns the committed affordable community of Olde Towne West, with 75 townhouse-style units over three land parcels. The site sits in an area that was an African American settlement between 1790 and 1810 known as "The Bottoms."

The 34 affordable units on the block come from project-based vouchers for households making 30 percent of the area median income. Thirty-four units will remain affordable to 30 percent of the area median income through project-based vouchers. Another 20 units will be set aside for households making 50 percent of the area median income, and the remaining 91 will be for households making 60 percent of the area median income.

The current 50 percent of the area median income is $57,400 for one person, $65,600 for two people and $81,950 for four people.

Councilmember John Taylor Chapman highlighted the project's ability to keep the 30 percent area median income units.

"As we talk about losing affordability within the city, some of the most challenging units to try to keep are those 30 percent [area median income] and below, because those are deeply affordable units where a landowner has made the distinct decision to try to save a really, really fleeting amount of affordability," said Chapman. "And so I certainly appreciate this project taking aim at some of those."

Councilmember Jacinta Greene praised Alfred Street Baptist Church and faith-based organizations for their work on affordable housing and other causes.

"Thank you to you and to the faith community for always stepping up to help those in need, not just in the affordable housing realm, but also food insecurity and many other things," said Greene. "And the perseverance to get to this point is admirable."

Mayor Alyia Gaskins highlighted the project preserving long-term affordability, giving residents the right to return and providing green space and a high-quality building.

"I think it's just a commitment to make sure that not only are we committed to passing more affordable homes in our city, we're making sure that they're being done in partnership with stakeholders in our community, but also to the highest quality, so that everyone can also live with dignity and respect," said Gaskins.