Politics & Government

Planning Commission OKs Beauregard Rezoning

Commissioner Derek Hyra wanted more affordable housing in the plan.

The Alexandria Planning Commission unanimously approved the rezoning necessary to implement the Beauregard Small Area Plan early Wednesday following a five-hour meeting and public hearing.

Commissioner Derek Hyra unsuccessfully attempted to add $17.4 million for affordable housing along part of the Beauregard corridor and create an extra 100 units of long-term committed affordable housing. He was successful in getting commission members to agree to call for the units to be made available earlier than planned and to explore more sources of housing funding.

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“We don’t want it to be the old urban renewal,” Hyra said, calling for less displacement of current residents and more options for low- to moderate-income renters. “We want it to be considered the new urban renewal.”

The Alexandria City Council, which has the final say before implementation, approved the 30-year plan to create an urban town center with mixed-use development on Alexandria’s West End in 2012. City staff told commission members Tuesday that public funding for the plan through 2042 totals $263 million, with the largest amounts of funding going toward affordable housing, an ellipse at the intersection of Seminary Road and North Beauregard Street and a Beauregard transitway.

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Funding would come from developer contributions, tax revenue and dollars from the city's Housing Trust Fund, along with other minor sources.

Jeff Farner, the city’s deputy director of planning, said staff have been asked what will happen if the city fails to implement the plan. As it stands, he said, there’s little guidance on developing the area.

“Areas will redevelop given the market pressure, and two, there is not really a plan to think of housing or open space or transportation comprehensively,” Farner said.

The plan provides for 800 long-term committed affordable units for residents earning between 40 percent and 75 percent of area median income for 40 years.

More than two dozen people spoke at a public hearing before the commission vote, most complaining that the city isn’t providing enough committed affordable housing in the Beauregard plan area. Some residents wore pajama pants to show they planned to stay at the meeting into the early morning hours.

“The only fear I have is the fear of displacement,” said Alex Santiago, a 14-year resident of the Beauregard area.  “ ... I have been homeless before, and I don’t want my children to feel like that can happen to them.”

Hector Pineda, a resident of Meadow Creek Apartments, said the plan doesn’t do enough for the area’s low-income residents.

“We are construction workers, taxi drivers, housecleaning, medical assistants, restaurant workers, et cetera,” he said. “We are Latinos, Asian, white, black, who all contribute to the richness of our community. The solution to this problem is to increase the number of affordable units in this plan, to establish rent and utilities that are accessible for the whole area of Beauregard.”

Seminary Heights residents Ron Sturman and Rebecca Hierholzer argued against the current placement of the parallel road west of Beauregard Street, which they said is slated to be constructed as little as 10 feet away from residents’ patios, bedrooms window and backyards.

Katherine Dixon, executive director of the housing nonprofit Rebuilding Together Alexandria, spoke in favor of the plan. “I think that the commitment of dollars for affordable housing is unprecedented in the city, and maybe in the region,” she said. “... If we do nothing, you know we will get nothing in terms of affordable housing.”

Residents also spoke out against the plans for the ellipse, in favor of greater environmental management and for increased bicycle facilities.

Read more:

Beauregard Survey: More Affordable Units Needed for Very Low-Income

Tenants Protest Beauregard Redevelopment at Awards Luncheon

Beauregard Tenants Protest Redevelopment Plans [VIDEO]


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