News Briefs

    Alethea Predeoux
  

New Deputy City Manager

Alethea Predeoux will be new Deputy City Manager effective Monday, March 18.

As Deputy City Manager, Predeoux’s responsibilities will focus on community health and human services and employee support.

Predeoux comes to Alexandria from the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM), where she was Chief of Staff. Before OPM, Predeoux worked in healthcare policy and labor for groups including Paralyzed Veterans of America and the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO.

A long-time resident of Alexandria, Predeoux is a graduate of Spelman College with a master’s degree from George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government.

Fish Kill on Four Mile Run

Shortly before 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 13,, the City of Alexandria's Department of Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES) received notification from Arlington County’s Department of Environmental Services concerning a fish kill event at Four Mile Run, located between Mount Vernon Avenue and Route 1. Witnesses reported a significant number of dead fish alongside live fish, reptiles, and waterfowl.

An investigation found a manual operation error at the County’s Water Pollution Control Plant that released higher-than-usual levels of sodium hypochlorite into the waterway late on March 12 as part of the regular wastewater treatment process. A correction was made in less than 90 minutes.

As of 2 p.m. today, water quality levels in Four Mile Run are returning to normal. There is no ongoing threat to Four Mile Run. Officials at the plant will review and refine procedures in coordination with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

City staff responded to the area and are coordinating with the City’s Fire Marshal, HazMat, Arlington County, and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Northern Regional Office, which was contacted by Arlington staff. Arlington officials are addressing the Plant’s procedures in coordination with DEQ.

City Affordable Housing Projects Win State Funding

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will award $14.3 million to three Alexandria affordable housing projects: $3.4 million for Community Housing Partners’ Witter Place; $8.1 million for Phase I of Housing Alexandria’s Sansé and Naja project; and $2.9 million for Housing Alexandria’s Seminary Road project.

Located at 2712 Duke Street, Witter Place will redevelop a former car dealership into 94 family-sized affordable rental units for residents with incomes between 40% and 60% of the area median income (AMI); the project will start construction this Fall. 

Over multiple phases, a total of 474 units, including 416 rental units affordable at 40-80% AMI, and 58 affordable condominium units will be built as part of the Sansé and Naja communities in Arlandria Chirilagua. The project includes neighborhood-serving commercial space and flex space for City agencies. Construction of the underground parking, as well as infrastructure and stormwater management improvements, are underway.

Seminary Road is a new affordable condominium community offering 36 townhome and multifamily-style homeownership units affordable to first-time buyers with incomes up to 80% AMI. Three additional condominium units will welcome adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, replacing an aging group home at the development site. Sitework began in January, and homes are anticipated to be delivered in mid/late 2025.  Funding for Seminary Road also included an award for Housing Innovations in Energy Efficiency (HIEE), a program that supports energy efficiency upgrades in affordable housing buildings.

For information see alexandriava.gov/Housing

Apply for Lottery for 7 Affordable Units at Aidan Old Town

The Office of Housing will accept applications for seven affordable homeownership units at the Aidan Old Town starting on Friday, March 15 through Monday, April 15. Aidan Old Town is a new 94-unit condominium community located at 701 North Henry Street, Alexandria, VA anticipated to open in August 2024. Five 1-bedroom units (priced at $175,000) and two 2-bedroom units (priced at $225,000) will be available to income-eligible, first-time homebuyers that live or work in the City of Alexandria, VA. One of the two-bedroom units is designed as a handicap accessible unit.

Due to anticipated high demand, eligible homebuyers will be selected through a lottery. Information about the affordable units, application requirements and lottery process, and available downpayment assistance, will be posted at Homebuyer Resources starting on March 15. Please note that applications will not be accepted prior to March 15.

Interested purchasers are encouraged to register for a Virginia Housing first-time homebuyer training. The scheduled English and Spanish trainings are free, however registration is required. The next available training in the city will be held on Saturday, March 16 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305. Additional trainings can be accessed on Virginia Housing’s website.

If you prefer communication in another language, free interpretation and translation services are available: please email LanguageAccess@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.3960.