[Archived] Alexandria City Council Considers Response to Growing Number of Condo Conversions

City Press Release


	City of Alexandria, Virginia Office of the City Manager Alexandria City Hall 301 King Street, Suite 3500 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3211 www.alexandriava.gov Telephone: 703.838.4300 Fax : 703.838.6343

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For More Information, Contact:
April 19, 2005 Barbara J. Gordon, Public Information Officer, or
PIO 121-05/bg Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

Alexandria City Council Considers Response
To Growing Number of Condominium Conversions

In response to the increasing concern about the growing number of condominium conversions in the City, which take affordable rental property off of the market, the Alexandria City Council at its April 12 legislative meeting directed staff to take steps to address the impacts of condominium conversions on Alexandria’s affordable housing units.

Since November 2004, rental property owners in Alexandria have filed applications with the Virginia Real Estate Board to convert 1,791 units of rental housing to condominiums, and plans for the conversion of another 574 units have been confirmed.

“I am sending a letter on behalf of the City Council to all owners of rental properties outlining our concerns about the process of converting rental properties to condominium ownership,” said Mayor William D. Euille. “While we are aware that displacement and disruption of the lives of current tenants is inevitable in condominium conversion, we will ask developers to be sensitive to the needs of tenants whose homes and lives are being affected, or have special needs for assistance,” Euille said. “I will also be meeting with the owners or property managers of City rental property of 10 or more units, as well as potential condominium conversion developers, to discuss the City’s affordable housing goals, the legal requirements of the conversion process, and City assistance for residents affected by condominium conversion. Preservation of affordable rental housing will also be discussed.”

Among the steps the City is taking:

• City Council adopted an ordinance requiring the provisions or benefits to displaced tenants. The City-required benefits include payments to displaced households and long-term leases of up to three years to elderly an disabled residents of rental property slated for conversion to condominiums.
• Mayor Euille will also meet with rental property representatives and potential condominium developers to discuss condominium conversion issues.

• The City’s Landlord Tenant Relations Board will continue to hold public hearings for the residents of all condominium conversions to receive comments regarding the developer’s relocation plan, and to allow the tenants to ask questions of the developers.
• Staff is on the alert for new condominium conversions through a system of interdepartmental notification involving City departments most likely to come into first contact with developers.
• City staff will maintain regular communication with the Condominium Administrator of the Virginia Real Estate Board to ensure all applications filed with the state have also been filed with the City.
• Staff will disseminate information on condominium conversions widely, and will be available to speak to groups with an interest in this subject on request.

For more information about the City’s response to condominium conversions, or for a copy a brochure about the requirements of condo conversions and City assistance programs, contact the Office of Housing’s Landlord Tenant Relations Division, 703.838.4545.