[Archived] City of Alexandria Hosts Route 1 South Housing Affordability Strategy Community Meeting and ‘Charrette’ Workshop Week

For Immediate Release: February 13, 2018

The City of Alexandria is hosting a series of community engagement opportunities, including a community meeting, a walking tour, and a five-day charrette, as the next steps of the City’s Route 1 South Housing Affordability Strategy initiative.

In January, the City initiated this new planning effort, focusing on the Route 1 area south of Duke Street. This initiative is exploring strategies for preserving the neighborhood’s housing affordability, strengthening the character of the neighborhood, prioritizing safety and accessibility along Route 1 South, and creating a more welcoming gateway to the city. During the last month, City staff hosted a series of informal neighborhood “pop-up” opportunities for residents to ask questions and provide insights about their community.

Community members are invited to participate in the following activities:

• View a short video explaining the planning process and goals. The video is available in English, Spanish, Amharic and Arabic.

• Attend a community meeting on Tuesday, February 20, at 7 p.m., in the Exhibit Hall at the Lee Center (1108 Jefferson St.). Meeting topics will include planning process and goals, housing affordability, pedestrian and bike accessibility, connectivity and safety, and neighborhood compatibility. There will be opportunity for the community to ask questions and provide input.

• Join a walking tour of the plan area on Saturday, February 24, beginning at 10 a.m., at the Lee Center. Community members and City staff will discuss challenges, opportunities, and points of interest throughout the neighborhood. A map of the tour route and an inclement weather contingency plan will be posted to the project website one week before the walk.

• Participate in a five-day community ‘charrette’ workshop beginning Monday, February 26, in the Lee Center Exhibit Hall. The charrette is a collaborative planning exercise to develop the framework of the final plan. Members of the community are invited to participate and share their ideas in person or online throughout each day. The schedule and background information is available on the project website. Detailed information about online participation will be posted to the project website one week prior to before the charrette.

Childcare and interpretation services in Spanish and Amharic will be provided during the evening public meetings. A shuttle service from the neighborhood to the evening meetings will also be provided. Please contact Graciela Moreno, 703.746.3808, for more information or to sign up.

For more information about the project and community engagement opportunities, visit the Route 1 South Housing Affordability Strategy 2017-2018 webpage.

For media inquiries, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended. To request a reasonable accommodation, email graciela.moreno@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.3808, Virginia Relay 711.