May 21, 2025
Community Housing Partners (CHP), which provides affordable and sustainable housing throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, joined project partners in hosting a groundbreaking ceremony for Witter Place Apartments in Alexandria, Virginia, on Tuesday, May 20.
Located along Duke Street just a few miles from Alexandria’s Historic District, Witter Place Apartments will create a vibrant residential community with 94 apartments, addressing a critical need for affordable rental options in Northern Virginia. The event featured remarks from Alyia Gaskins, Mayor of Alexandria; David Boyle, President and CEO of Burke & Herbert Bank; and Andy Davenport, Vice President for Real Estate Development at CHP. Yulia Avgustinovich, a professional muralist who was selected through a competitive process to create two large murals on the building’s exterior, also spoke at the groundbreaking.
Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins gives remarks at the Witter Place groundbreaking.
Gaskins, who spoke about the “transformational impact” that Witter Place will have on the community, explained that Tuesday’s event was her first groundbreaking ceremony as mayor. “I was to first just say congratulations to the team from Community Housing Partners,” she said at the event. “Many of us may not know, but this is their first project here in the city. And I think it’s really exciting that when we think about our goals for affordable housing and everything about our goals for ensuring that all Alexandrians have a place in our community where they can live, age, play, and build community and connection, it’s great to know that we have a new partner in CHP. And I hope that this is the beginning of many opportunities and projects that we can do together.”
Witter Place will feature a mix of two- and three-bedroom apartments serving households with incomes ranging from 40% to 60% of the area median income (AMI). Residents will benefit from close access to recreation, including the Witter soccer fields, as well as transportation, shopping, and employment opportunities. (Learn more about Witter Place Apartments.)
The single-building development will offer numerous amenities, including a community room and business office, underground parking, indoor bicycle storage, free in-unit Wi-Fi, and resident telehealth services. The building’s exterior will be distinguished by an intricate metal tracery accent wall and two large public art murals. CHP is also pursuing EarthCraft green building certification for the development and will make significant site improvements, including streetscape enhancements along Duke Street and Witter Drive, and a new pedestrian connection between the two roads.
“We are incredibly excited to kick off construction on Witter Place and celebrate this milestone with our partners and the Alexandria community,” said Andy Davenport, Vice President of Real Estate Development at CHP. “This development is a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration and a shared commitment to creating the highest quality, affordable homes. Witter Place will not only provide safe and sustainable living environments but will also enhance the neighborhood, serve as a model for future development, and support housing affordability for a wide range of incomes.”
The $53 million Witter Place development, which includes $34 million in construction costs, is made possible through a collaborative funding effort. Funding sources include Low Income Housing Tax Credits, Virginia Housing, the City of Alexandria, NeighborWorks, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), Burke & Herbert Bank and Trust, and Hudson Housing Capital. In 2024, DHCD announced a $3.4 million award for the development.
CHP Real Estate Development is leading the project, with Moseley Architects and Winstanley Architects providing architectural services, and Harkins Builders serving as the general contractor. Construction is slated for completion in December 2026. This will be CHP’s first development in Alexandria.
Founded in 1975, Community Housing Partners (CHP) provides quality-built, responsibly managed, service-enriched homes for low-income individuals and families across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Through its mission to create homes and communities that are healthy, sustainable, and affordable, CHP has been a leading advocate of affordable housing development for 50 years. CHP’s activities include real estate development, construction, energy services and training, asset management, property management, realty and homeownership, and comprehensive resident services.