Building on a Legacy: Alexandria Breaks Ground on Samuel Madden Redevelopment to Honor History and Expand Opportunity
Groundbreaking serves as an example of how Alexandria can grow responsibly, demonstrating that preservation and progress can coexist
Alexandria, VA – Today, November 12, 2025, City of Alexandria officials, led by Mayor Aliya Gaskins, and community partners gathered in Old Town to celebrate the long-awaited groundbreaking of the Samuel Madden Redevelopment—a major housing initiative that will transform one of Alexandria’s oldest public housing sites into a modern, mixed-income neighborhood.
The event, hosted by the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) with development partners Fairstead, Mill Creek Residential, and The Communities Group, drew a crowd of residents, civic leaders, and housing advocates. The celebration marked the beginning of a project years in the making, one that promises to expand affordable housing, honor history, and strengthen community connections.
Approved by City Council in 2023, the $120 million redevelopment will replace the former 66-unit Samuel Madden Homes with more than 530 new apartments across two energy-efficient buildings. The new community will feature a blend of affordable, workforce, and market-rate housing, along with 13,300 square feet of retail space, a 13,500-square-foot early childhood education center, and a 500-square-foot community food hub operated in partnership with ALIVE!, a local nonprofit.
Hale said the project reflects the company’s deep investment in Alexandria’s future. “With the Samuel Madden redevelopment, we’re not just building new homes — we’re reimagining what inclusive, modern housing looks like,” Hale said. “This is a community that honors its past while creating opportunities for generations to come.”
Designed by Torti Gallas + Partners, the redevelopment incorporates landscaped courtyards, pedestrian plazas, and sustainable building features intended to achieve green-building certification. City officials call it a “gateway” project at the northern entrance to Old Town, bridging Alexandria’s historic Uptown/Parker-Gray neighborhood with new opportunities for equitable development.
In a stirring address, Gaskins recounted why the community is named after Reverend Samuel W. Madden (1828-1896), a respected African American minister, educator, and civic leader in Alexandria during the Reconstruction and post-Civil War eras. Born to formerly enslaved parents, Reverend Madden became one of the earliest pastors of what is now Alfred Street Baptist Church, where he championed literacy, education, and self-sufficiency for newly freed African Americans.
Madden’s lifelong commitment to faith and education made him a symbol of hope and perseverance—values that continue to resonate in the community bearing his name. Mayor Gaskins added, “As a person of faith, I have always been taught that there is power in a name, a name is not just your identity, a name is a reflection of the purpose that is within you, the calling that you were destined for.” She added, “What is so exciting about this project? We are finally creating a space that lives up to the name, legacy potential that existed within Reverend Madden and his vision for Black people in this city.”
Resident leaders at the ceremony emphasized that the day symbolized more than just new buildings—it symbolized renewal. “This isn’t only about construction,” said a long-time neighbor to Zebra, “it’s about community, opportunity, and remembering our roots.”
Construction is set to begin in early 2026, with the first phase anticipated to be completed by late 2027. ARHA and its partners plan to hold ongoing community engagement sessions to keep residents informed and maintain transparency throughout the project.
For Alexandria, today’s groundbreaking represents not only the revival of a historic housing community but also a renewed commitment to inclusion, resilience, and honoring the legacy of a man who believed in the transformative power of education and faith.
