Mixed-income housing developments represent one of the most powerful tools available for revitalizing urban neighborhoods while creating inclusive communities. The recent case study of Chatham Square in Alexandria, Virginia demonstrates how thoughtful design, strategic community engagement, and a commitment to quality can transform a former public housing site into a thriving, integrated neighborhood. For developers, architects, and municipal planners seeking to replicate this success, Chatham Square offers a compelling roadmap for community transformation through high-density housing that respects both market realities and social equity goals.
The Chatham Square Story: From Public Housing to Community Pride
Built on the former site of 100 units of public housing, Chatham Square is a mixed-income development that seamlessly integrates 52 low-income public housing units with 100 market-rate, for-sale townhouses. The project sits in the heart of Old Town Alexandria, surrounded by historic row homes and situated just four blocks from the Potomac River. This location, rich in history and urban amenities, set the stage for a development that would become a national model for inclusive revitalization.
A Vision for Inclusive Urban Revitalization
Planning for the redevelopment of the original public housing units began as early as 1989. The Alexandria City Council, together with residents from the surrounding community, developed a comprehensive set of guidelines for the redevelopment. Two other developers proposed conventional approaches, but EYA brought a bold vision: a fully integrated community where market-rate homeowners and public housing residents would live side by side, indistinguishable from one another in terms of design quality and neighborhood experience.
The vision extended beyond physical design. EYA committed to a job training program that would benefit public housing residents, creating employment opportunities with subcontractors and other businesses in the area. This holistic approach recognized that successful mixed-income communities require economic integration, not just physical proximity.
Key Stakeholders and Community Engagement
The success of Chatham Square rested on a foundation of inclusive stakeholder engagement. The development team worked with:
- The City of Alexandria and its planning department to align the project with comprehensive neighborhood guidelines
- Existing public housing residents to ensure their needs and preferences shaped the design
- Historic preservation groups to ensure the new development complemented Old Town’s architectural character
- Community organizations to build support for the mixed-income model
This collaborative process proved essential. By giving all stakeholders a voice in the planning process, the development team built the trust necessary to move forward with a project that could have faced significant opposition in a historic, established neighborhood.
Design Strategies That Foster Genuine Integration
The architectural approach at Chatham Square was driven by a single, powerful principle: no external distinction between market-rate and affordable units. This design philosophy, coupled with a commitment to quality finishes and contextual architecture, created a community where integration was natural rather than forced.
The Art of the Falsed Facade
Architect Jack McLaurin of the Lessard Group employed a technique he calls the “falsed facade” to create visual variety while maintaining a unified streetscape. As he explains, “The facade was falsed. It looks like you have a 16-foot-wide townhome next to a 20-foot-wide one next to a 24-foot-wide one. And there is a combination of brick and siding.” This approach accomplished several critical objectives:
- It gave the appearance of organic, incremental development rather than a monolithic project
- It created visual interest and variety along the streetscape
- It eliminated any visual cues that might distinguish market-rate homes from public housing units
- It allowed the development to blend naturally with the historic row homes of Old Town Alexandria
Exterior Diversity Within a Unified Framework
While the exteriors were carefully controlled to deliver the cohesive vision presented to the community, the design team predetermined all elevations, color schemes, and materials for every single lot. “In order to deliver the final product and the picture that we painted early on of what it was going to look like,” says McLaurin, “we had to control the exteriors and the public facade.” This disciplined approach to design governance ensured that the project delivered on its promise while still achieving the visual diversity that makes a neighborhood feel authentic.
Interior Quality and Buyer Choice
Inside the homes, the design strategy shifted from strict control to measured flexibility. EYA president Bob Youngentob notes, “There was a very high level of standard finish. Hardwood floors on the main level and in all the baths. You could option cosmetic changes, different colors of granite, and some upgrade cabinet treatments.” This approach meant that every home, whether market-rate or affordable, started from the same high-quality baseline. Buyers could personalize their homes through cosmetic upgrades, but the fundamental quality was uniform across all units.
Economic and Social Outcomes of the Mixed-Income Model
The results at Chatham Square exceeded expectations on nearly every metric. The project sold out completely, with market-rate buyers paying an average of 50,000 to live alongside public housing residents. The sales office opened on a Saturday, and prospective buyers began camping out on Wednesday to secure their homes.
Key Project Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Market-rate townhomes | 100 |
| Public housing units | 52 |
| Average sale price (market-rate) | 50,000 |
| Average square footage (Jefferson model) | 2,170 sq ft |
| Home type | Townhouses + rental units |
| Builder/Developer | EYA, Bethesda, MD |
| Architect | The Lessard Group, Vienna, VA |
| Sales status | Sold out |
Awards and Industry Recognition
Chatham Square earned recognition far beyond Alexandria. The project was a finalist in the Urban Land Institute’s Award of Excellence competition and won multiple local and national design awards, including Professional Builder’s Best in American Living Award for Best Attached Urban Infill. Municipalities across the country have studied Chatham Square as a template for successful mixed-income redevelopment.
Perhaps the most meaningful measure of success is the human impact. As Youngentob reflects, “When you speak to some of the public housing residents, you see the impact on their lives. Whether through the job training program, many are still employed by either subcontractors or other businesses in the area, or simply by providing quality housing in a neighborhood in which they can be proud to live.”
Applying the Chatham Square Model to Today’s Housing Challenges
As housing affordability reaches crisis levels in many American cities, the lessons from Chatham Square are more relevant than ever. The project demonstrates that mixed-income development can work economically, socially, and aesthetically when executed with care and commitment. Developers seeking to replicate this model should consider several key strategies.
Essential Strategies for Mixed-Income Development Success
- Commit to design parity from the start. No external feature should distinguish affordable units from market-rate homes. This requires disciplined design governance and a willingness to invest equally in all units.
- Engage the community early and often. The nine-year planning process at Chatham Square built the trust necessary to overcome potential opposition. Include existing residents, preservation groups, and municipal stakeholders in every phase.
- Create genuine economic integration. Job training programs, local hiring commitments, and connections to area businesses help ensure that the benefits of redevelopment flow to existing community members.
- Choose infill locations with strong market fundamentals. Chatham Square succeeded partly because of its prime location in Old Town Alexandria, within walking distance of restaurants, waterfront amenities, and urban services.
- Control the public realm rigorously. From facade treatments to landscaping to sidewalk design, every element of the public-facing environment must reinforce the unified character of the community.
These strategies align closely with broader trends in residential development. The same principles that made Chatham Square successful are echoed in modern approaches to design-led market entry strategies that prioritize quality and context over simple unit counts. Similarly, the emphasis on high-quality standard finishes reflects a philosophy that product innovation drives quality in modern home building, where the baseline matters as much as the upgrade options.
The Future of Inclusive Development
Chatham Square proves that mixed-income housing is not a compromise but an opportunity. When designed with intention and executed with quality, these developments can deliver superior outcomes for residents, developers, and communities alike. The project achieved what many thought impossible: market-rate buyers eagerly chose to live in a community that included public housing, paying a premium for the privilege.
This success challenges the conventional wisdom that affordable housing must be hidden or segregated. Instead, Chatham Square demonstrates that the highest and best use of urban land may be to create communities that reflect the full diversity of the cities they serve. As more municipalities seek solutions to housing affordability, the Chatham Square model offers a proven path forward one that respects market realities, honors community character, and delivers genuine social impact.
For builders and developers ready to take on this challenge, the principles are clear: invest in design quality, engage stakeholders authentically, eliminate visual distinctions between market and affordable units, and commit to economic integration through job training and local hiring. The results, as Chatham Square demonstrates, can be transformative not just for individual residents, but for entire neighborhoods and the cities they call home. The lessons from this project will inform successful community development for decades to come, and the principles of smart product selection that builds better, more durable homes apply equally well to the broader challenge of building better, more inclusive neighborhoods.