Centuries-old building in Alexandria to retain affordable rooms, community legacy
The Pendleton Rooming House, a historic mixed-use building on the 1000 block of Pendleton Street that has served Alexandria’s Black community for generations, is undergoing an extensive renovation that city officials and the building’s owner say will preserve the structure’s role as affordable housing and community meeting space.
The two-story property, long operated by one family, began work in April 2025 after the award of federal funding and is expected to be finished in October. The project includes modern mechanical systems, safety and accessibility improvements and restoration of a former commercial space facing Henry Street.
Janice Lee Howard, 80, is the current owner of the property. Her family has kept the building in the same hands for more than a century, and it has a layered history as both a rooming house and a community hub. Over the decades the structure has offered affordable rooms, hosted businesses — including a bakery run by a family member — and provided lodging to Black visitors during segregation.
“There’s so many people in Alexandria who cannot afford to live in Alexandria,” Howard said, reflecting on the continuing need for low-cost housing options in the city.
Historian Stephanie Johnson described the building’s importance during segregation, noting it was one of the few places Black residents and visitors could safely gather and find lodging in parts of Alexandria where they otherwise were excluded. The house’s past guests reportedly included civic leaders and performers; it has hosted NAACP meetings and other local gatherings.
City of Alexandria officials said the renovation is possible through support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the offices of U.S. Rep. Don Beyer and U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine. Work completed or planned as part of the rehabilitation includes:
- Geothermal installation to modernize heating and cooling;
- Safety improvements, including upgrades to fire-safety systems;
- Accessibility enhancements to make the building easier to use for residents with mobility needs;
- Restoration of the street-level commercial space along Henry Street to support future small-business use.
Some rooms in the building have historically been rented for about $800, a price point that remains well below typical one-bedroom rents in Alexandria, which can exceed $2,000. City and project stakeholders say returning the renovated rooms to former tenants is part of the plan once construction wraps up.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Renovation began | April 2025 |
| Expected completion | October 2025 |
For many longtime Alexandrians, the Pendleton Rooming House is more than just affordable lodging. Members of the community say it has been a place of mutual aid and support at times when public accommodations were limited for Black residents. The rehabilitation effort aims to protect that history while bringing the building up to contemporary standards.
Project backers said the renovated commercial space will provide opportunities for neighborhood services and small enterprises, potentially restoring an economic and social function once occupied by the family bakery and other tenants. The work also underscores a broader municipal and federal focus on preserving affordable housing in a city where rising rents have priced some residents out of long-standing neighborhoods.
Officials have said they expect some previous residents to return to the Pendleton Rooming House after the renovation is complete this fall. In the meantime, the structure's restoration draws attention to Alexandria’s efforts to balance historic preservation with the urgent need for lower-cost housing options.
