Dear AHS Friends and Supporters,  

Last week, the Arlington County Board took a monumental step toward an Arlington for Everyone by approving Expanded Housing Options that allow for the zoning of   Missing Middle Housing. 

The magnitude of this unanimous vote cannot be underestimated. Many people--especially People of Color--that for one reason or another were denied an opportunity to call Arlington home, will now have a chance at new opportunities to be part of ALL the communities that make up our wonderful county. Speaking of community, without the grassroots activism and hard work of the AHS community, none of this would have been possible. Each one of you, from your testimonies, conversations with neighbors, outreach to elected officials, letter writing, and countless other activities made this possible. As I've said before, your energy and efforts make our advocacy work that much more effective.

The work continues. We look forward to working with our community partners to rectify deficiencies in the new Expanded Housing Options zoning framework, monitor progress towards constructing new Missing Middle Housing, and champion efforts that expand the supply of affordable housing throughout the county so that all neighborhoods reflect the diversity and inclusivity that is an Arlington for Everyone.

Stay tuned for more from AHS in the coming months, including our new show, and ongoing Community Conversations. If there's anything you'd like to see from us that we aren't already doing, feel free to let us know!

With Gratitude,

On March 22, the Arlington County Board voted to amend the zoning ordinance and the General Land Use Plan (GLUP) to include Expanded Housing Options, known as Missing Middle Housing (MMH). This historic vote ended exclusionary zoning in Arlington, a policy that only permitted single-family detached homes on over 70% of Arlington's residential land. Highlights of the revised MMH-inclusive zoning ordinance include:

The second AHS Community Conversation took place on March 21 with our partner, the Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance (NVAHA). The Community Conversation, Lunch and Learn event featured tips from AHS Policy Consultant, Alice Hogan, on the local budget process, advocacy, and relationship building to advance affordable housing options in the region. Missed the discussion? Want to pick up a few tips to bolster your advocacy skills? Watch the recap on our newly relaunched YouTube channel here.
 

Interested in more Community Conversations? The first AHS Community Conversation, which focused on the history of race, housing discrimination, and zoning segregation in Arlington is also available on our YouTube channel. You may view the first Community Conversation here.

On February 23, Arlington County, the  NAACP's Arlington Branch, and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) hosted a panel to discuss the newly released Regional Fair Housing Plan and its impacts on Arlington. Several years in the making, the Regional Fair Housing Plan contains comprehensive data about how housing segregation has impacted our community, including disparate access to quality education and healthy neighborhoods. The plan also includes goals to address these disparities and other issues. 

Review the Fair Housing Plan 

The comment period on the Regional Housing Plan is open through March 31, 2023. The comment form can be accessed here.
 

Our March AHS Meet the Board spotlight is on Pamela Quanrud. Pamela, a lifelong Arlingtonian, has a deep and personal connection to AHS.

What drove your interest in AHS?

I was introduced to AHS by my godfather and one of AHS’ founder's, Bill Bozman, who suggested AHS would be a good place for me to put my energies when I retired from the Department of State in 2018. A native of Arlington, I always knew that housing was in acute shortage, and affordable housing was disappearing as more and more County residents were being priced out of this wonderful place. Over the past few years with AHS, my passion for affordable housing has only grown. I have appreciated having a seat at the table to learn about and advocate for an Arlington for Everyone.

I saw how inequities in our system keep people in poverty, and how systemic racism and inherited wealth create an uneven playing field. I have a vision of Arlington as a more welcoming and just community where immigrants and bus drivers, day care workers and teachers, can afford to live. I am proud of the work that AHS has done to call attention to race and housing and to work for a better community. 

What are your AHS goals for 2023?

My AHS goal for 2023 is to continue to use my voice to speak to the intersection of faith and housing. I recently spoke at the Faith and Housing forum that AHS, NAACP, and Arlington Coalition of Black Clergy all co-sponsored.

As I write this, the County Board is about to take a historic decision to eliminate single-family zoning in Arlington, a vestige of racist covenants and zoning decisions that date back almost 100 years. AHS has played, and in 2023 I hope AHS will play, an important role in helping breathe life into this opportunity through education and dialogue with affordable housing advocates, developers, residents and County staff as well as the County Board. 2023 is also the year we expect the Langston Boulevard renewal process to advance to a final Board decision. I know AHS will be looking to maximize this once-in-a lifetime chance to bring much-needed affordable housing to this critical transportation corridor.

This year AHS is also settling into our new leadership under Charles McCullough. I appreciate that we are taking this moment to ask ourselves how we can better represent the communities most in need of affordable housing and how we can ever more effectively drive policy change. 2023 is a big year for affordable housing in Arlington and for AHS as an organization. I am thrilled to be a part of it. 

Big News! AHS is pleased to announce the launch of the AHS/AHS - Alliance for Housing Solutions, Arlington Housing Show. This new show will be an ongoing conversation featuring AHS staff, housing experts, community advocates and others working for inclusive, diverse, and affordable housing in Arlington and elsewhere throughout the region. 

Our first episode launched this past Wednesday following the county board's unanimous vote on expanding housing options. You can listen to AHS' Executive Director, Charles McCullough, provide review and insight on vote on our YouTube channel. Don't forget to click, like, and subscribe to stay up to date on everything related to AHS/AHS! 

Watch the first episode

Have you had a chance to weigh in on Plan Langston Boulevard?  

At https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Projects/Plans-Studies/Land-Use/Plan-Langston-Boulevard you can learn about the plan and view video presentations on Plan Langston Boulevard.

The county began collecting feedback last year, which can be viewed here.  A revised Plan Langston Boulevard will be available in late spring  or early summer; providing another opportunity for feedback. 

Increasing the supply of affordable housing through education, policy, advocacy, and innovation.