A CURATED LIST OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENTS AND ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITIES IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, STATEWIDE AND NATIONALLY FOR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTERS

July 2023

Sending our July issue out early in advance of the holiday weekend. Have a safe and Happy Fourth of July!

City of Alexandria

The City of Alexandria’s Office of Housing publishes an excellent annual guide on City programs and services for renters, homeowners, landlords, and prospective homebuyers, as well as housing resources offered by local and state housing partners. The 2023 Housing Resource Guide is now available in Spanish, Arabic, Dari, Pashto, and Amharic. For more information on the City’s Housing programs, visit their webpage.

The City Council and Planning Commission met on June 26 for a Zoning for Housing Work Session. At the Work Session Planning Commissioners and Council Members discussed the unintended consequences of one of the more controversial elements, the Bonus Height Provision for Affordable Housing, in certain areas of the City. Community members are encouraged to continue to comment on proposed reforms using this Online Feedback Form.

Arlington County

Through July 7, Arlington County residents are encouraged to provide feedback on Creating a Homeownership Vision through this Online Visioning Feedback Opportunity. On July 22, at the Walter Reed Community Center, from 10-1, residents are invited to join an in-person Community Workshop to validate the homeownership vision and goals and strategize on objectives.

Arlington County released the Draft Langston Boulevard Area Plan and are seeking input on the draft plan by July 30 via an Online Feedback Form. Residents are also encouraged to attend an Open House at the Design Studio on July 12, 20, and 26. Among other goals and policies, the plan will provide guidance about increasing affordable housing opportunities in this corridor by 2040.

Park Shirlington Apartments, a 294-unit garden-style apartment community located in the Fairlington neighborhood, will be converted to committed affordable housing with the assistance of $46.6M in Federal Housing Loans and a $34.9M Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF) loan from Arlington County. The owner, Standard Communities, recently closed on this financing that enables renovations and long-term affordability at the property. All 294 units will be committed affordable up to 60% of the AMI for 75 years.

Fairfax County

Fairfax County celebrated the opening of the Residences at North Hill, along Route 1 in the Alexandria area of the County, which includes 279 affordable apartment units for families and seniors, adjacent to 175 for-sale townhomes. The project also includes the creation of a 12-acre public park.

Fairfax DHCD is looking for comments on the Administrative Guidelines surrounding their Affordable Housing Preservation Comp Plan Amendment. Visit Affordable Housing Preservation, Housing and Community Development for more information and to comment by June 30.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has approved an agreement with the nonprofit Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) to construct the Tysons Community Center as part of the Dominion Square West housing development near the Spring Hill Metro station. The development is expected to be completed by 2027.

Loudoun County

During its June 8, 2023, work session, the Loudoun County Planning Commission and its subcommittees completed their work in drafting a new Zoning Ordinance to send to the Board of Supervisors for consideration. It is anticipated the BOS will act on the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite (ZOR) this summer. Review a summary of the Planning Commission's Zoning Ordinance Rewrite schedule and access hyperlinks to meeting documents and videos as of June 9, 2023. (PDF). Housing advocates continue to meet to ensure the ZOR will work to address Loudoun’s significant housing challenges.

Leesburg Town Council voted Tuesday evening to begin the process to amend its zoning ordinance to allow for continuing care facilities for seniors within town limits. The amended zoning ordinance will go to Leesburg’s Planning Commission for a review and vote, then will come back to council for a final vote.

Prince William County

Families for Affordable Housing is hosting an Affordable Housing Summit on July 13 at 7:30 am to address the need for affordable housing in Prince William County. The summit will bring together activists, elected officials, faith leaders, stakeholders, and community leaders to raise awareness, encourage networking, and promote meaningful conversations to find solutions to the affordable housing deficit in Prince William County. RSVP here for this free event.

Northern Virginia

Thank you to NVAHA’s partners and speakers from Legal Services of Northern Virginia, BU-GATA, Tenants and Workers United and the New Virginia Majority for joining us for our Eviction Update and Tenant Impact Lunch & Learn.

Interesting data from our partners at the Northern Virginia Regional Commission. Northern Virginia’s GDP is nearly 42% of the GDP of the Commonwealth of Virginia, larger than 23 states and the District of Columbia and 149 countries. If Northern Virginia was a country, we would have the 49th largest economy in the world.

DMV

MWCOG is now accepting applications for the Housing Affordability Planning Program (HAPP). HAPP will award small, flexible grants of up to $75,000 to area governments and non-profit developers (with support from a local jurisdiction) engaged in planning, approving, or developing housing near transit stations. The current HAPP application period is now open until July 21.

Metro Lift is a reduced fare program for DC, Maryland, and Virginia customers enrolled in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). This program provides a 50% discount on all Metro bus and Metro rail trips and is designed to expand access, increase affordability, and advance equity for people across the region.

State

The last General Assembly session adjourned with no agreement among the governor, House of Delegates, and State Senate as to how the budget should be modified to reflect the increased revenues the state has been receiving. This week’s budget negotiations this week have stalled, leaving $3.6B in surplus funds unallocated.

The Virginia State Air Pollution Control Board moved closer to exiting the approved Youngkin Administration’s proposal to repeal the regulations that govern Virginia’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). This impacts much needed funding for affordable housing in the Commonwealth, as the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development's (DHCD) Housing Innovations in Energy Efficiency (HIEE) funding makes energy efficiency upgrades to new and existing residential buildings to reduce energy bills for low-income Virginians. HIEE is funded through RGGI proceeds and specifically enhances affordable housing programs benefiting low- to moderate-income (LMI) families in Virginia.

Call for the VAGHC Housing Award Nominations. Each year, the VAGHC Housing Awards luncheon recognizes innovative, effective efforts that address our housing needs in Virginia. All awards are presented at the conference in Hampton, VA during the luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 16.

Articles of Interest

The State of the Nations Housing 2023 Report, Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University

Imbalance of Power: With Work from Home, the Labor Force is Fast Concentrating in Just One Portion of this Region, Washington Business Journal

Jill Norcross, Executive Director

Northern Virginia Housing Alliance

[email protected]

703.249.9438 (o) | 703.587.4098 (c)