Notes from the Executive Director
|
|
|
Dear AHS Friends and Supporters,
After months of planning and hard work, our AHS 20th Anniversary Celebration is less than one month away. We couldn't be more excited for you to join what will be a special evening on Monday, November 20th from 3:30 PM to 7 PM . Tickets are now available, reserve yours by November 10 by clicking here.
As we come to the end of October and Affordable Housing Month, there is much to be excited and energized about in the coming days. In this month's newsletter, we highlight actions to move Plan Langston Boulevard forward, new updates from our colleagues in the affordable housing space, and also feature the honorees at our celebration next month.
The work continues. We need your ongoing support and involvement in our advocacy for affordable housing solutions in the county. There are many opportunities in the days and months ahead to influence the county board's decisions on various affordable housing issue.
I hope you'll make time on November 20 to join us in a well-deserved celebration marking 20 years of AHS working toward our vision of an Arlington for Everyone.
As always, thank you for all you do to further the impact of our work.
With Gratitude,
|
|
AHS at 20: Honoring Our Past,
Celebrating Our Present,
Ready for the Future
|
|
|
With less than one month to go, our 20th anniversary celebration will be a party with a purpose and we're excited to invite you to this historic celebration.
There are many ways you can participate. For those seeking a virtual option, the Leckey Forum will be streamed online. For those celebrating with us in-person at the National Landing Experience Center you may join us starting at 3:30pm with the Leckey Forum or starting at 5:30pm for the Bozman Awards and 20th Anniversary Celebratory Reception that follows.
Whether you're joining us virtually or in person, for both events or just one, this is the affordable housing event of the season.
The 2023 Thomas P. Leckey Forum promises to be a robust conversation about community land trusts, affordable housing, and building generational wealth. Join us for a discussion of a concept that has only grown in recent years as affordable housing advocates explore innovative ways to increase affordable housing supply.
The Ellen M. Bozman Affordable Housing Awards will honor two affordable housing stalwarts in our community, Katie Cristol and Christian Dorsey. We hope you'll join us for their well-deserved honor.
Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Click the button below for more information.
|
|
Katie Cristol and Christian Dorsey
To Receive 2023 Ellen M. Bozman Affordable Housing Award
|
|
AHS is pleased to announce that Katie Cristol, Chief Executive Officer of the Tysons Community Alliance and former Arlington County Board Member, and Christian Dorsey, Arlington County Board Chair, will receive the 2023 Ellen M. Bozman Affordable Housing Award.
As board members, Dorsey and Cristol have consistently advocated for affordable housing in Arlington. They have demonstrated their commitment by offering financial and regulatory incentives for affordable housing projects, supporting local nonprofits that serve affordable housing residents, and providing rental assistance to low-income families. Recently, they led the Arlington County Board to pass Expanded Housing Options unanimously, which repealed outdated and racially biased zoning laws.
We are proud to honor Katie and Christian and look forward to you joining us on November 20! Reserve your ticket by November 10 by clicking here!
|
|
2023 Thomas P. Leckey Forum
Community Land Trusts:
Increasing Affordable Housing
& Building Generational Wealth
|
|
The 2023 Thomas P. Leckey Forum will explore the potential of Community Land Trusts to increase home ownership, build generational wealth, and secure permanent affordability in Arlington.
This will be an expert panel discussion with Jenee Gaynor, Director of Shared Equity Housing at NeighborWorks America; Amelie Rives, CEO of Virginia Statewide Community Land Trust; and Michael Spotts, Director of Real Estate Development at Habitat for Humanity DC & Northern Virginia.
You may participate in the Leckey Forum in-person or virtually. Virtual participation is available for free. All tickets can be reserved through November 10 here.
|
|
Updates on
Plan Langston Boulevard
|
|
Langston Blvd is Arlington’s northernmost corridor. It has a legacy of segregation, it hosts very little affordable housing, and it lacks its own plan. The County Board will vote Nov. 11th on the Final Draft Langston Boulevard Area Plan.
AHS is advocating for three major issues:
- The Board should request a specific time frame for the re-evaluation of both the East Falls Church and Cherrydale area plans, both of which were not part of this process. Many hundreds more CAF (Committed Affordable Units) could result from new height, density and zoning updates in those two planning areas.
- AHS and many stakeholders are still hopeful that County staff will further refine the Plan to yield more CAFs, getting the Plan closer to the Affordable Housing Master Plan goal of 2,500 CAFs by 2040 for this corridor.
- AHS is asking the Board to initiate an immediate effort to identify and study new finance and zoning tools for the Langston Boulevard corridor. The Plan will require new and innovative tools to achieve an adequate supply of affordable units, especially very low-income (30% AMI) units, needed on this corridor.
|
|
|
|
How to Get Involved:
- Attend Virtual "Open Door Monday" meetings with a County Board member every Monday in October/November. Register here by 5 PM that day.
- Submit written comments to the Planning Commission here.
- Submit written comments to the County Board: [email protected]
|
|
Important Dates for Plan Langston Boulevard for Your Advocacy.
Sign up to speak on these dates:
|
|
|
Additional PLB Resources:
|
|
October is Affordable Housing Month - Here's How It Breaks Down in Arlington
|
|
Did you know that October is celebrated as Affordable Housing Month?
Arlington County held a series of events throughout the month highlighting the importance of affordable housing and resources for the community.
One example of an affordable housing community is Barcroft Apartments (1,334 units), which was purchased for affordability preservation in 2021 by Jair Lynch, which is expected to present its final Master Development and Finance Plan in November. The plan will be voted on by the County Board in December. AHS continues to track the specifics of this Plan to ensure that it preserves as many units for extremely low-income households as possible. At purchase, there were 255 households making 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI), which today is approximately $42,000 for a family of four.
Want to learn more about affordable housing in Arlington? Check out the county's affordable housing portal here, and stay tuned to AHS for your opportunity to advocate for very-low income units this fall! |
|
 Long time affordable housing advocates AHC launced a rebrand at the end of September. AHC, now known as Affordable Homes & Communities, believes that the rebrand illustrates more than their work as affordable housing developers and highlights their commitment to "build[s] opportunity by creating quality homes with holistic resident services."
“Our vibrant new logo symbolizes the open doors we offer individuals and families seeking a better future,” says President & CEO Paul Bernard. “Our rebranding builds on AHC’s past successes and represents a key step in our evolution and growth.” Read more about AHC's rebrand here. |
|
 The county continues to approve permits for Expanded Housing Options (EHO) in the face of ongoing litigation. As of October 20, nearly 20 permits have been approved for EHO, according to the county's permit tracker.
On the litigation front, county attorneys will appear in court on November 16 for a hearing to set a trial date in the ongoing case against EHO. The latest ruling from retired Fairfax County Judge David Schell will allow six of the seven charges from plantiffs to move forward. You can stay up to date on Missing Middle and EHO on the county's website and by joining the AHS Missing Middle Network. |
|
Refreshed AHS Website
Is Now Live!
|
|
|
We are excited to announce that our newly refreshed Alliance for Housing Solutions website is now live! Located at the same domain, https://www.allianceforhousingsolutions.org , the refreshed AHS website has a new sleeker look that makes it easier for you to navigate and find the information you need to stay informed and active as a strong advocate for affordable housing.
Our website features updated content, resources, events, and news about our work and impact in the community. You can also learn more about our programs, partners, and supporters, and how you can get involved with us. We hope you enjoy our refreshed website and we look forward to hearing from you. |
|
The Alliance for Housing Solutions is a small nonprofit with a big voice. By joining us as a volunteer you can help advance solutions designed to increase the supply of safe, affordable housing for a diverse and sustainable community. There are many ways to assist: photography, social media, fundraising, and event support are just a few.
To express interest in volunteering, you may access our volunteer form here and an AHS volunteer coordinator will follow up with you. |
|
Learn and Share in Policy Discussions
|
|
|
Become a member of the Alliance for Housing Solutions community on the platform Mobilize.io to learn, share ideas, and be part of policy discussions. We currently offer the following groups:
|
|
This coalition of housing and service providers and advocates meets online monthly to share information, plan strategies, and advocate on a range of housing issues in Arlington. Join here |
|
|
Join a group of people committed to increasing the diversity of options and price points of housing in Arlington. Join here |
|
|
In this group, homeowners, architects, and realtors ask questions, share best practices, and provide support for those interested in developing accessory dwellings. Join here |
|
|
|
Increasing the supply of affordable housing through education, policy, advocacy, and innovation.
|
|
|
|
|
