Notes from the Executive Director
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Dear AHS Friends and Supporters,
I hope that you are having a joyous start to the new year. The work of housing advocacy is already off to the races, with the County Board making critical decisions about Missing Middle housing (more on that further in this newsletter), the budget, and other issues that will affect how we will manifest an #ArlingtonForEveryone.
This is where your voice and support come in. As these decisions are being made, I look forward to working with each of you to build an Arlington in which all its neighborhoods are accessible, livable, inclusive and diverse. Stay tuned to our social media, this newsletter, and more as we'll be reaching out in new and creative ways to bring our message home.
With Gratitude,
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Missing Middle Supporters Front and Center at County Hearings
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 The Arlington County Board has finalized its Request to Advertise (RTA )for the Missing Middle ordinance, the scope of options it will vote on at its March 18 meeting.
The proposed zoning changes, now known as Expanded Housing Choices (EHO), will only include options on homes with up to 6 units (having eliminated the 7- and 8-unit options). In addition, the Board will consider an annual cap of up to 58 applications a year.
That potential cap would have a sunset clause of 5 years, meaning the cap would be in place from 2023-2028. Other aspects to be considered in March include potential tree canopy, parking, and lot size requirements. To keep up with Missing Middle housing updates, join our Missing Middle Network here.
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AHS Board Members Testify at Missing Middle Hearings
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 AHS Board Chair Dave Leibson and Board Members Pamela Quanrud and Jane Green testified on January 24 before the county board in support of the Request to Advertise (RTA) for Missing Middle housing.
Watch Dave Leibson's testimony here.
Watch Pamela Quanrud's testimony here.
Watch Jane Green's testimony here.
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Wesley Housing Opens The Cadence
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Last month, Wesley Housing Corporation opened The Cadence, an affordable housing project in the Buckingham neighborhood. The Cadence, which was six years in the making, utilized various funding sources for construction, including Arlington's Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF).
The five-story, transit-friendly building located on Arlington Boulevard has 97 units at or below 70% of the Area Median Income (AMI), and includes 10 fully accessible units in an EarthCraft Gold-level green building. For more information, visit https://livethecadence.com/.
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Faith & Housing Community Conversations - Feb. 8th
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Join AHS and our partners, the NAACP's Arlington Branch, the Arlington Coalition Of Black Clergy, and Calloway United Methodist Church for a community conversation on faith and housing. This in-person event will take place on Wednesday, February 8 at 7 PM at Calloway United Methodist Church, located at 5000 Langston Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22207.
The discussion will focus on Missing Middle housing, and give a brief overview of the history of housing Arlington. For more information on the event, please visit https://tinyurl.com/25ec5ppj.
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AHS Participates In Volunteer Arlington's MLK Day of Service
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 AHS was proud to participate in Volunteer Arlington's 6th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Annual Day of Service. As part of the "a day on, not a day off" events, AHS policy consultant Alice Hogan, in conjunction with our partners from APAH and AHC, Inc., led a workshop and robust discussion on affordable housing, the history of race and discrimination in Arlington and the role of zoning in determining community composition. View event photos on Facebook.
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Add Your Voice to the Missing Middle Conversation
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Did you know that AHS has a website solely dedicated to exploring and understanding Missing Middle Housing?
At https://www.missingmiddlearlington.net/ you can learn more about what Missing Middle housing really is, hear from neighbors that support inclusive and more financially-attainable housing, and join an online discussion group.
To send us your own letter of Missing Middle Housing support, contact us at [email protected].
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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:
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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
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Join a group of people committed to increasing the diversity of options and price points of housing in Arlington. Join here
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In this group, homeowners, architects, and realtors ask questions, share best practices, and provide support for those interested in developing accessory dwellings. Join here
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Increasing the supply of affordable housing through education, policy, advocacy, and innovation.
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