After years of planning, the Reeves Farmhouse is poised to transfer out of county hands to become a home for adults with developmental disabilities.
The future of the historic property is scheduled for consideration at an Arlington County Board meeting on Monday. If approved, agreements would convey the property to Habitat for Humanity DC-NOVA and allocate up to $2.5 million to support renovation efforts.
“In consideration of the conveyance of the property, Habitat and its philanthropic partners will rehabilitate, renovate and construct an addition to the existing historic house,” a county report says. “Once the renovations and addition are completed, the property will be conveyed thereafter to L’Arche Greater Washington D.C. for operation of the Group Home and related programs.”
HomeAid National Capital Region would collaborate with Habitat on renovations, while L’Arche would ultimately be responsible for upkeep and maintenance of the property located within Bluemont Park at 400 N. Manchester Street.
Planned changes to the property include:
- Constructing a two-story addition to the existing farmhouse
- Constructing a first-floor addition including five bedrooms, two bathrooms and an elevator
- Creating four paved parking spaces as well as two wheelchair-accessible spaces
- Redesigning the existing first-floor kitchen, dining and common areas to include one great room
- Replacing and widening the existing driveway to accommodate emergency and fire vehicles
The County Board will also consider providing a drainage easement to “allow perpetual surface stormwater drainage within and upon the confines of the County’s property to promote the health, safety and welfare of the public, the County’s property and neighboring properties.”
“Other than positive support received from the consulting parties and the community at large, there have been no substantive comments received on the proposed project,” a county report notes.
The Reeves Farmhouse was constructed around 1900 as part of a dairy farm that remained productive until 1955. Arlington County acquired the property in 2001, but it has remained vacant since then as officials have considered options for the house.
The county once considered transforming the farmhouse into a museum or learning center, but determined these changes would be too expensive. The county entered talks about transferring possession of the property back in June 2018.
The county and nonprofits reached a non-binding letter of intent in February 2020 — just before the pandemic hit.
Talks about what to do with the building stalled for another three years. But they revived in April 2023 when Habitat for Humanity, HomeAid and L’Arche met with the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board to discuss the home’s future. The review board gave its stamp of approval for proposed renovation plans at a meeting in July 2023.
In January, County Board members voted to approve a use-permit amendment and accept permit applications for building and land disturbance activity — decisions meant to make it simpler for nonprofits to renovate the property after assuming possession of it.
Proposed agreements concerning the Reeves Farmhouse are currently listed on the County Board’s consent agenda, which is typically reserved for non-controversial decisions meant to be approved in bulk.
