affordable housing | ARLnow.com

Group studying possible revisions to Arlington’s Affordable Housing Ordinance

Published July 24, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated July 24, 2026 at 10:20AM

Wholey Legacy Homes, an affordable housing project at 1300 N. Pierce Street (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

Following resistance in the General Assembly this year, a new working group has been appointed to study possible changes to Arlington’s Affordable Housing Ordinance.

County Board members on Tuesday chartered the eight-member, limited-term working group, which will spend the next four months developing proposed revisions. The current Affordable Housing Ordinance outlines ways for developers to gain additional density for projects by building affordable units or contributing to the Affordable Housing Investment Fund.

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Major Falls Church affordable housing project about to receive screening committee

By Scott McCaffrey

Published July 24, 2026 at 8:30AM

Property owned by the Falls Church Economic Development Authority in Virginia Village (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Falls Church leaders are about to hit the launch button on their most significant affordable-housing effort.

City Council members on Monday, July 27 are slated to appoint a seven-member screening committee to rank prospective partners for redeveloping portions of the Virginia Village site.

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Falls Church affordable housing proposal advances, after much debate

By Scott McCaffrey

Published June 26, 2026 at 8:30AM | Updated June 26, 2026 at 11:01AM

Virginia Village properties on S. Maple Avenue, Shirley Street and Gibson Street (via City of Falls Church)

Falls Church leaders this week took a major step forward on a key affordable housing proposal, but ongoing divisions may imperil getting to the finish line.

Council members voted 6-1 authorizing staff to release a request for proposal (RFP), seeking development partners for the apartment buildings owned by the city in the 4.5-acre Virginia Village community.

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Falls Church officials weigh order of operations for major affordable housing project

By Scott McCaffrey

Published June 15, 2026 at 8:30AM

Virginia Village properties on S. Maple Avenue, Shirley Street and Gibson Street (via City of Falls Church)

Which should come first for the Virginia Village redevelopment in Falls Church: Selecting a development partner, or considering zoning changes?

City leaders are facing a “chicken-and-egg”-type challenge as they tackle the major affordable housing initiative.

Around Town

Culpepper Garden supporters double down on nonprofit’s goals after difficult year

By Scott McCaffrey

Published June 12, 2026 at 2:45PM

Dr. Robert Breiner was honored at Culpepper Garden event (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Culpepper Garden boosters put a difficult year in the rearview mirror and looked to the future at the organization’s “BBQ & Blooms” summer fundraiser.

“We’re raising the bar and we’re hoping to do more” in support of residents, Culpepper Garden’s president, Marta Hill Gray, said at the June 6 event, held at Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ.

News

Falls Church leaders seek ‘creative options’ for major affordable housing project

By Scott McCaffrey

Published June 4, 2026 at 1:45PM

Virginia Village properties on S. Maple Avenue, Shirley Street and Gibson Street (via City of Falls Church)

Falls Church leaders are weighing a few options as they decide the fate of a major affordable housing project.

City officials plan to rehabilitate or redevelop at least a portion of the 40 fourplex apartment buildings on the Virginia Village site through a future partnership with a housing developer. A work session on Monday focused on refining the request for proposal that will be put out, soliciting partnerships.

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Goodwill, AHC break ground on affordable housing project on S. Glebe Road

By ARLnow.com

Published June 3, 2026 at 9:15AM

Groundbreaking ceremony for new Goodwill/AHC project on S. Glebe Road (photo courtesy Goodwill of Greater Washington)

An affordable housing redevelopment project at the Goodwill on S. Glebe Road broke ground over the weekend.

Community leaders joined Goodwill of Greater Washington and Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC) personnel at the ceremony to mark the beginning of work on redeveloping Goodwill’s longstanding retail outlet and collection facility at 10 S. Glebe Road.

News

Arlington leaders still analyzing local impact of new ‘Faith in Housing’ legislation

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 19, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated May 20, 2026 at 6:42AM

Central United Methodist Church and Unity Homes building in Ballston on April 30, 2026 (staff photo)

Arlington leaders are still working through the implications of a change to state law making it easier for religious organizations to build affordable housing.

The Faith in Housing Act removes some, but not all, local regulatory approval for affordable housing constructed on land owned by nonprofit organizations, including religious groups. Despite some concerns from various local governments around the commonwealth, the measure had the backing of Democrats in the General Assembly and ultimately was signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D).

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Rules for clearing snow from businesses’ sidewalks could get revamp in Falls Church

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 5, 2026 at 8:30AM

Ice-covered sidewalk on W. Broad Street after January 2026 storm (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

It will be the heat of summer when Falls Church leaders consider possible changes to the city’s snow-removal ordinance.

At an April 29 calendar-setting work session, City Manager Wyatt Shields told City Council members he’d like to hold a “scoping” session on July 20, focused on rules applying to commercial property after snowstorms.

News

Rifts emerge as Falls Church leaders consider affordable housing options

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 1, 2026 at 8:30AM

One of the Virginia Village quadplex apartment buildings owned by Falls Church (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Tensions already are appearing among Falls Church’s elected and staff leadership, even before planning for a major affordable housing plan starts to take shape.

Council members voted 5-1 on April 27 to authorize spending up to $175,000 on a consultant to help guide potential redevelopment in portions of the Virginia Village community. Even then, however, leaders disagreed over how the process should move forward and how many potential development scenarios should be considered.

News

Faith in Housing bill crosses finish line, clears path for church-based affordable housing

By Emily Leayman

Published April 30, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated April 30, 2026 at 3:07PM

Central United Methodist Church and Unity Homes building in Ballston on April 30, 2026 (staff photo)

The “Yes in God’s Backyard” movement is celebrating after the Faith in Housing bill, supporting expedited church-based affordable housing development, has been signed into law.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed state Sen. Jeremy McPike (D-29)’s SB 388 and Del. Joshua Cole (D-65)’s HB 1279, which will eliminate the rezoning step for faith-based organizations and other tax-exempt nonprofits to develop affordable housing on their properties. The law will take effect on Jan. 1, 2027 and will sunset on Jan. 1, 2031 unless reenacted by a future General Assembly.

News

Culpepper Garden transitions seniors amid plans to end assisted living by July

By Scott McCaffrey

Published April 15, 2026 at 9:15AM

Marta Hill Gray outside Culpepper Garden (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

The Culpepper Garden housing complex for low-income seniors is on track to fully phase out assisted-living services by June 30.

“We are looking forward to having all our residents settled [in other housing arrangements] by that day, which is what we promised,” Culpepper Garden CEO Marta Hill Gray told ARLnow.