Arlington County Board Revises Affordable Housing Goals

Arlington County Manager Barbara Donnellan and the Housing Commission presented the County Board with proposed revisions to the county's affordable housing goals and targets.

The two groups agreed on targets of preventing and ending homelessness, as well as sustainable production and renovation of committed affordable housing in the county.

While rent in Arlington have increased an average of 33 percent since 2003, the county has also added more than 6,000 affordable units for those making 60 percent or less than the county's area median income (AMI). The commission and the manager's office also agreed that the county should link at least 50 percent of people in shelters, transitional or supportive housing with skills training and other programs.

A significant change in this process is that the Housing Commission and the County Manager's office are looking beyond the housing options for those who make 60 percent or less than the AMI, which is the typical focus as it is the cutoff for a number of federal programs, to the options for those who make 60 to 80 percent of AMI. In its discussions, the board acknowledged that there may be a housing gap in the county for those who make more than 60 percent of AMI but still not enough to afford many of the available units in the county.

The County Manager's staff and the housing commission disagreed on a number of points, regarding increasing inspections, particularly of older buildings, increasing affordable housing funding, annual fair housing testing and targeting providing housing grants to 100 percent of eligible households requesting assistance. After much discussion, the board overruled the manager's office on the final point and added the 100 percent housing grants as a target for the county.

The other substantial piece of business for the board was a request to advertise for public hearings on a development plan for the East Falls Church area. The current proposal would add some high-rise residences and retail shops while also changing the available parking options as a way to promote bicycling, walking and public transit. There was substantial public comment on this proposal, with a number of residents assailing the board and the proposed plan for its potential changes to neighborhood character, reduced parking availability—which would overflow into residential streets—and the potential for overdevelopment. The public hearings will be held on April 4 and April 16.

Board meetings are broadcast on local television and online and are a good way for residents to learn what is going on in the county. Meetings are held at 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 300. Further information on the County Board can be found here:

 http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/countyboard/countyboardmain.aspx