Developer sought for affordable housing in Bailey’s Crossroads
Fairfax County plans to issue a request for proposals by the end of 2024 seeking a developer to build affordable housing in Bailey’s Crossroads.
The project would consist of a six-story building with one, two, and three-bedroom units. It would replace the Crossroads Interim Park at 5872 Columbia Pike between Radley Acura and the market-rate Alta Nova apartment building under construction.
The new apartments would be affordable to households with incomes up to 60 percent of the area median income.
At a community meeting on the project on Oct. 24 at the Minnie H. Peyton Community Center, nearby residents got a chance to weigh in on the project.
Marwan Mahmoud of the Fairfax County Department of Housing and Development asked residents to form small groups and discuss what types of indoor and outdoor amenities they would like to see on the property.
Here’s what people said they want: a business center with computers, a swimming pool, a fitness room, a community gathering space, daycare for kids, a laundry room, adequate visitor parking so tenants could have guests, and a safe playground.
Related story: Affordable housing proposed for county-owned property on Columbia Pike
They were also asked about transportation challenges and what needs to be improved.
Among the responses: clearly defined bike lanes, more convenient bus stops, more sidewalks, and pedestrian safety improvements on Leesburg Pike, George Mason Drive, Columbia Pike, and Lacey Boulevard.
Teens from Second Story’s Youth Advisory Council who walk from their homes in Culmore to Justice High School called for wider sidewalks and more security in that area.
The affordable housing project also includes an underground parking garage and a new road connecting the site to Moncure Avenue.
Depending on the outcome of a traffic study, that new road could be connected via another new road to Columbia Pike.
The county would negotiate with the developer on a financing package for the project, said Mark Buenavista, director of the Design, Development, and Construction Division at the housing department.
The county would continue to own the land, he said. The developer could pay a nominal fee for a ground lease and contribute funds for the road improvements, enhanced streetscape, and non-residential component.
Getting from the concept of an affordable housing project to completion could take five or more years, Mahmoud said. That includes determining if a property is suitable for housing, going through a rezoning process, selecting a developer, community engagement, design, site preparation, permitting, construction, and occupancy.