Local church considering plan for affordable housing
First Christian Church in Seven Corners is considering
various options for using some of its vacant property for projects to serve the
community, such as affordable housing.
various options for using some of its vacant property for projects to serve the
community, such as affordable housing.
First Christian has a total of 6.8 acres, including the
church building, at 6165 Leesburg Pike. The church is preparing to send out an “invitation
for proposals” to community groups and developers for worthwhile projects
for its unused property. The goal is to provide a steady stream of income for the
church, as well as serve a community need.
church building, at 6165 Leesburg Pike. The church is preparing to send out an “invitation
for proposals” to community groups and developers for worthwhile projects
for its unused property. The goal is to provide a steady stream of income for the
church, as well as serve a community need.
At a community meeting for nearby residents earlier this month, church officials presented several options, including affordable rental housing possibly
targeted to a specific population, such as families, veterans, seniors, or the
homeless; transitional housing for people leaving homelessness along with
services for tenants; or rental housing for seniors with a major healthcare
component, such as an assisted living facility.
The transitional housing would serve tenants for one to
three years and would include services to help people move to self sufficiency, such
as job skills training or life skills training along with services for children such
as daycare or an after-school program.
three years and would include services to help people move to self sufficiency, such
as job skills training or life skills training along with services for children such
as daycare or an after-school program.
First Christian’s definition of “affordable” is housing that
would serve people with incomes up to 60 percent of the area median income.The church might
partner with an organization that had experience operating affordable housing,
such as Homestretch or Volunteers of America.
would serve people with incomes up to 60 percent of the area median income.The church might
partner with an organization that had experience operating affordable housing,
such as Homestretch or Volunteers of America.
The church is sharing its ideas with local residents, because “we want to be transparent in this process,” says Rev.
Kathleen Moore. “It’s about what the community needs.”
Moore is leaving the church after serving as
senior minister for 13 years so she can spend more time with her own family. She also plans to be an advocate for the
homeless in “a significant way.”
senior minister for 13 years so she can spend more time with her own family. She also plans to be an advocate for the
homeless in “a significant way.”
“The church is in really good hands,” she says. “We are not
a dying church.” First Christian’s land use committee will continue to work on
finding a suitable project for the excess land. Moore predicts it will be at
least five years before they break ground.
First Christian has for years played an active role in helping the homeless. As part of its Safe Haven program, the church hosts
about 120 homeless people and day laborers for breakfast and lunch every
Thursday. During the winter, the church serves meals to the needy twice a week. The program also provides clothing,
haircuts, English classes, and other services to community members in need.
about 120 homeless people and day laborers for breakfast and lunch every
Thursday. During the winter, the church serves meals to the needy twice a week. The program also provides clothing,
haircuts, English classes, and other services to community members in need.
The new project will not affect First Christian’s agreement
to let worshipers at the Dar Al-Hijrah mosque across the street use their
parking lot. “That is a commitment that will remain,” Moore says.
to let worshipers at the Dar Al-Hijrah mosque across the street use their
parking lot. “That is a commitment that will remain,” Moore says.
9 responses to “Local church considering plan for affordable housing”
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This seems like a win-win for the relocation of the Baileys Crossroads Homeless shelter!! Has onyone mentioned this to Penny?
You could say the topic came up: http://annandaleva.blogspot.com/2016/02/an-open-letter-to-mason-district.html
Would the rental units be exempt from real estate taxes since the church is a non profit?
There is a need for affordable housing for seniors. Other affordable housing and transitional housing just duplicates what the county and other providers are already doing.
Seniors are being ignored. I hope the FCC will step up and fill the gap for the low income seniors. Culpepper Garden in Arlington is a good example of a low income senior housing. It is sponsored by a Unitarian Church.
Thank you for mentioning them! Officially, it's the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Arlington, and they are the ones who founded the facility back in the 70s. The property itself was donated by a member of the congregation. Throughout the years, church members have continued to support the housing at Culpepper Gardens, through both financial donations and volunteer activities. The program has actually won some awards for things like the quality of care and innovation.
I hope I'll have enough money to take care of myself in my senior years, but if I don't, I'd be comfortable putting myself in their hands.
Anonymous at 12:06 AM is correct. More seniors, who have worked hard their whole lives and lived in Fairfax County are having to move because of increased taxes and their limited income. Let's give them the respect they deserve. I suspect many raised their children in Fairfax County; sent them to FCPS; and contributed in other ways to the County.
The church was clear in its presentation to community groups that it will be looking for the best opportunity to serve the community–there are many needs, and no desire to provide something unneeded.
As far as "Let's give them the respect they deserve," I'm not sure where that comment comes from. If you're a member of that church, you know that seniors, children, people of all ages/races/orientations are appreciated and respected there. And if you're not a member of the church–well, I'm not sure it's your role to insinuate that a decision other than senior housing would be disrespectful to seniors.
Give me a freaking break. Seniors are not being ignored in Mason District. We probably have the highest concentration of senior homes in the whole county. We don't need more.
Spoken like an arrogant little "young f@rt." You should hope that you either die young, or that whoever ends up wiping your wrinkled old behind has more respect for their elders than you do.
Irony can be pretty cruel, honey.