Senior housing planned for site of Northern Virginia Training Center
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| One of the 14 buildings on the site of the former Northern Virginia Training Center. |
Erickson Living, a developer specializing in retirement communities, plans to build a community for seniors on the site of the former Northern Virginia Training Center on Braddock Road in Fairfax, the company announced Sept. 18.
Erickson Living has entered into an agreement to purchase the 78-acre property in Braddock District near George Mason University from the commonwealth of Virginia. The purchase price has not been made public but the property has been assessed at $24 million.
The NVTC was once home to more than 250 people with disabilities. It was shut down in 2016 following a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1999, Olmstead v L.C., that ruled segregating people with disabilities is discriminatory and violates the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Since then the facility has fallen into disrepair. According to Erickson, asbestos on the site would need to be mitigated and storm water issues would need to be addressed before any future use is possible. Since it was a state-owned institution, it was not subject to Fairfax County environmental regulations.
“With the support of the surrounding communities, we plan to transform the currently unsafe and unsightly property into a community asset,” said Scott Sawicki, senior director of corporate affairs at Erickson Living. The company plans to meet with nearby residents several times during the planning process.
Braddock Supervisor John Cook is hosting a community meeting on the Erickson proposal Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m., at Robinson Secondary School.
“More high-quality senior housing is needed in Fairfax,” Sawicki said. “We are aiming to satisfy growing demand while helping to keep families together in Fairfax County.”
According to the county’s 2016 demographic report, the number of people age 65 and older will nearly double, from about 106,300 in 2010 to 194,000 by 2035.
Erickson Living provides housing for about 24,000 seniors in 11 states. This will be its second age-restricted continuing care retirement community in Fairfax County. The first one, Greenspring in Springfield, is 99 percent occupied with more than 1,000 prospective residents on a wait list.
What a pathetic company Erickson Living is. The Commonwealth of Virginia sold out a wonderful facility (home) to so many mentally disabled people so they (Comm of Va) and locals could line their pockets. I cry when I remember the wonderful clients, staff, and administrators who loved these people and cared for them only with TLC.