ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
Our Goal: 10,000 net new homes by 2034
Fairfax County pursues partnerships, financing tools, and streamlined land use to achieve this ambitious goal.
Affordable Housing Development Strategies
FCRHA is nationally recognized for its innovative approaches to affordable housing development. Fairfax County is challenged with creating housing across the income spectrum in an area with a high cost of entry. Each project requires local flexibility and innovations in development, finance and public-private partnership.
Who is served by affordable housing?
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Build New Housing
We have transformed sites including underused parking lots, a stormwater run-offarea, a former job development site, and vacant office buildings into affordablehousing.
Create Inclusionary Housing Opportunities
We work with developers to integrate affordable housing into market ratedevelopments. Affordable Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Workforce Dwelling Units(WDUs) offer the same quality as market rate units. Learn more [clicks to HCDpage]
Preserve Existing Affordable Housing
We rehabilitate and reinvest in existing affordable housing stock to ensure no netloss of affordable housing.
Forge Public-Private Partnerships
Affordable housing development is a team sport. Through partnership withfinancial institutions, housing developers and other organizations, we maximizeeach opportunity and share the risk.
Four Stages of New Affordable Housing Development
Pre-Development
Before any project officially begins, the County takes time to understand whether a site is suitable for redevelopment. This includes studying the physical characteristics of the property to understand the site limitations, talking with the community early on about concerns and expectations, determining what type of housing or amenities the site could support, and reviewing the costs to see whether the project is financially realistic. If the County determines that the site is suitable for redevelopment, the project will either move forward into full planning and design, or, for some projects, the County will advertise for and select a
development partner.
Planning and Design
Once a project moves forward into the planning and design phase, architects and engineers begin preparing detailed designs. During this phase, zoning applications are submitted, design drawings are completed, and permits are obtained. The community is engaged throughout the process to review concepts and provide feedback. If there are existing residents on the site, relocation planning may begin to ensure they are fully supported during the transition.
Construction
This is the visible phase when building begins. Construction crews prepare the site, install infrastructure, and build new homes and community spaces. Throughout construction, the project team keeps residents and neighbors informed about progress, upcoming work, and any temporary disruptions. As completion nears, the project team also shares estimated opening dates and information on leasing how to apply.
Occupancy
When construction is complete, the property transitions into active use. Leasing and marketing begin, and residents start moving into their new homes. Building Management staff support tenants during the move-in process and oversee the successful opening and day-to-day operations of the new housing community.