New, affordable homes for older adults
The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Michaels Development, members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and other partners celebrated the groundbreaking of The Lodge at Autumn Willow on July 20th, new affordable housing for older adults in the Springfield District of Fairfax County.
The Lodge at Autumn Willow will include 150 independent living units, with 15 compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Nestled in a forest, the outdoor amenity spaces will include a reading cove, firepit, and recreation zone. On-site walkways will connect homes to Fairfax County Park Authority trails. Homes will be available in a mix of one- and two-bedroom units.
The groundbreaking at The Lodge at Autumn Willow
“We know that Fairfax County’s older adults need options to age in place affordably. These 150 units will provide people that opportunity,” said Jeffrey C. McKay, Chairman, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. “We want the people who grew roots in Fairfax County to stay in their community of choice. This development is special because it provides an affordable place for older adults to keep writing our local history.”
“Getting to the moment where we break ground on an affordable housing community requires a complex set of resources and experts. That is what we do at the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority. We are committed to bringing together experts in the development, real estate, environmental engineering, and finance industries to create affordable housing opportunities for our community. This is especially critical for older adults, who deserve to live and thrive in their desired community,” said Melissa McKenna, Chairman, Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
The development of The Lodge at Autumn Willow began in July of 2020 when the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority entered an interim agreement with Michaels Development through the Virginia Public-Private Educational Facilities Infrastructure Act. Construction has started and is expected to take place over a period of eight months. The property will be managed by Michaels Development. The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority retains a ground lease for 99 years, guaranteeing preservation of affordable housing at The Lodge at Autumn Willow for almost the next century. In addition, the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority awarded eight project-based vouchers, helping to ensure that the property will support households with a range of income levels.
About The Lodge at Autumn Willow
Location: 13090 Autumn Willow Drive, Fairfax, VA (Springfield District)
Size: 150 units of affordable older adult housing serving residents at or below 30 percent of Area Median Income (AMI) (11%); residents at or below 50 percent of AMI (14%); and residents at or below 60 percent of AMI (75%). Fifteen units are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant.
Features:
Outdoor amenity space including a serenity studio, reading cove, firepit, and recreation zone, all looking out into a natural forested park area.
On-site walkways will connect to Fairfax County Parks Authority trails.
High-visibility crosswalk between Stringfellow Park and the entrance to the development, subject to VDOT approval.
Green Spaces: Storm Water Management consisting of on-site naturalistic bio-retention facilities, tree planters, and approximately five acres of undisturbed area to be placed in a land cover conservation easement.
Funding: The Lodge at Autumn Willow is made possible through $8.7 million in local funding through Housing Blueprint loans. In addition, financing includes private equity raised through Low Income Housing Tax Credits allocated by Virginia Housing, which also provided permanent loans for the development. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development is contributing Housing Innovations in Energy Efficiency funding, National Housing Trust Funds and Virginia Housing Trust Funds. Additional financing has been provided by Truist and Berkadia.
The Lodge at Autumn Willow
The Lodge at Autumn Willow