FCRHA Purchases Land Near Innovation Center Metro Station to Develop Affordable Housing

The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) announced it has acquired 3625 and 3627 King Johns Way in Herndon to develop affordable housing.

Utilizing flexibilities granted to the authority via its national  designation as a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Moving to Work agency, the $23 million off-market purchase was made by the FCRHA using federal funding. The Moving to Work designation enables the FCRHA to implement innovative affordable housing initiatives specifically customized to Fairfax County’s needs.

The King Johns Way properties are directly adjacent to the Innovation Center Metro Station, making them highly attractive for affordable housing development.

“The real estate adage - ‘it’s about location’ - applies to affordable housing. With close access to the metro and Dulles Airport, jobs, and amenities, this prime location will give more Fairfax County families an opportunity to flourish,” said Lenore Stanton, Chair, FCRHA. “Our Moving to Work flexibilities enabled us to move quickly on a marketplace opportunity to expand affordable housing in the Dulles Corridor.”

“The Dulles Corridor is an economic engine in Fairfax County. This initiative will deliver housing affordable to a broad spectrum of people, from those who work at Dulles Airport to those who support the various tech companies in the area,” said Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

“Economic competitiveness and housing affordability are interconnected. Fairfax County’s CEOs indicate the rising cost of housing is a challenge in their efforts to recruit and retain a workforce. Thirty-nine percent of people who work here live elsewhere. Efforts to expand affordability in the Dulles Corridor will deliver positive impact for our local economy overall, especially given the anticipated major expansion of Dulles Airport itself,” said Jennifer Miller, Deputy County Executive for Community Development, Fairfax County.

The property is approximately two acres in size and will take several years to develop. While details will be forthcoming in the development process, the FCRHA anticipates the property could yield about 400 units. The property is situated in a mixed-use community near market-rate housing and a senior living facility.

About the FCRHA’s National Designation as a Moving To Work Housing Authority

The FCRHA has national designation as a Moving to Work housing authority, a prestigious distinction. It is one of the initial housing authorities in the country to achieve this designation. Under authorities and flexibilities granted through Moving to Work, the FCRHA generates customized affordable housing solutions that support the local economy and Fairfax County as a whole. Since receiving this designation in 2013, the FCRHA has leveraged Moving to Work for a variety of initiatives, including awarding Project-Based Vouchers to privately-owned affordable housing developments, creating administrative efficiencies, supporting efforts to prevent homelessness extremely low-income older adults, and more.