Virginia Village, COVID Emergency: Actions From Falls Church City Council

FALLS CHURCH, VA — After a break from meetings in August, Falls Church City Council returned to make several notable actions Monday.

City Council discussed the Founders Row project and will continue discussions on Sept. 27. Another discussion continuing on Sept. 27 will be extending COVID-19 flexibilities for business for six months as the city works on permanent or modified zoning changes. However, City Council voted to end the COVID-19 emergency declaration.

Another key item involved the transfer of city-owned Virginia Village apartment buildings to affordable housing developer Wesley Housing. A long-term goal could involve redevelopment into permanent affordable housing.

Below is a recap of key agenda items. Full video and the agenda are available at www.fallschurchva.gov/CouncilMeetings.

Founders Row items deferred to Sept. 27

City Council deferred consideration of amendments requested by developer Mill Creek Residential Trust on the Founders Row project. The requested changes include reducing the number of seats in the planned theater at the development from 750-850 to 550-850. The developer is also requesting changes in its new economic development agreement with the city, as the old agreement expired in 2021. Apartments have opened at Founders Row but not the planned restaurants or movie theater.

Town Manager Wyatt Shields requested the two agenda items related to the Founders Row development be deferred to Sept. 27 since the Planning Commission has not yet made its required recommendation. Shields also said the developer Mill Creek has made four requests in the economic development agreement that the city has not yet agreed to. Those request relate to additional time to meet milestones in the economic development agreement and the amount of tax revenue beyond the city's revenue share that will go to the owner as an incentive.

"There are discussions about those ongoing, but we'd like additional time to have those discussions, and we believe we'll be able to do so in time for a discussion and Council consideration," Shields said.

Mayor P. David Tarter called the progress on the development "frustrating" even as the second phase of Founders Row. He called for the city to hold the developer accountable to meet milestones in the agreement.

"We were told that restaurants would be opening and they were near the end of the construction," said Tarter. "To my mind, there's little to no activity on the ground floor of this development a year after it opened for its residential uses."

Virginia Village affordable housing to be operated by affordable housing developer

City Council approved a memorandum of understanding and restrictive covenants for affordable housing developer Wesley Housing to operate five quadplexes in Virginia Village. The MOU creates a framework for future redevelopment of the property, which would be subject to City Council approvals.

The Virginia Village properties in question are five buildings with four one-bedroom apartments owned by the Falls Church Economic Development Authority. The Virginia Village community has 20 total quadplexes. Wesley Housing will operate the five quadplexes for households making up to 60 percent of the Area Median Income. Existing tenants of Virginia Village can earn up to 150 percent of the Area Median Income.

The long-term goal would be for Wesley Housing to redevelop Virginia Village into permanent affordable low and middle-income housing. Wesley Housing would be able to access $3.75 million in Virginia Housing Amazon REACH grants, American Rescue Plan Act funds, and the city's affordable housing fund to acquire additional quadplexes in Virginia Village.

Councilmember Phil Duncan noted there's "anxiety" about the city giving up the valuable Virginia Village property but noted City Council shares a goal of creating more housing options for all.

"At least for my perspective, pushing as hard as we can to really emphasize the need to provide low and moderate income housing with Virginia Village properties is what I hope this and future Councils will pursue," said Duncan.

"I read the news about Wesley and all the great projects they do in our area and I would love to have one of those projects that's essentially dedicated to low and moderate-income housing to really help us drive up the numbers," he continued. "Because we are doing the best we can in the new developments to provide affordable housing percentage units. But we really need to hit a home run of Virginia Village and I think we have it within our power to do so."

COVID-19 declaration of emergency to end

City Council voted to end the declaration of emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic. effective Oct. 1. At the time of the meeting, the city and Fairfax Health District have a low level of COVID-19 community transmission, and many normal activities have resumed.

The city manager had first declared a state of emergency on April 6, 2020 and added a disaster declaration on May 10, 2020, allowing the city to use emergency powers specified in the Virginia code. Among the actions the city took during the COVID-19 pandemic were virtual meetings, grant programs to support businesses, flexibility on payment of taxes, relaxed regulations to support businesses, and rent and utility assistance.

Tarter cautioned residents that "COVID is not over" even though not as many people are dying from COVID.

"People are still dying from COVID and we're not out of the woods," Tarter said. "This virus can mutate as it's done several times before. So I would just urge everyone to continue to take precautions, follow health guidance and get yourself boosted.

COVID-19 flexibilities could be extended

Although the COVID-19 emergency declaration will end, City Council will consider extending pandemic-era zoning flexibilities. City Council set a public hearing for Sept. 27 to consider extending zoning flexibitilies related to outdoor dining, parking requirements, and signage for six months, effective Oct. 1.

Shields said that gives the city time to work with the business community to make modify or make permanent zoning changes to continue flexibilities such as outdoor dining and parking regulations.

Resolutions approved

City Council approved several declarations: recognizing Sept. 9-18 as Welcoming Week, recognizing Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month, and recognizing Sept. 12-16 as Disability Voting Rights Week.

Welcoming Week recognizes the Welcoming Falls Church organization, which seeks to show hospitality toward immigrants and refugees. One of its initiatives is Renting to Refugees, which will help welcome five refugee families to the city.

Welcoming Week activities coming up include participation at the Falls Church Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, an ice cream social from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, and Sunset Cinema showing "Encanto" at 7:45 p.m. on Sept. 23.