Affordable Housing Converted From Office Planned Near Mosaic District

MERRIFIELD, VA — As Fairfax County works toward a goal of adding 10,000 affordable housing units by 2034, an office-to-housing conversion is planned near the Mosaic District.

Last week, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved up to $8 million of the county's American Rescue Plan Act funds for 2990 Telestar Court, Falls Church, VA. The location, which was home to an Inova office building, will be acquired from Inova Health Care Services with the funds to help develop 80 affordable housing units.

The apartment community would be targeted toward households making between 30 percent and 80 percent of the Area Median Income. For a one-person household, the 80 percent Area Median Income limit is $66,750. For a family of four, the limit is $95,300.

"We believe that people should be able to live in their community of choice, so we are constantly seeking out innovative strategies to create and preserve affordable housing across Fairfax," said Lenore Stanton, chairman of the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority. "Purchasing unused office space in the Mosaic area and converting it into affordable housing will enable individuals and families with lower-income levels to access this highly desirable community."

The project would be a collaboration between the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority and Merrifield Housing, a developer team of Conifer Realty and Joseph Browne Development Associates. Merrifield Housing is seeking Virginia Housing for Housing Opportunity Tax Credits for the project. Once development and funding details are confirmed, the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority will acquire the site and lease it to Merrifield Housing to develop and operate affordable housing.

Amenities at the site will include a gym, laundry rooms, community space, public park space, and a location near bus routes and the Dunn Loring Metro Station.

Construction is expected to begin in 2024 and take 14 months, according to the housing authority.