Affordable Housing Opens In Alexandria, Co-Located With Church

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The years-long effort to develop Fairlington Presbyterian Church's underutilized parking lot into affordable housing has come to fruition in Alexandria. Affordable housing developer Wesley Housing and partners held a ribbon cutting for the 81-unit Waypoint at Fairlington Wednesday.

The affordable housing development at 2451 Menokin Drive is on Fairlington Presbyterian Church's property. The new development serves households with 30 to 60 percent of the area median income. According to Wesley Housing President and CEO Shelley Murphy, The Waypoint is largely leased up and will start moving residents in during October.

The Waypoint offers three studios, 12 one-bedroom apartments, 49 two-bedroom apartments and 17 three-bedroom apartments. Nine of the units are fully accessible for those with physical or sensory accessibility needs, according to Murphy. Amenities available to residents will include free Wi-Fi, a community room, a courtyard connecting with Fairlington Presbyterian Church, a business center, laundry rooms on every floor, and access to playground space.

Wesley Property Management will manage the property, and Wesley Housing will also have an on-site resident services team to offer programs and services to residents. The programs haven't been finalized but are expected to focus on areas like housing stability, education, health and wellness, and community engagement. In addition, Our Stomping Ground will provide case management and supportive services to residents with developmental disabilities.

Rev. Juli Wilson-Black, pastor of Fairlington Presbyterian Church, said the church first discussed with Wesley Housing developing on the church site in fall 2015. In 2016, the church began considering proposals to redevelop its underutilized parking lot in a way that aligns with its social justice mission.

"In a time when so much changes so quickly, we have collectively built something that will last," said Wilson-Black. "The Waypoint will still be here after most of us have moved on. For decades to come, people here will enjoy the benefits of high-quality affordable housing in a safe and supportive community for themselves and their children, and our congregation will be forever changed and enriched."

Mayor Justin Wilson said the project is the result of support from city elected and appointed officials committed to affordable housing as well as partnership with faith leaders and Wesley Housing. The mayor noted the challenges of developing affordable housing, which can help the city work toward its affordable housing goals.

"It's very easy to set goals...but it's a lot harder to actually make these projects happen, assemble the financing and really go up against incredibly strong market forces that fight against affordability," said Wilson. "We've been able to lift up and create an environment where we can create some affordability here for generations to come."

The Waypoint at Fairlington is the first of four projects Wesley Housing will complete by the end of 2022, according to Wesley Housing President and CEO Shelley Murphy. Other projects slated to open include the 63-unit Senseny Place senior living community in Winchester, 126-unit The Arden near the Huntington Metro in Fairfax County, and the 97-unit The Cadence in Arlington's Buckingham neighborhood.

Combined with three other renovation projects, Wesley Housing will deliver over 700 residential units by late 2022 or early 2023, Murphy said.

For more information, visit www.thewaypointalx.com.