City Gets Questions, Complaints on Affordable Housing Plan

By GEORGE BROMLEY
Falls Church Times Staff

January 5, 2010

Last night’s joint City Council and Planning Commission work session featured an extensive presentation on the revised plan for the City Center South Senior Apartments.

The proposed building, now christened “The Wilden” in honor of the late Bob Wilden, long-time advocate for affordable housing, is a joint project of the Falls Church Housing Corporation and its partner, The Community Builders, a Boston-based company which specializes in the construction of affordable housing projects.  To go forward, the project will require Council approval of a special exception.

The mixed-use design has been scaled down from 174 to 66 apartments.   Although its official address is 350 South Washington Street, the site actually is closer to the corner of South Maple Avenue and West Fairfax Street.

Some officials questioned aspects of the project’s complex financing.  Councilman David Snyder said the projected $40,000-per-year cost to the City was too low, making the case that the true City cost would exceed $300,000 per year.   Councilman Dan Maller indicated concerns that the project’s financial documents do not show the reality of debt repayment coming from the City’s General Fund after the third year of the project’s life.

The strongest concern, however, was voiced by Mr. Thomas Sawner, owner of the  adjacent property at 360 South Washington Street.  Although Mayor Gardner initially did not favor allowing Mr. Sawner to speak at the work session, she agreed to give him two minutes after Planning Commission Chairman John Lawrence pressed for Mr. Sawner to be heard. (See VIDEO: Property Owner Decries Seniors Housing Plan.)

Previously, Mr. Sawner’s property was to be purchased by the Falls Church Housing Corporation and included in the larger 174-unit project, along with the Homestretch building at 370 South Washington.   Now the project will disadvantage his property, according to Sawner.

“This throws me under the bus.  It’s a nice building but what happens to the other two [360 and 370 South Washington]?  My project will be orphaned.”

Mr. Sawner could hold considerable leverage over the project through easements he possesses.  According to a city staff memo, the project’s success will need the cooperation of adjacent property owners regarding the easements, but Mr. Sawner stated that the applicant had made no attempt to resolve easement issues.

The City Council will vote on “first reading” of the special exception ordinance on Monday, Jan. 11.  To become law, an ordinance requires a majority vote of Council on both first and second reading.