| The Falls Church Housing Corporation regrets to report that The Wilden Senior Housing Project scheduled to break ground this summer has come to an end. Please click here to read the statement issued by Carol Jackson, FCHC's Executive Director. A more detailed informational update will be posted here early next week.
FALLS CHURCH CITY COUNCIL VOTES 6-1 TO APPROVE THE WILDEN
The Falls Church Housing Corporation is pleased and proud to announce that with a 6-1 vote in favor, the Falls Church City Council voted final approval for THE WILDEN on Monday, March 22nd.
To be located at 350 South Washington Street in the heart of Falls Church City (see sketches below), this 66-unit affordable housing project will house senior and disabled residents and is set to break ground this summer.
FCHC would like to thank our many dedicated supporters with whom we share this significant achievement that will further expand the inventory of affordable housing options in our community.
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MARCH 2010 UPDATE:
The Falls Church Housing Corporation Board of Directors recently voted to approve changing the name of City Center South Apartments (CCSA) to The Wilden, in honor of former FCHC Board member and longtime housing advocate Bob Wilden who passed away in 2009. It was Bob Wilden who used his own assets combined with those of his own family to honor his wife, Imogene's, memory and establish a challenge grant that FCHC Directors matched with additional funds totalling $1 million to be used to fund the initial development costs for this project.
The original size and scope of the project proposed by FCHC and approved by the City Council in 2008 have changed. The current project is a much smaller building that will include 66 units of affordable housing for senior and disabled residents (see sketches below). That being the case, the current project and site plan had to be re-approved by the City Council and Planning Commission.
With a 6-1 vote in favor, the Falls Church City Council gave their First Reading approval on March 8, 2010 for the two million dollar loan to FCHC for the construction of The Wilden, our new 66 unit affordable housing project for seniors, and for the real estate tax exemption for this project. The Planning Commission will be voting on the site plan for the project on March 15th. The following Monday, March 22nd, the City Council will be taking their final vote on the project. We will keep you updated on our progress after these upcoming votes.
Funding Award Received From the Virginia Housing Redevelopment Authority
August 5, 2009
The Falls Church Housing Corporation is pleased and proud to announce the award of Low Income Tax Credits and TCAP (Federal stimulus) funding to finance the construction of The Wilden, a 66 unit apartment building that will house senior and disabled residents. The companion Family building submitted for funding consideration did not score high enough in this round of funding to receive financing credits. However, FCHC and its development partner, The Community Builders, Inc. (TCB), will be reviewing strategy and alternate funding options to secure financing for the Family building.
JULY 2009 UPDATE:
The Falls Church Housing Corporation has recently entered into a joint venture with The Community Builders, Inc (TCB) to develop The Wilden Apartments. TCB is the largest nonprofit, urban housing developer in the United States and specializes in affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization. For more information about TCB, you can visit their website at www.tcbinc.org.
THE WILDEN APARTMENTS BACKGROUND
The Falls Church City Council voted to formally approve FCHC's affordable housing development formerly known as City Center South Apartments (CCSA) development on August 11, 2008.
On December 8, 2008, the Falls Church City Council again voted their majority approval to loan the Falls Church Housing Corporation $2 million for a period of 15 years to be repaid with interest on or before the end of the loan term. In fact, this 2 million dollar loan amount had been approved within the City's Capital Improvements Projects (CIP) Budget in 2006 as a no interest loan.
The City Council also voted on December 8, 2008 to approve FCHC's requested tax exemption for the CCSA project and to establish the construction site as a designated Neighborhood Revitalization District. This designation will have a favorable impact on FCHC's application with the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA) for an award totaling up to $19 million in tax credit investment equity for the CCSA project.
On December 1, 2008 approval for the CCSA initial Site Plan was denied by the Falls Church City Planning Commission. FCHC plans to submit a revised and updated affordable housing project Site Plan to the Planning Commission for the Commission's consideration and vote.
WINTER HILL RESIDENT ADVISORY TEAM FORMED
FCHC management has formed a Residents Advisory Team comprised of resident representatives who have agreed to be information "block captains" in the Winter Hill community with news and updates on the progress of The WIlden affordable housing project. The Winter Hill Management Office has also hosted several information sessions to date with residents to provide more detailed information and progress updates about the project. More meetings will be held over the course of the project development process to keep Winter Hill residents fully informed with the most up to date information and progress about The Wilden Apartments project.
PUBLIC EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES REGARDING THE WILDEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT
The Falls Church Housing Corporation seeks to engage broad based community support for our City Center South Affordable Housing development by making The Wilden Apartments Information Presentations at local churches and civic organizations. With our partner, Homestretch, FCHC welcomes the opportunity to be invited to any community or neighborhood organization upon request to explain the project and answer any questions you may have. For more information, please contact Mary Lynn Hickey, Associate Director for the Falls Church Housing Corporation at MLHickey@fallschurchhousing.org or by telephone at 703-237-9551.
