Livability 22202 Proposes Solutions to Create Diverse Housing, Avoid Displacement, and Build Community in Arlington County
ARLINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA – A new report released today by Livability 22202 – acollaboration of the Arlington Ridge, Aurora Highlands, and Crystal City Civic associations – examines the history and current state of housing affordability in the neighborhood and lays out a bold policy agenda to ensure access to diverse, affordable and market-rate housing, avoid the displacement of residents, and build a sense of community for all. Given the expected influx of new highly paid workers in the coming decade, on top of today’s rising rents and housing costs, the report examines a move towards housing livability in 22202. The report reviews how housing must be addressed holistically, in the context of the Livability Initiative’s recommendations on open space, schools, and other critical community needs.
The report – the product of two community engagement workshops featuring a cross-section of 22202 renters, homeowners, housing experts, and historians, as well as an intensive study by members of the Livability22202 Housing Working Group, details the history of zoning and land use in our area and current barriers to adequate housing in the 22202 zip code, which include:
- Inadequate long-range planning
- A lack of political will from elected and corporate leaders
- Market forces – the popularity of our area and development dynamics
- Policy limitations on developing supply
- A lack of resources to fill diverse housing needs
- The need for a coalition to make housing a priority
The report outlines a set of policy solutions crowdsourced by workshop participants to overcome these barriers, among them:
| Avoiding Displacement | New and Diverse Affordable and Market-Rate Housing | Building Community |
| Assist at-risk renters and owners through financial assistance and legal protectionsEncourage owners and corporate entities to provide affordable housing to a spectrum of individualsCreate state-wide policies to increase affordable rental housing Broadly educate the public and stakeholders about displacement risks | Encourage co-location partnerships between community organizations, such as those facilitating supportive housing and housing developers Increase funding for the Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF) Leverage County zoning policies to encourage affordable housing, accompanied by county land purchases and establishing community land trusts Increase outreach to community leaders, build connections for affordable housing.Encourage new production along existing and potential retail and transit corridors Use zoning tools to permit more density, with design elements aligning with neighborhood character and scale Identify areas within single-family zoning blocks that may be appropriate for multifamily housing Develop more housing options for seniors Identify fallow sites or parking lots which could be better used for housing Modify parking standards that drive up the price of housing | Use county institutions to foster a cross-22202 planning culture across all three civic associations, using SPRCs to address more holistic thinkingCreate spaces for community building, including a full-scope community center, neighborhood schools, and public open spacesDevelop policies and processes to better include renters in the community, particularly addressing barriers to information sharing for high-rise residents |
“We recognize the importance of ensuring access to housing in 22202 is available for all of our residents,” said Susan English of the Arlington Ridge Civic Association and a co-chair of the 22202 Housing Working Group. “We believe that the adoption of our policy solutions, together with other livability objectives, will contribute to making our neighborhood an even better and more inclusive community to live and work in. We also hope to create opportunities for modeling some new approaches.”
The report’s proposals are intended to shape the County’s ongoing housing policy activities, including the Missing Middle Housing Study. The report’s policy objectives were not framed explicitly for the ongoing pandemic housing crisis but addressing today’s high rents and housing costs would be a welcome acknowledgment of stark inequities.
“As the County embarks on a process to overhaul its policies and practices to fill the housing “missing middle,” our report and its recommendations provide a comprehensive roadmap for change,” said Tarsi Dunlop of the Crystal City Civic Association and co-chair of the 22202 Housing Working Group.
“The report issued today will also help shape the County’s Pentagon City Phased Development Site Plan update and our findings on how planning intersects with communities facing discrimination will further Arlington’s Dialogues on Race and Equity (DRE) efforts,” according to Ben D’Avanzo of the Aurora Highlands Civic Association and 22202 Housing Working Group co-chair.
With the report’s publication, Livability 22202 will launch an effort to secure adoption of the report’s recommendations by the Arlington County Board and Virginia General Assembly in the new year.
Read the report: Livability 22202 Working Group Report on Housing Affordability; Report One Page Fact Sheet.
For more information, please contact Ben D’Avanzo
About Livability22202
Livability 22202 is the work of the three civic associations of 22202 – Arlington Ridge, Aurora Highlands, and Crystal City. The residents of 22202 have committed to tackling the challenges facing our area with holistic strategies based on shared livability themes to create a better, more livable city.
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