Residences at Government Center Receives Best Affordable Development Award at Virginia Governor’s Housing Conference
On November 16, 2017, The Residences at Government Center was awarded the Best Affordable Development Award at the 2017 Virginia Governor’s Housing Conference. The award, accepted by Fairfax County Braddock District Supervisor John Cook, is the third this year for the workforce housing community. Previously, the National Association for County Community and Economic Development (NACCED) selected the community for its 2017 Award of Excellence for Innovation, and the National Council for Public-Private Partnerships (NCPPP) awarded the community its Outstanding Project Innovation Award for 2017.
Located on the Fairfax County Government Center campus, the Residences at Government Center helps address the need for workforce housing in Fairfax County. The community offers affordable apartments for Fairfax County’s public and private sector workforce.
It is a unique public-private partnership between the county, the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA), SCG Development, and Jefferson Apartment Group. By leveraging county land, the community was built at no cost to the local taxpayer. It is the first in the Commonwealth of Virginia to employ a hybrid financial structure utilizing both 9 percent and 4 percent Low- Income Housing Tax Credits to fund its development.
Residences at Government Center serves households earning between 50 and 60 percent of the area median income (AMI) for the Washington DC Metropolitan Area – as set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Rents range from just above the mid- $800s for an efficiency to just under $1500 for a three bedroom. The four-story development was designed to fit into the fabric of the neighborhood, respecting the surrounding environment and unique needs of the community. Features include garage parking, a fitness center and outdoor pool, a conference room, outdoor courtyards, a play area, and a community room. Green features include low volatile organic compounds (VOC) paints, Energy Star appliances, and high-efficiency water heaters.
(Left to right: Nicole Wickliffe, Director of Asset Management, Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD); Vincent Rogers, Policy Director, HCD; Susan Timoner, Fairfax County Office of the County Attorney; Thomas Fleetwood, Director, HCD; Braddock District Supervisor John Cook, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Russell Lee, Director of Rental Services, HCD, Amy Ginger, Deputy Director, HCD)
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