An outpouring of local clergy support for a plan to build 174 affordable housing units on land adjacent to the planned CityCenter in downtown Falls Church was exhibited at Monday’s F.C. City Council meeting. The proponents said they chose Monday’s meeting to speak out because the next Council meeting is expected to be dominated by a different issue. The Rev. Mochel Morris of the ChristCrossmanMethodistChurch led off, followed by the Rev. James Baucum of the ColumbiaBaptistChurch and the Rev. Clyde Yeltson of the GallowayUnitedMethodistChurch. Also present in support, but not speaking, were the Rev. Nicholas Lubelfeld and Nar Taing of the Falls Church Anglican Church. Falls Church Housing Corporation (FCHC) Board Chair Steve Rogers, and Vice Chair Bob Wilden, Homestretch Executive Director Christopher Fay and citizens Kathy Kleinman and Joyce Berg also spoke in favor of the project, based on a proposed alliance between the FCHC and Homestretch, with Atlantic Realty, builders of the new CityCenter, as the developer. The City Council will begin considering the special exceptions required for the project at its May 27 meeting.
‘Design Charette’ for New CityCenter Set May 29
The first public “design charette” to consider the architectural look and feel of the approved $317 million AtlanticRealtyCityCenter project will be held at the Community Center on Thursday, May 29, Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields announced Monday. The meeting will be run by architectural consultants retained by the City to provide insight to and elicit comment from members of the public. This will be seen as an advisory effort for Atlantic Realty’s benefit, given the developer and its own architects will have the final say in the design of its effort.
ThirdTower, Ramada Hotel Set for 7 Corners Site
The Transwestern Company, a national commercial real estate firm that recently acquired the “twin towers” site adjacent to Seven Corners, only yards outside the Falls Church city limits, has plans to construct a third, similarly-sized tower on the property, in addition to a Ramada Inn, according to News-Press sources. In the same neighborhood, JBG, Inc., has acquired an eight-acre parcel, the largest single commercially-zoned property in the City of Falls Church, formerly owned by the Noland Company on Wilson Boulevard. JBG officials have indicated a “big box” retailer will be the most likely use for the site. Transwestern recently also acquired the mixed-use component of the Pearson Square project on S. Maple St. in Falls Church.
F.C. Offers Foreclosure Guidance to Residents
Despite estimates that there have been less than 10 real estate foreclosures involving individual homes in the City of Falls Church over the past year, the regional trend is much higher and the City’s Housing and Human Services Department has arranged for support from the Arlingtonians Homeownership Made Easier (AHOME) to counsel Falls Church residents faced with foreclosure. A series of classes on understanding and restoring credit, and preventing foreclosure will be held by AHOME at the Winter Hill clubhouse, 330-B S. Virginia Ave., Falls Church on Mondays at 7 p.m., including May 19, June 2 and June 9.
Strong Recycling, Clean-Up #s Reported in F.C.
Kathy Allan, Falls Church’s Environmental and Recycling chief, reported strong results from a recent citywide volunteer clean-up and recycling extravaganza in comments before the Falls Church City Council Monday. The recipient of a Council proclamation naming May “National Watershed and Floodplain Month,” Allen noted that 120 volunteers citizens showed up for the Spring Clean-Up event recently, picking up refuse and litter off city streets and out of parks. She said that, in addition, 27 tons of computer and other technological equipment that could contaminate waterways was collected during the recent Recycling Extravaganza. Also, 2.14 tons of paper was shredded. A Falls Church Property Yard Open House will be held on Gordons Avenue this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. near the RecyclingCenter.
