In a meeting that went into the wee hours at City Hall Monday, the Falls Church City Council’s work session included generous input from invited members of the City’s Planning Commission, Housing Commission and Economic Development Authority as it explored next steps in the effort to provide additional affordable housing at the 4-acre Virginia Village site on S. Maple St. in Falls Church.

Officially, the meeting was timed at 3 hours and 46 minutes, ending short of midnight. What was aired were a range of prospects for what would go into a “request for proposal” (RFP) to a prospective developer to respond to one or more of three scenarios for the site with an eye to advancing the City’s cause to add to its viable affordable housing stock. 

“Our job here is to make sure we are reflecting community input,” Mayor Letty Hardi said.

The three scenarios that the large group discussed including in an RFP would involve a plan to refurbish the 40 units (nine fourplex buildings, or about half the total) at the site that are currently under City of Falls Church and EDA control, a redo of the units such as to increase the total number of units to 40 or 50 total, or a more aggressive approach that could result in upwards of 100 units in three to seven stories.

It was noted that, from a developer point of view a “sweet spot” would be the construction of about 120 units, built where about 40 units now exist. The City’s ownership are of fourplexes at either end of the site, with the middle portion still in private hands.

Phil Duncan, former F.C. City Councilman for 11 years and now member of the Planning Commission, told the News-Press following the meeting, “It was an encouraging work session on an issue that’s vital to preserving the City’s unique spirit of community. City Council has declared ‘housing for all’ as a priority, and City staff has been working hard to tee up housing options for consideration that would help keep Falls Church from becoming merely an enclave for the super-rich.

“During Monday’s work session I saw a lot of good-faith listening, and an appreciation that accommodating differing views will be necessary as we work through the summer toward the goal of increasing housing options for City and schools staff, public safety personnel, employees of our local businesses, seniors, and others with modest incomes who want to call Falls Church home.

“Kudos to Council for rolling up their sleeves to tackle this issue, and for inviting the Planning Commission, the Economic Development Authority, and the Housing Commission to provide input on the way forward.”

Speaking at the meeting, Duncan advocated for an approach that would provide the most new units, but said that aspiring to go as high as 160 new units was not realistic.

Council member David Snyder clearly identified with those who want the fewest new units overall. He said that the entire City of Falls Church housing stock already falls within the definition of “missing middle” housing, despite the fact that an average single family detached home in Falls Church is valued between $1.2 million and $1.8 million, the highest level in the region.

Former Falls Church Mayor Alan Brangman, now a member of the EDA, was also outspoken about moving too quickly on the project overall. He expressed concern for what would amount to spot zoning at the site, a concern shared by Planning Commissioner Tim Stevens, and that the City may setting itself up for more problems if it moves too quickly.

In hopes of finding a developer by the end of this summer, the Council is looking to put an RFP out by the end of next week.

But Councilman Arthur Agin expressed concern that an RFP might wind up driving policy options.

All members of the Council were present except Justine Underhill, who was nearing the birth of a child.