Fairfax, VA, July 20, 2023 — Wearing hard hats and donning shovels, county and state officials along with executives from The Michaels Organization, gathered today in Fairfax, Virginia, to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new affordable housing community for residents aged 62 and older. The $63.7 million development, located at the intersection of Stringfellow Road and Autumn Willow Drive in the Springfield District, will feature two buildings comprising a total of 150 units, and will be reserved for those with household incomes ranging from 30 percent to 60 percent of the area median income.
Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay and Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors were among those who spoke at the ceremony, as did Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority Chair Melissa McKenna, and Virginia Housing’s Chief of Programs, Tammy Neale.
Rosa Estrada, Regional Vice President, spoke on behalf of Michaels, which is developing the community. “We are excited to bring this much-needed affordable community to this beautiful site in Fairfax County, where seniors will have access to many on-site amenities, but also be in close proximity to shopping, recreation, and places of worship,” Estrada said. “The Autumn Willow development will provide seniors and residents with disabilities the comfort of affordable living with the luxury of a beautifully-designed community.”
The apartments will be available in a mix of one- and two-bedrooms that will range from 696 to 1,163 square feet. Autumn Willow’s amenities will include a community room, library, and fitness center in addition to outdoor community spaces including a covered terrace, grilling stations, and onsite walkways that connect to Fairfax County Park trails.
“We know that Fairfax County’s older adults need options to age in place affordably. These 150 units will provide people that opportunity,” said Jeffrey C. McKay, Chairman, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. “We want the people who grew roots in Fairfax County to stay in their community of choice. This development is special because it provides an affordable place for older adults to keep writing our local history.”
Financing for the development includes private equity raised through the sale of Low Income Housing Tax Credits, allocated by Virginia Housing, which is also providing permanent loans for the project. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development is contributing Housing Innovations in Energy Efficiency funding, National Housing Trust Funds, and Virginia Housing Trust Funds.
Autumn Willow also benefited from Blueprint Funds from the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority. Berkadia invested in the tax credits and Truist provided $32.3 million in construction loans to the project.
“Getting to the moment where we break ground on an affordable housing community requires a complex set of resources and experts. That is what we do at the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority. We are committed to bringing together experts in the development, real estate, environmental engineering, and finance industries to create affordable housing opportunities for our community. This is especially critical for older adults, who deserve to live and thrive in their desired community,” said Melissa McKenna, Chairman, Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
The development team includes architects KTGY, which won an Excellence in Housing Award in 2022 for their design of Autumn Willow. Michaels Construction will serve as the General Contractor. Michaels Management will provide property management.
Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
