Residents of Reston’s Crescent apartments wary as redevelopment process starts, Washington Post, June 24, 2013

This is an excellent article by Tom Jackman on the many issues surrounding the redevelopment of Crescent Apartments, including issues of displacing hundreds of current families.

Marchers walk through Reston last month to call for the preservation of affordable housing at the Crescent apartments on North Shore Drive. The walk, titled “One Reston,” was organized by Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagemant, an organization of 45 faith communities in Fairfax, Arlington and Prince William counties and the city of Alexandria. (Shamus Ian Fatzinger – Fairfax County Times)

When Fairfax County spent $49.5 million to buy the Crescent apartment complex near Lake Anne in Reston, in 2006, it was with the stated goal of preserving affordable housing in the county as real estate values continued their upward climb. So it came as a surprise to the residents when they learned that Fairfax was already looking to sell or lease the property for redevelopment, as part of a bigger plan to revitalize the Lake Anne area. The county’s plan is to replace the 181 apartments in the 50-year-old, three-story buildings with up to 935 apartments overlooking the lake and close to shopping and a new Metro station.

The current residents love the place, not only because their rents are low ($1,150 for a two-bedroom place) but because it’s near two elementary schools and many bus lines. “There are good people living here,” said Andres Paz, a dental assistant who’s lived in the Crescent for 8 1/2 years. “We are somebody. We are poor, but we are good people.”

Fairfax officials say they are determined to keep the low-income residents in the Crescent, even if they’re ultimately surrounded by more upscale types. “The county has made it clear,” County Board Chairwoman Sharon Bulova said, “we don’t want to lose [affordable housing]…People who are living at the Crescent will be able to live at the redeveloped Crescent.”  (NOTE:  She didn't say "we won't lose . . ." and she certainly didn't say "we will add . . ."

The county’s request for proposals for the property requires developers to replace all 181 of the current units with similarly affordable units, and make arrangements for relocation while the construction is underway. In addition, another 151 units are required to be affordable under the county’s “workforce dwelling unit” policy, which means 332 of the 935 units would have below-market rates, according to the county’s documents.

“I know some people may be uncertain that the preservation of affordable housing will occur,” Supervisor Cathy Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill) wrote in a letter to the residents last month, and reaffirmed in a conversation with me. But she noted that other Reston communities reserved for low-income residents have been maintained and rehabbed, and added, “Rest assured: when it comes to affordable housing in Reston, I stand up for residents in this community.”     (NOTE:  She stands up for them until the developer threatens to withdraw or, in this case, not submit a proposal.  We understand that two proposals are or have been on the table--but that was months ago and we have no information on details.) ...

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