Faith Leaders: Remember Low Income Residents

Faith community leaders and residents of Reston's Crescent Apartments will hold a march on May 19 to highlight the need for affordable housing in Reston.

Fairfax County is expected to release soon the results of its Request for Proposal (RFP) for the 16-acre site near Lake Anne. Crescent Apartments was acquired by the county in 2006. The development, built in 1963, offers 180 affordable housing units. 

The proposal expected soon will eye redevelopment of the Crescent area, either by itself or as a comprehensive redevelopment plan for several parcels around Lake Anne Plaza.

Any redevelopment will likely include provisions required by law to keep a certain level of units available (usually at least 12 percent) for low-income residents.

The 3:30 p.m. march - called the "One Reston Walk" - is being organized by V.O.I.C.E. (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement). Organizers say the walk will highlight the potential loss of rental housing that for decades has been affordable to hard working families, and which is at the heart of the founding vision and values of the Reston community."

 “It’s essential that our entire community understand what’s at stake before Fairfax County officials make the final developer selection and negotiate the financing with those who will develop Crescent Apartments,”  Rabbi Michael Holzman of Northern VA Hebrew Congregation said in a statement.

"V.O.I.C.E. and community leaders are concerned that the current income criteria and financing may displace up to 80% of current residents, and want county officials to ensure that the plans accommodate current residents as a priority of the redevelopment effort at Lake Anne."

 The walk, which will begin at Temporary Road and Old Reston Parkway (behind Coldwell Banker) will also highlight the coming impact of Metro’s Silver Line, the stories of Crescent families and long-time Reston residents  who began their Reston lives at Crescent, as well as the “mosaic” of quality schools and community services that families of all incomes and cultures value in Reston, says Holzman.

Do you think redevelopment of Lake Anne will impact low-income Reston residents? Tell us in the comments.

Keep up with all Reston community news when you subscribe to Reston Patch's free daily newsletter.