Ribbon-Cutting Held For Affordable Senior Residences In Franconia

FRANCONIA, VA — Officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Oakwood Meadow Senior Residences, a new affordable housing development for seniors in Franconia.

Oakwood Meadow has more than 6,000 square feet of amenity space, including community rooms, a game room, a library, a sunroom and gardening space, package lockers, a fitness center, laundry on each floor, shuttle service, and an outdoor lounge space.

The property, at 5815 S Van Dorn Street, is located a half-mile from the Van Dorn Metro Station and one mile from the Kingstowne Towne Center.

The project, located on a site that was previously a stormwater retention pond, was a public-private partnership between the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing, an affordable housing developer in the D.C. area, and the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

“Oakwood Meadow shows that underutilized, vacant public property can be transformed into something beautiful that serves the people of our community,” said Jeff McKay, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, who participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony last Thursday. “It also is an example of how affordable housing is — and can be — everywhere across Fairfax County.”

Along with the contribution of public land, Fairfax County and the FCRHA invested $5.25 million in local Housing Blueprint funding, nearly $12.6 million in bond financing, and awarded project-based vouchers for Oakwood Meadow.

Additional financing came from both 4 and 9-percent Low-Income Housing Tax Credits awarded by Virginia Housing and nearly $30 million in equity investments from Bank of America.

Oakwood Meadow is APAH’s first project in Fairfax County and its second senior community. Founded in 1989, APAH owns more than 2,400 residences. APAH has nearly 400 affordable apartments under construction and an additional 1,500 in the development phase.

“We have an obligation to meet the growing need of this population and provide quality, affordable places for people, especially our seniors, to call home,” APAH President and CEO Carmen Romero said in a statement.

Supported by a partnership with Fairfax County Neighborhood Community Services, residents will be able to receive onsite grocery distribution, recreational and educational opportunities such as craft nights, computer literacy programming, and transportation assistance.

Members of the public can apply to live at Oakwood Meadow by visiting APAH's website.