Low-income seniors who have special medical needs will now have a place to live in Arlington. The County Board has approved a plan for a new assisted living facility.
This weekend, the Board gave the go-ahead to Volunteers of America, an Alexandria-based affordable housing organization, to renovate the former Oak Springs Retirement Home in South Arlington and turn it into the Arlington Assisted Living Residence.
The facility, located at 2000 South 5th Street, would be the only one of its kind in the county. According to Kevin White with Volunteers of America, it would provide "Supportive living for low-income seniors with mental heath or cognitive disabilities."
The Board approved a site plan for the renovation of the residence, which will expand from 39 apartment units to 52. Volunteers of America, which owns the property in partnership with the county, will also be adding a kitchen, dining room, lounge space, courtyards, an activity room and hospital-size elevators.
"This is a needed service for Arlington County residents," Rich Dooley, who is with the county’s Department of Community Planning, Housing & Development, said. "This helps the county meet its affordable housing plan."
"It’s hard to underestimate the degree that this being realized is looked forward to by the community," Housing Commission Chair Melissa Bondi told the board.
Even community activist Robert Atkins, who rarely, if ever, agrees with anything the Board does, was in favor of the plan, although he said that "More people need this facility than would be served by [it]."
White said that Volunteers for America’s budget for this project is $7.5 million. But he also noted that the organization will be receiving more than $6 million in federal and state funds for the renovation and expansion.
The county and Volunteers of America have not yet determined who will operate the facility. But Cindy Stevens, a supportive housing coordinator at the Department of Human Services, estimated that it will cost $2.1 million a year to maintain, roughly half of which will be paid by the county.
"The county will be as creative as possible in accessing every state and federal revenue fund," County Board Member Barbara Favola said.
County Manager Ron Carlee said while the county is footing some of the bill for the Arlington Assisted Living Residence, "This is one of the most efficient affordable housing projects we will ever have an opportunity to do."
COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS were mostly receptive to the project and welcomed the idea of having an affordable assisted living facility in Arlington.
However, there was one sticking point for some members of the Board: the environmental friendliness of the building.
"This is a project we badly want for a number of reasons," said County Board Chair Paul Ferguson, "But little or nothing is being done on energy efficiency."
Ferguson seemed dismayed by this oversight, saying that "Either global warming is a problem or it’s not — and it is. We can’t look the other way."
Carlee tried to reassure him, saying "Reducing our carbon footprint is an element we’re going to be working on."
But Ferguson continued on the environmental topic. "You’re a large organization. What are you doing [for global warming]?" he asked White.
"We’re looking at ways to make buildings more efficient," he replied.
Ferguson then suggested that Volunteers of America purchase part of the power it will use for the building from renewable sources. "It will save you a lot of money," he said.
"It’s something we’re looking at," White responded. "It is often difficult to finance affordable housing projects so we try to do our best."
County Board Member Jay Fisette said, because this is a renovation of an old building rather than the building of a new one, more environmental challenges may exist. He proposed an amendment to the project that the county will help Volunteers of America look at ways to reduce its energy use and make the Arlington Assisted Living Residence more environmentally sound.
"This allows me to feel 100 percent good about this project," Ferguson said after the amendment was included.
The Board then took a vote on the project and unanimously approved it.