Pictured from left to right: Ronnell Chatmon, Office of Congressman Gerry Connolly; Ryan Nash, APAH; Lauren Dillard, Virginia Housing; Rich Jordan, APAH Board; Chairman Jeff McKay, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Deborah Lebeau, Resident; James Walkinshaw, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Tom Fleetwood & Chair Lenore Stanton, Fairfax County Housing & Redevelopment Authority; Carmen Romero, APAH; Scott Gensler, Erickson Senior Living; Mike Chiappa, APAH. Photo credit: Jon Fleming
This new community, Ilda’s Overlook, provides 80 affordable homes to seniors ages 62 and above with incomes at or below 60% of the area median income. Ilda’s Overlook was built in partnership with Erickson Senior Living, who selected APAH as the affordable housing partner for the Woodleigh Chase Senior Living Community site, which was formerly the Northern Virginia Training Center. Ilda’s Overlook contributes to Fairfax County’s goal to increase the number of affordable housing units by 10,000 units by 2034.
Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH), the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA), Fairfax County officials and project partners celebrated the grand opening of Ilda’s Overlook Senior Residences earlier in March.
“The delivery of Ilda’s Overlook puts us at almost 1,000 new, affordable homes delivered since January of 2020. By the end of the calendar year, we will be close to 1,500 new homes. This is great progress and demonstrates that affordable housing belongs in all corners of Fairfax County, and across all generations,” said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay.
About Ilda’s Overlook
The property’s name, Ilda’s Overlook, is a nod to Black history in Fairfax County. It references a community founded by Moses Parker and Horace Gibson, two blacksmiths who were formerly enslaved but purchased their freedom and a plot of land after the Civil War. They created a bustling, integrated neighborhood and named it after Gibson’s daughter Matilda’s affectionate nickname, Ilda. “It’s exciting to honor local history while we build for the future and strive for a more inclusive region,” said APAH President and CEO, Carmen Romero.
Ilda’s Overlook is designed for independent seniors to age in place, foster social connections and build a sense of community. The property is 100% universal design, ensuring accessibility to residents of varying ages and physical abilities, and is built to EarthCraft Gold standards, a high bar for sustainable construction and reduced energy consumption. Ilda’s Overlook is APAH's first property to include rooftop solar panels. Amenities at Ilda’s Overlook include in-unit washers and dryers, free Wi-Fi access for all residents, shared community spaces, a fitness and wellness suite, and community gardens.
Financing to build affordable housing requires complex collaboration. Ilda’s Overlook, a $31.5 million development, makes use of both 9% and 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs) awarded by Virginia Housing; Truist purchased the LIHTC equity, providing more than $16 million in project funding, and provided the construction loan. Virginia’s Department of Housing and Community Development supported the project with a $1.4 million loan from the Virginia Housing Trust Fund as well as $1.9 million from the Housing Innovations in Energy Efficiency program. The Federal Home Loan Bank provided a $750,000 loan, and PNC Bank is the project’s permanent financing lender.
Erickson Senior Living, who recently opened the neighboring 42-acre Woodleigh Chase condominium community for retirees, looks forward to welcoming senior residents from all walks of life. Grimm + Parker Architecture designed the new building and Harkins Builders is the general contractor.
“This is an exciting day and yet another step forward in our efforts to ensure that Fairfax County residents can live and age in our community,” said Lenore Stanton, Chair of the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
Community Impact
“Ilda’s Overlook Senior Residences provides much needed affordable housing for older adults in the Braddock District,” said James Walkinshaw, Braddock District Supervisor, who cited the goal of improving the availability of high-quality affordable housing to older adults with this and other projects.
APAH provides onsite resident services at Ilda’s Overlook, connecting residents to resources and providing programming, events, and opportunities. Residents will enjoy free shuttle service to nearby retail, transit, entertainment, or appointments, an amenity shared with APAH’s Oakwood Meadow Senior Residences property. For more, visit https://www.ildasoverlooksenior.com/.