Digging in are (from left) Gerry Connolly, Henry Brinton, Catherine Read, former Fairfax Mayor David Meyer, Del. David Bulova (D-11) and Sen. Saddam Salim (D-37).
Ten affordable homes will be built on land donated by Fairfax Presbyterian Church in Fairfax City. And church members and dignitaries alike gathered there recently to break ground on this humanitarian project. Attendees included U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, Del. David Bulova, Sen. Saddam Salim and former Sen. George Barker.
“Behind me is the church, celebrating its 70th anniversary this weekend,” said its pastor, Henry Brinton. “To my right is the parking lot, where the townhomes will be built. It’ll be called Glebe View, because of the beautiful view of our glebe garden area that 10 worthy families will enjoy.”
Many of the church members had long wanted to increase the community’s stock of affordable housing. They saw it as one of the most critical interventions that could be made in the lives of neighbors in need. And seven years ago, they began working toward this goal in earnest.
“Dozens of church members quickly jumped on board and began contributing their time, energy and expertise,” said Brinton. “Key leaders were Jerry Hopkins and Peg and Andy Blomme. Then my longtime friend, Colin Smith, called to ask if any Presbyterian project needed a real-estate attorney to do pro bono work, and he’s provided excellent counsel to us.”
The Glebe View team contacted potential partners – Homestretch, Habitat for Humanity and HomeAid – which decided to work together. And both Providence and Burke Presbyterian contributed volunteers and made significant monetary gifts. Then an anonymous donor offered a matching grant of $200,000 to help build the homes. Church members and friends, plus a grant from the Kaiser Permanente Foundation, met and exceeded the match, raising more than $500,000.
However, said Brinton, “The political process took years, and it was never certain that Glebe View would become a reality. Andy Blomme worked with Dorothy Sorrell and Judy Fisher to organize a neighborhood education effort. Meetings and open houses were held, and relationships were deepened with Fairfax City’s mayor, staff and council members.
“We were truly blazing a trail, since this kind of project had never before been done in the City. I thank everyone who worked with us, especially former Mayor David Meyer. When we finally testified in front of the Planning Commission and City Council, the votes to approve were unanimous. And today, what better way to celebrate this church’s 70th anniversary than to break ground on a project that will serve our neighbors for another 70 years?”
Speaking next was Heather Deacon of the National Capital Presbytery, which made the church’s land donation possible. “The passion and the calling to impact your community has been nothing short of inspiring [in] the way you’ve responded to God’s call to help those in need,” she told Brinton. “It’ll be remembered not just by those who reside in the townhomes, but by all those whose lives are touched by this project. Thank you for all your work, vision and action.”
U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly said he’s tried for 30 years to get churches to donate some of their land for affordable housing. “As a strong, affordable-housing advocate, God bless the Presbyterians for what they’re doing,” he said. “We live in the third-most-affluent congressional district in the country, as measured by median household income. But we have some of the highest housing costs in the country – and that means affordability goes further and further out of reach for a lot of working men and women, and homelessness starts to grow again.”
However, he said, those trying to solve this problem are actually “living our faith, not just preaching about it. Today, we’re celebrating a community of faith doing precisely that. And this project’s ramifications will be a clarion call to other faith communities to replicate and emulate it.” He then praised Fairfax City for helping make it possible.
“When I first got elected [to Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors in 1995], Fairfax City resisted everything we tried to do for the homeless,” said Connolly. “They didn’t want to see or help them, and they wanted to close The Lamb Center [a daytime shelter] – their lifeline.
“Contrast that with the last few years with Mayors David Meyer and Catherine Read and Councilmembers Tom Ross and Jeff Greenfield. They asked me to get an earmark for The Lamb Center, and we did. We’re [now] going to build 54 affordable-housing units in conjunction with The Lamb Center, thanks to Fairfax City. And they’re here today, celebrating this project and what it’ll do.”
Next, Read said, “This is an amazing day and the culmination of a struggle over so many years.” Besides Meyer and Ross, she also acknowledged Councilmembers Joe Harmon, Sang Yi, Janice Miller, Jon Stehle and So Lim, for approving the townhouses. And Read noted it took five years for Council to decide to support Glebe View.
“It’s easy to say no to things, because then no one can blame you if things go wrong,” she explained. “It takes real courage to do something other people haven’t done before. You put yourself out on a limb, and I’m proud that our City can embrace what this project means, not just [locally], but to this region and commonwealth.”
“Building affordable housing doesn’t make sense in this region if you have to pay for the land,” continued Read. “The land is what makes housing here so expensive. When a church says, ‘We’ll give you the land,’ and partners [unite] to build the structure – and other financing comes in to help put it together and operate it – this is the best of what government and community collaboration has to offer. I hope, going forward, people will point to our City and to Glebe View and say, ‘Look what they’ve done; we can do it, too.”
Kristyn Burr, CEO of nonprofit HomeAid National Capital Region, said she was thrilled that so many organizations joined together to solve and address “a critical need to provide healthy, dignified spaces” for lower-income families. And she stressed that Fairfax Presbyterian’s generous land donation “speaks to the kindness of your congregation and the leadership within your church.”
Noting that all the project’s participants have dedicated their resources “to show you truly care about helping house our neighbors,” Burr told them, “We appreciate your support and are excited to move forward.”
Then Susanne Slater, president/CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia, said how proud her organization was to be part of “this innovative housing partnership. Homeownership is proven to help families build wealth, stability, resiliency, educational success and civic engagement that’s then passed down through generations.”
Furthermore, she said, “We’re pleased to work alongside Homestretch to provide supportive rental housing as part of this project. Communities can only be successful when housing providers meet diverse needs. Through both rental and ownership opportunities, more families will have the chance to thrive.”
Pleased, as well, was Homestretch Executive Director Barfonce Baldwin. “What a special and joyous day this is, filled with hope, progress and possibility,” she said. “We’re not just breaking ground on a construction project, we’re breaking ground on a future where more families will have a safe, affordable place to call home in the City of Fairfax.”
Saying Fairfax Presbyterian’s “vision, faith and commitment to serving our community made this project possible,” she added, “Today we celebrate what we can accomplish together when we unite our hearts and resources for the common good.”
“The need for affordable housing in this area is immense,” continued Baldwin. “Far too many families find themselves on the brink of homelessness, living paycheck to paycheck, or forced to make impossible choices between rent, food and other basic needs. That’s where our collective mission begins.
“By working together, Homestretch, HomeAid, Habitat and Fairfax Presbyterian Church aren’t just providing housing. We’re building hope and laying the foundation for a future where everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has a place to call home. Let’s continue to strive toward a vision where housing isn’t a privilege, but a human right. And let today’s groundbreaking be a symbol of the transformative power of partnership, compassion and action.”