Wesley Housing, in partnership with First Christian Church of Falls Church, embarked on a mission several years ago to construct a new affordable housing community for seniors on the excess land adjacent to the Church. The new development plans to address two of the leading social determinants of health within the Bailey’s Crossroads community – affordable housing and access to health care.
In September 2020, Wesley Housing requested entitlement and zoning approval from Fairfax County for this development, which would require a site plan amendment to The Comprehensive Plan, a guide used by the County to make land use decisions. In the nomination, Wesley Housing proposed to redevelop the land to include up to 113 senior independent living units, up to 5,000 square feet of office/medical spaces to incorporate a health clinic, and the required parking.
Providing access to low-cost or free health care services co-located on the property is an innovative approach to addressing the cross-section of health and housing for our most vulnerable community members.
Over the last year, the project team has worked diligently with the Church and the Culmore Clinic on a design for the clinic and approach for the Comprehensive Plan Amendment process, involving numerous meetings with Fairfax County officials, community stakeholders, and heath and housing leaders.
Earlier this year, the First Christian Church of Falls Church Site-Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) Process application (PC19-MA-001) was added to the 2021 Comprehensive Plan Amendment Work Program, a document that lists all authorized Plan amendments and planning studies. Following a public hearing in February, the Fairfax County Planning Commission held approved the project to move forward to the next stage of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment process.