Northern Virginia lawmakers are being warned that new development plans will likely push out affordable housing in Columbia Pike in Arlington County, Leesburg Pike in Fairfax County and Beauregard in Alexandria.
The Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance issued a report Tuesday calling for new regulations to preserve 11,500 housing units at risk of losing their affordable status.
Local governments have already passed plans to revitalize the three areas in question. Arlington is planning a streetcar and other improvements to Columbia Pike. Alexandria is hoping to update the Beauregard area to keep up with the Mark Center, which will bring in 6,400 military employees every day for work. Fairfax is updating Leesburg Pike around Baileys Crossroads to improve accessibility and aesthetics.
The NVAHA said thousands of affordable homes had been lost already in those areas and that government will have to step in to keep rent prices from skyrocketing for low-income families once redevelopment kicks into gear. The report said 21 percent of affordable housing was lost in Columbia Pike between 2000 and 2009.
