Fairfax County Chairman Gerry Connolly’s proposal to use county housing funding to buy foreclosed homes and sell them at a lower cost is beginning to draw criticism from both sides of the political aisle.
Some wonder how the measure can be implemented fairly, economically and effectively, or whether it’s appropriate for the county to inject itself so extensively into the housing market. Connolly, a Democrat and 11th District congressional candidate, proposed the initiative last month as a way to help more families affordto live in Fairfax, and at the same time heal the rippling damage the rash of foreclosures has wrought on neighborhoods.
“The devil here will be in the details,” said Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay. “The concept is not a bad concept, it’s the application of that concept that will matter.”
McKay, a Democrat, said he will support the initiative only if it presents good financial deals for the county, if the properties don’t saddle the county with numerous code violations that need fixing, if the neighborhoods support the purchase, and if the houses aren’t in areas that already have high concentrations of affordable housing. He said the homes should be near good jobs, amenities and communities the county would normally be priced out of.
“There is going to be a very small number of properties that are going to meet that criteria,” he said.
Doug Denneny, one of Connolly’s four opponents in a June 10 Democratic primary, called the chairman’s goals laudable but instead supports a broader tax relief for homeowners. He said the proposal could “set the bar lower for a neighborhood” in terms of home values, and could leave the new owners with unaffordable property taxes once the price climbs.
“Heavy-handed government intervention in the free market sometimes has unintended consequences,” he said.
Montgomery Countyis considering a plan modeled on Connolly’s. The U.S. Senate on Wednesday approved a plan that would give local governments $4 billion to buy and restore foreclosed houses.
The Board of Supervisors ordered county staff last week to formulate a plan on how to use part of a $23 million affordable housing fund to buy the foreclosed homes. Until then, many of the details will remain undetermined.
Supervisor Pat Herrity, a Republican who wants to reroute the fund to other needs, said the county should find other ways to help people move into affordable homes than purchasing units outright.
“I don’t understand the chairman’s fascination with wanting to buy up private property,” he said.
Connolly could not be reached for comment.
