What's Hot: Lidl Grocery to Open at 700-Unit Tenleytown Development | Above Asking: A $500,000 Premium in Chevy Chase
Affordable Housing is Dwindling in Arlington

Arlington is running out of affordable housing, according to the recently-released results of a three-year study.
The study, which was first reported on by ARLNow, found that the county’s housing market is no longer creating affordable homes and will require government investment to keep low- and very low-income residents housed.
The report looked at affordable housing in the county generally. Housing is typically considered affordable if a family puts no more than 30 percent of their income toward housing. The study more specifically looked at market-rate affordable housing, which is housing owned by for-profit landlords offered at rates affordable to people making 60 percent of the county’s area median income. This measure basically answers the question: Can a person making a modest wage look for a rental apartment and find one that’s affordable without going through government channels?
In Arlington, the answer to that question may soon be no. Market-rate affordable housing has declined “precipitously” since 2000, the report found, and may run out entirely in the next five years. Home prices have gone up in the county as well, the report noted: Between 2000 and 2013, prices went up by 140 percent on average and rent rose 91 percent. At the same time, 13,500 affordable housing units in Arlington were lost, mostly to rising rent.
The study will form the basis of a master plan to provide more affordable housing based on the county’s housing goals. A draft of the master plan suggests that one way of increasing affordable housing, by allowing developers to apply for bonus density on their projects, will continue and may even be made larger in the coming years to help finance affordable housing. The program lets developers build larger buildings in exchange for contributing affordable housing to their projects.
“Bonus Density has proven to be an effective tool for producing affordable housing in the County,” the draft notes. It advises that the county “consider raising or removing the limits on bonus density above 25 percent (or 0.25 FAR)” and take other steps to evaluate, streamline and take best advantage of the bonus density program.
See other articles related to: arlington, affordable housing, affordability
This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/affordable_housing_is_dwindling_in_arlington/9619
Most Popular... This Week • Last 30 Days • Ever

DC's homebuyer assistance programs can be a bit complex. This edition of First-Timer ... read »

A look around DC to see where home sellers are dropping their prices.... read »

The grocer has announced plans for other stores in Skyland and Columbia Heights.... read »

The new five-level residential project is planned for the buildings at 1365-1375 H St... read »

There are two main things happening in the housing market for this upper NW DC neighb... read »
- First-Timer Primer: DC's Home Buyer Assistance Programs
- Where Are Home Sellers Dropping Their Prices in DC?
- Lidl to Open Its Third DC Location at New 700-Unit Tenleytown Development
- A 50-Unit Development is Pitched For Recognizable Buildings Along H Street
- The Fastest Moving Prices in DC: The Palisades Market, By the Numbers
DC Real Estate Guides
Short guides to navigating the DC-area real estate market
We've collected all our helpful guides for buying, selling and renting in and around Washington, DC in one place. Visit guides.urbanturf.com or start browsing below!
First-Timer Primers
Intro guides for first-time home buyers
Unique Spaces
Awesome and unusual real estate from across the DC Metro