It’s been two years since Wesley Housing acquired the affordable Parc Square Apartments complex in Arlandria, and repairs have proved more extensive than anticipated.
On Tuesday night, City Council approved (without discussion) a $291,300 loan to the affordable housing community for the partial renovation of eight units in the five-building, 66-unit complex.
The garden-style buildings were built in the 19040s, and are scattered between 525 and 527 Four Mile Road, 604 Notabene Drive and 3906 – 3812 Old Dominion Boulevard.
Wesley Housing owns a number of properties in Arlandria.
Kamilah McAfee, president and CEO of Wesley Housing, wrote Council that repairs needed at the properties “far exceeded expectations.”
“Due to unforeseen construction issues and high turnover, eight units remain offline with $207,000 in rehabilitation costs necessary for interior repairs, and up to $84,300 in costs for essential structural repairs, for a total funding request not to exceed $291,300,” McAfee wrote.” Leaks were discovered in the ground plumbing along with sewer backups when improvements began. This required in-unit excavation in multiple buildings to repair and replace pipes. Other problems included ground erosion and mold found in basement units (stemming from the plumbing issues).”
According to the City:
The property serves as an important housing resource in Arlandria Chirilagua, a neighborhood that continues to face pressure on its housing market due to its proximity to National Landing, Potomac Yard, Amazon HQ2, and surrounding higher-income neighborhoods…
The property changed ownership a few times over the decade before Wesley Housing’s purchase, with prior owners making predominantly cosmetic improvements and raising rents. Wesley Housing acquired Parc Square in early 2022 with a Housing Equity Fund Loan from Amazon, and a subordinate loan from another mission-focused lender. Wesley’s intent was to preserve long term affordability with non-City resources, as well as create the opportunity to facilitate a future assemblage for redevelopment.
