Posted by Jill Norcross on March 29, 2010 at 19:36:12:
City Council Approves Senior Affordable Housing Project
By George Bromley
Falls Church Times
March 22, 2010
Tonight the Falls Church City Council approved three measures to advance the construction of The
Wilden senior affordable housing project at 350 South Washington Street. All passed by 6-1 vote
with Councilman Nader Baroukh the lone dissenter.
The Council granted the project a special exception for mixed use construction in a commercial
zone, a $2 million, 15-year interest bearing loan, and a real estate tax exemption. The vote in favor
of the 66 unit project is the first step forward in the proposed City Center which has been dormant
since 2008.
Mr. Baroukh cited Falls Church’s difficult financial situation as a reason for his vote. “When we’ll
be talking about a 15 to 20 percent tax increase later this evening it’s irresponsible for the City to
acquire additional liabilities at this time.” He also expressed opposition to stand alone housing
projects, stating that ”our seniors deserve better. They should be integrated throughout the
community, not segregated.”
Councilman Dave Snyder, who frequently votes with Baroukh, did not concur on either point,
saying he saw very little financial risk to the City and that most of the seniors currently residing in
affordable housing units had expressed a willingness to move to the proposed building. “It’s clear
we need something to jump start economic development. I believe this will reduce the tax burden
for everyone due to the changes that have been made in the project. If we don’t do this now we will
look back in two or three years and ask ourselves why we didn’t. I think it’s in the public interest.”
Vice Mayor Hal Lippman, reiterating his concern that Falls Church was becoming an economic
gated community, concurred. ”There’s no question in my mind this is the right thing to do and that
it’s in the best interest of the City.”
Councilman Dan Maller was sharply critical of Mr. Baroukh, attacking his impartiality and stating
that “the project applicant has endured a year or more of incremental NIMBYism”" (i.e., “not in my
backyard}. Mr. Maller subsequently apologized to Mr. Baroukh, who accepted the apology.
Mr. Baroukh’s views did find support from two candidates for City Council. Both Johanna Barry
and Ira Kaylin spoke against approval of the project. Ms. Barry said that she did not see the issue
before the Council as one of moral imperative but of economic development in a difficult time and
the long term financial impacts of the decision.
Mr. Kaylin described the financial transaction as “very expensive to the City and not well
disclosed.” Pointing to the prospect of an 18% increase in property taxes he stated “What about all
the elderly people here who have to pay that tax and who have had their pensions savaged or are on
fixed income. Do they have to leave the City to make way for affordable housing?”
Most other citizens spoke in favor of the project, including Thomas Sawner, owner of the adjacent
property at 360 South Washington. Mr. Sawner, who had previously opposed construction due to
the impact it would have on his building, called it “the right project at the right time