housing | FFXnow

Fairfax mayor advocates for state to clear path for church-based affordable housing

Published February 3, 2026 at 11:45AM | Updated February 3, 2026 at 12:19PM

Fairfax City Mayor Catherine Read speaks at a groundbreaking ceremony for Wesley Housing's Beacon Landing supportive housing project (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A lengthy approval process for an affordable townhouse development motivated Fairfax City Mayor Catherine Read to testify in support of state legislation eliminating a key hurdle to affordable housing on church-owned properties.

State Sen. Jeremy McPike’s (D-29) Senate Bill 388 would let religious organizations develop housing on their land by right, without needing to go through a special exception, special use or conditional use permit or rezoning process that requires public hearings and votes.

News

Fairfax County seeks more feedback on options for accessory housing units

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 3, 2026 at 8:30AM

An accessory living unit designed by Backyard Homes located in Arlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Local residents have until the end of the month to submit feedback on proposed changes to Fairfax County’s rules for accessory living units (ALUs).

“We see ALUs as a valuable tool in the housing toolkit,” Casey Judge, a deputy zoning administrator in the county’s Department of Planning and Development, said in a Jan. 21 online community forum.

News

High-rise apartments, townhomes could replace Tysons Concourse offices

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 2, 2026 at 9:15AM

Berman Enterprises is proposing to redevelop the Tysons Concourse office complex with housing (via VIKA Virginia/Fairfax County)

A Maryland developer wants to build a mix of housing in place of the Tysons Concourse office buildings near the Spring Hill Metro station.

When completed, the development would deliver more than 1,000 new homes across two high-rise apartment buildings and several blocks of townhouses and triplexes, according to a proposal from Berman Enterprises, submitted to Fairfax County on Jan. 23.

Countywide

Fairfax apartment market favoring renters for now, but spring may bring changes

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 2, 2026 at 8:30AM

Lease now sign for the Edmund Apartments at Halley Rise in Reston in winter (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Apartment hunters in Fairfax County are getting better deals than they did a year ago, with prices significantly discounted from the market peak last summer.

Median apartment rents in five major Fairfax corridors all showed declines in January compared to a year before, according to figures reported Jan. 28 by Apartment List. But all remained above the median rate for the D.C. metropolitan area of $2,116 for the month, price-wise.

News

Townhomes on former Rudy’s Golf site to begin construction this year

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 23, 2026 at 9:15AM

A rendering of the Banner Heights townhome development coming to Kingstowne (courtesy EYA)

A longtime destination for local golf enthusiasts will soon give way to Kingstowne’s newest residential neighborhood.

Developer EYA anticipates breaking ground this spring on Banner Heights, bringing 174 townhomes to a 17.4-acre site on South Van Dorn Street that once hosted Topgolf’s original facility.

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Dulles Corner office building eyed for townhouse redevelopment

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 21, 2026 at 11:45AM

Pulte Homes is proposing to redevelop the Park West at Dulles Corner office building with townhomes (via Land Design Consultants/Fairfax County)

The Dulles Corner office park near the Innovation Center Metro station could become one building smaller, if Fairfax County approves a recently submitted redevelopment proposal.

Developer Pulte Homes and property owner Finmarc Management are seeking to replace the four-story Park West building at 13880 Dulles Corner Lane with 145 townhomes, including 81 attached units and 64 stacked units.

News

Fairfax board to consider loosening zoning rules for group homes

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 16, 2026 at 8:30AM

The St. Rose of Lima Priests' Retirement Villa in Annandale was the first congregate living facility approved in Fairfax County under its current zoning ordinance (via Google Maps)

Fairfax County supervisors on Tuesday (Jan. 13) set public hearings for later in the winter to consider expansion of zoning districts where group homes, also known as congregate living facilities, would be allowed.

The proposal also would update nearly quarter-century-old standards for the facilities.

News

Replacement of Dulles Technology Center office buildings with new housing approved

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 15, 2026 at 8:30AM

Mandrake Capital Partners is planning to redevelop two Dulles Technology Center office buildings with the residential development Valley Village Drive (via Hybrid Architecture/Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a rezoning proposal on Tuesday (Jan. 13) that will bring nearly 450 new residential units to a 12-acre site in the McNair Farms area near Herndon.

Dubbed Valley Drive Village, the project will replace two 25-year-old office buildings and surface parking in the Dulles Technology Center complex (13600 and 13650 Dulles Technology Drive), which is located within a half-mile of the Innovation Center Metro station.

Countywide

Fairfax County saw flat home sales, modest uptick in price in 2025, data shows

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 14, 2026 at 1:45PM

Home for sale sign (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Home sales across Fairfax County in 2025 were essentially flat from a year before, according to new data, while the average sales price was up modestly.

A total of 11,780 properties went to closing countywide last year, down 0.1% from 11,787 in 2024, according to figures reported Jan. 12 by MarketStats by ShowingTime.

Countywide

Residents urge Fairfax’s state legislators to ‘seize the moment’ in 2026 session

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 13, 2026 at 2:45PM

Elizabeth Lower-Basch speaks to legislators (screenshot via Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County delegation to the General Assembly heads to Richmond this week with plenty of requests from constituents.

Nearly 100 of them descended on the Fairfax County Government Center Saturday morning (Jan. 10) to make their case on issues ranging from social services to economic development.