The Arlington County Board took several actions Saturday, December 17, 2022 at its regular County Board Meeting, including:  

• The County Board approved an agreement to select Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing, Inc. (APAH) and EYA Developments to develop the infill parcels at Crystal House Apartments. The APAH/EYA team was selected through a competitive national-scale developer selection process and based on the strengths in its proposal, proposed costs, and experience delivering complex affordable housing projects in the County. This selection also took into consideration County goals and priorities, including the plan to create 655 affordable units across all Crystal House parcels. This agreement is the first in a series of project milestones that includes reaching future agreements with the Washington Housing Conservancy and the selected development team (including subdivision, parking sharing, easements, etc.), with the requirement of delivering all affordable units by January 2028.  
  
  In 2020, Amazon secured the land option on development rights for the undeveloped parcels at Crystal House Apartments when it helped the Washington Housing Conservancy (WHC) acquire the property. In 2021, Amazon assigned the option to the County under an agreement to provide a minimum of 554 affordable residential units, of which a minimum of 148 would be for households earning 50% or less of the area median income (AMI). 

• The Board directed the County Manager to prepare a balanced FY2024 budget proposal, while recognizing the challenges of closing an estimated $35 million gap caused by an uncertain revenue forecast and anticipated expenditures/inflationary pressures.  The Board’s guidance directs the Manager provide options for: reducing service delivery, particularly areas that are no longer considered priorities; funding the collective bargaining agreements and an overall compensation package consistent with the County’s Total Compensation Philosophy; funding for affordable housing priorities such as eviction prevention, housing grants and AHIF funding; and to allocate funding for Arlington Public Schools.   
  
  Additionally, the Board directed the Manager to provide programmatic updates with the FY2024 budget focused on commercial resiliency, implementation of stormwater utility fees in FY2025, continued investment into collective bargaining, mental health services, and the advancement of the Community Energy Plan goals, implementation of the Police Practices Group recommendations and the Equity Resolution, and sustainability of long- and short-term rent relief and aid programs.   The County Manager will present his proposed FY2024 budget to the Board in February 2023.  The Board will host a series of work sessions with departments and advisory groups in March 2023. The public will have an opportunity to share feedback on the FY2024 proposed budget and tax rates at the end of March 2023. 

• The Board also approved guidelines and an agreement form for the new Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) grant program.  This new grant program will support community-initiated and / or individual projects related to Arlington’s history, built environment, and heritage, and aligns with the Historic Preservation Master Plan, currently being updated. The HPF seeks to enhance Arlington’s commitment to racial equity, diversity, equity, and inclusion consistent with Realizing Arlington’s Commitment to Equity (RACE), by creating a transparent process and inviting historic preservation projects within Arlington's historic communities of color. The HPF specifically seeks projects that can demonstrate a reach to broader, more diverse audiences and lead to empowerment of community members and stronger connections between the HPP and the people it serves. The HPF will support both capital projects (up to $100,000 with 100% match) and non-capital projects (up to $25,000 without a match) that reinforce the stated goals of the HPMP. Staff will publish an annual summary of funded projects and will reevaluate the types of qualifying projects, and applications will be available January 17, 2023.  

The Board meetings can be viewed in their entirety on the County’s website and YouTube.  

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