Planning District Commission Grant Spotlight
Northern Virginia Regional Commission
When Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) Director of Human Services Michelle Simmons first learned about Virginia Housing’s Planning District Commission (PDC) grants, she knew she had struck gold. NVRC had a number of affordable housing projects underway, and the PDC grants were the perfect funding source needed to bring many of them across the finish line.
Virginia Housing announced its PDC Housing Development Program in 2021, allocating $40 million dollars across the 21-member network to support regional approaches to housing projects and program development. The goal is to make it easier for regional and local organizations to collaborate on boosting the affordable housing supply across Virginia, and to strengthen PDCs’ overall capacity for addressing state housing priorities.
“We are in a region that has very strong local housing offices that support strong partnerships,” said Simmons of Northern Virginia. She went on to highlight how local governments quickly put Virginia Housing grant funds to good use.
"Some of our projects had gaps that we needed to fill, and the PDC grants made that possible," said Simmons. "People were ready and waiting to move in, and this money helped us remove some of those final obstacles."
Below, you’ll find snapshots of some of the new housing that PDC grants have made it possible to plan and build throughout Northern Virginia:
Loudoun View Senior Living – Sterling, VA
This property features 88 units of one- and two-bedroom senior housing along with a fitness room and clubhouse. Developer Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing funded construction largely through tax credits, and a PDC grant covered the cost of the sewer and water projects, which were needed to complete the project.
Tuscarora Crossing – Ashburn, VA
This property will add 180 supportive housing units, which are intended for individuals who were formerly facing homelessness, and will be part of a larger development with single family homes and businesses. The PDC grant funded predevelopment work, which included architectural and engineering work as well as interest on a predevelopment loan. Construction is expected to be complete in 2027.
Habitat for Humanity Homes – Groveton, VA
Three different families have closed on loans and moved into these four-bedroom units, which are equipped with solar panels. These homes are part of state-wide community land trust and a PDC grant funded the costs of expanding water and sewer infrastructure.
Seminary Road Townhomes and Flats – Alexandria, VA
The first phase of this project, which will include 15 townhomes, will finish in mid- to late-2025. PDC grant funds have covered predevelopment efforts such as architecture, landscape architecture, site plan submissions and engineering.
Loudoun Habitat for Humanity
Here, a PDC grant funded a factory-built duplex from modular housing manufacturer Cardinal Homes. Grant money was initially used to acquire land, with the remainder going to predevelopment efforts such as stormwater mitigation planning.
Waxpool Apartments - Ashburn, VA
This property, developed by Green Street Housing out of Maryland and Loudoun-based Good Works, will include 39 units, with a PDC grant having funded solar panels that fuel the building’s common areas. Because of this energy source, unit rents won’t have to include fees for lighting these areas. Waxpool Apartments is the first building in Loudoun County to be certified by four independent green building programs:
- 1. National Green Building Standard (Silver);
- 2. Energy Star Multifamily New Construction;
- 3. ZERO Energy Ready Home; and
- 4. Indoor airPLUS.
An aerial view of the Waxpool Apartments.