Media Coverage

The Wesley Housing Development Corporation (WHDC) plans to renovate the Strawbridge Square Apartments at the end of Lincoln Avenue. Kamilah McAfee, the director of development for WHDC, explained these plans at the January 7 meeting of the civic association. She said that WHDC was founded out of a housing ministry of the United Methodist Church.

The Strawbridge Square complex features 128 housing units located on 10.6 acres of land. There are 86 townhouses and 42 garden apartment units. One unit is occupied by an employee and the other 127 have low income tenants receiving subsidies under Section 8 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.

In 1977 WHDC purchased 20 acres of land valued at $372,750 for $1.00 from the Vernon M. Lynch Sons Partnership. WHDC donated 10 acres along Turkey Cock Run to the Fairfax County Park Authority for passive recreation. The property was developed in partnership with the National Housing Partnership and was completed in 1979. In 1997, the leasehold interest in the building and improvements was purchased by AIMCO properties.

WHDC maintained involvement through operation of the Lincolnia Community Resource Center (LCRC), which provides social service programming. The LCRS employs a full-time center director and part-time education intern. LCRS provides an extensive after-school program that provides homework help, intensive reading tutoring, access to computers, monthly field trips, and summer trips. For adults the LCRC offers courses in Computer Training, English for Speakers of Other Languages, Life Skills, and Money Management.

Now WHDC has the opportunity to take control of the ownership and management of the Strawbridge Square property. Ms. McAfee said they have a sales ratified contract and expect to take ownership by June. Ms. McAfee said that the renovations would be certified by EarthCraft, which sets standards for protecting the environment and reducing utility bills.

Extensive site work, including erosion control measures, parking lot paving, concrete work, new retaining walls, dumpster enclosures, improved site lighting and play areas;
Existing LCRC will be expanded to underutilized common areas on ground floor and a storefront entrance will be made prominent;
Existing common laundry room will be expanded and improved;
Exteriors will likely be improved with new roofing, gutters and downspouts, new siding, new windows and doors and extensive repairs to brick surfaces and exterior stairway;
Apartment unit rehabilitation will include kitchen improvements, new cabinets and countertops, kitchen sinks, faucets and new lighting on an as needed basis (estimated at 75 percent of units); and Individual heat pumps, central air conditioning condensers, and hot water heaters will be replaced.