For decades, American Legion Post 177 has been an asset to the City of Fairfax. But now, in order to continue all it does for the local residents, it needs to make some major changes to its facility at 3939 Oak St.
Toward that end, it plans a significant redevelopment that’ll help everyone it serves – and then some. And last Thursday, Dec. 3, it hosted an online presentation to explain its vision for the not-too-distant future.
“We’ve been in the City for 75 years, and we have about 1,000 members involved in our community,” said the post’s Hank Waters. “We’ve also been involved with [adjacent] Chilcott Field, the Fairfax Little League and Challenger Baseball for 60 years.”
But, he added, “Our building is really old and no longer supports our mission well. And there’s no handicap access between the floors, which makes it difficult for disabled veterans.”
So the plan for a complete redevelopment will renovate and enlarge the existing, 12,000-square-foot building to 17,523 square feet and add three floors of brick-exterior, affordable housing above and to the back of the current structure.
THE PROPOSAL also includes market-rate, two-over-two townhouses, a park, 34.5 percent open space and a $1 million overhaul and modernization of Chilcott Field.
The project is a collaboration between the American Legion, Toll Brothers and Post 177 Apartments LLC (Good Works) – which will develop the affordable/workforce housing. “We’re leasing this property from the post,” explained Kim Hart of Good Works. “And after 30 years, ownership will revert back to the post for income.”
Noah Hale, director of TM Associates, which manages and develops affordable housing, assured meeting attendees that the multifamily apartments won’t be “subsidized or cheap” housing. The 76 units are mainly geared for working people, with 25 percent set aside for veterans. Nine will be fully handicap-accessible, and the building, itself, will feature elevators and underground parking.
“A two-bedroom unit will rent for about $1,200 and will be at 60 percent AMI [area median income],” he said. “And all the apartments will be the same quality as the market-rate homes. There’ll also be fitness centers, computer labs and other, onsite amenities, including a tot lot.” Of the approximately 111 underground parking spaces, 76 will be for the residents and the rest for the post.
As for the 66 stacked townhouses, Scott Tressler with Toll Brothers said they’ll all be three-bedroom, 2-1/2 baths, with parking for one car in the garage and one car on the driveway. The lower units will be 1,125 square feet, and the upper units will be 2,456 square feet.
“We expect them to sell from the high $500,000s to the mid $600,000s,” he said. “We consider them luxury affordable homes for young professionals and move-down empty-nesters.”
Two Oak Street entrances are planned – one for the American Legion and one for the residents. Post 177 will still have the same amount of parking it does currently – 139 spaces, and Chilcott Field will retain its 40-90 spaces.
Ken Wire, a zoning attorney and member of the American Legion, spoke on behalf of all the applicants. “Everything is within walking distance to bus stops and stores, and we’ll connect the sidewalks on both sides of our project,” he said. “We’ve had a tree survey done and will keep as many of those overhead trees as we can. We think only three or four will have to be removed because they’re unhealthy and unsafe.”
REGARDING CHILCOTT FIELD – which currently has no amenities – its new stadium will have bleachers with an elevator, concession stands, restrooms and a press box. Wire said the stormwater management there will also be improved. He noted, as well, that the nearby, multi-use project being built on the former Paul VI High School site will also contain 60 spaces for the ballfield to use.
Hart said one parking space per affordable-housing unit is sufficient because “Most renters will either be single people or a mom and a couple children.” The apartments will be a mix of studio, one, two and three bedrooms,
The project hasn’t been approved, yet. It will still undergo further scrutiny and review by Fairfax City staff, Board of Architectural Review, Planning Commission and City Council. Then would come the permit process, site inspections and construction.
Therefore, said Wire, “It probably won’t be completed until three years from now. We still have a lot of work to do with staff, but we wanted to give you an update.”
“This is about supporting the American Legion’s mission, our youth and the community,” added Waters. “And we hope you’ll see that this is a true value to the City.”
