The Fairfax City Council approved a developer’s plans to replace the Layton Hall garden style apartments with a 360-unit complex.

Councilmembers, developers, and residents debated on the issue in a five-hour meeting Tuesday evening before the council ultimately approved the plans despite passionate pleas from current residents who resisted the move.

“I hope that the current residents can see that we are doing what we can to keep you in the city,” Councilmember Dan Drummond said. “As many of you know, I’m the son of a single mother, so when I hear those comments they don’t fall on deaf ears.’”

The council raised concerns on everything from affordable housing, to the impact on Accotink Creek, to adequate bike storage.

The current Layton Hall apartments in walking distance from the city’s Main Street are "1960s vintage 3-story walk-up apartments,” said Lynne Strobel, an attorney who represented the developer, Seventeenth Car Layton Hall Limited Partnership.

"We think this will create synergy with the downtown area…and an opportunity to have some more residents that will go to those businesses," Strobel said.

The proposed apartments would be five stories and would include underground parking and a recreation center for residents to include a swimming pool and exercise room.

Citing the concerns of affordable housing advocates, the developer presented the council with plans for 18 of the 360 apartment units to be set aside for those households making ether 80 percent of 70 percent of the area’s median income.

In the city of Fairfax, the median income is about $100,000, said Louise Armitage, human services coordinator for the city, during the council meeting.

Promoting synergy. Like a boss. However, this is a good idea, as we don't need 30 people living in one apartment anymore.

Anderson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Fairfax City Council approved a developer’s
> plans to replace the Layton Hall garden style
> apartments with a 360-unit complex.
>
> Councilmembers, developers, and residents debated
> on the issue in a five-hour meeting Tuesday
> evening before the council ultimately approved the
> plans despite passionate pleas from current
> residents who resisted the move.
>
> “I hope that the current residents can see that
> we are doing what we can to keep you in the
> city,” Councilmember Dan Drummond said. “As
> many of you know, I’m the son of a single
> mother, so when I hear those comments they don’t
> fall on deaf ears.’”
>
> The council raised concerns on everything from
> affordable housing, to the impact on Accotink
> Creek, to adequate bike storage.
>
> The current Layton Hall apartments in walking
> distance from the city’s Main Street are "1960s
> vintage 3-story walk-up apartments,” said Lynne
> Strobel, an attorney who represented the
> developer, Seventeenth Car Layton Hall Limited
> Partnership.
>
> "We think this will create synergy with the
> downtown area…and an opportunity to have some
> more residents that will go to those businesses,"
> Strobel said.
>
> The proposed apartments would be five stories and
> would include underground parking and a recreation
> center for residents to include a swimming pool
> and exercise room.
>
> Citing the concerns of affordable housing
> advocates, the developer presented the council
> with plans for 18 of the 360 apartment units to be
> set aside for those households making ether 80
> percent of 70 percent of the area’s median
> income.
>
> In the city of Fairfax, the median income is about
> $100,000, said Louise Armitage, human services
> coordinator for the city, during the council
> meeting.

yea, he hears them, as he approves the plan.

Why was there even a public debate over some entity's private property?

Also, FWIW, the DC area is projected to reach its apartment unit saturation point in 2014/2015, which might result in lower prices.

..



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/16/2013 05:07PM by Hay Zeus.

Not suprised at this. wow-.

Too bad, these have many memories for those of us who had friends there. They still serve a purpose, however if they are privately owned then so be it.

Peace out, Layton Hell! Good riddance.

A few friends of mine have lived there over the years. The affordability was the initial draw, however, the investments required for pest control services proved one of many drawbacks to Layton Hall's relatively low rent.

Then, there were the loud inconsiderate neighbors who habitually beat their screaming children next door, registered sex offenders living in close proximity, trash-ridden parking lots & not to mention the consistent nauseating odor permeating the hallway.