Building Love of Neighbor
Email Questions or Thoughts to: building@thevineva.org
In 2022 Vine began an intentional process of dreaming about how God is calling us to use our facility and property to fulfill our mission and love our neighbors well.
We walked through seasons of dreaming, listening, learning, and praying – inviting all members of our congregation to connect with their neighbors to learn about the needs of this community, engaging with our community partners & local leaders, and gathering as a church body to pray and discover the ways God is calling us forward.
Through the process, a number of priorities became clear.
- Vine is committed to being a church that serves as a community center loving neighbor through acts of service and a sharing of space that builds relationship and equips service.
- Vine values inclusive and accessible programs, ministries, and facilities – allowing all people to belong.
- Shared outdoor space with the community is a priority. Considering how our property could include walking paths, biking trails, an accessible playground, and gathering space is important to our future.
- Recognizing the unique position of our property and the very real needs of the larger community – Vine feels called to help address the crisis of affordable housing and childcare our neighbors are experiencing.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Have another question for Vine? Want to share your thoughts or feedback? Let us know: building@thevineva.org
- Why is the church pursuing redevelopment? Since 1887 this church community has been in an intentional relationship with the Dunn Loring community. After a long season of listening, dreaming, and learning – we have come to realize our property is uniquely located to serve in more fruitful ways. A new worship/community center and thoughtfully designed green and outdoor spaces would welcome the community and affordable housing and childcare would meet a significant need.Vine has been growing over the last few years and is a healthy, thriving, community of faith. Our solid financial position and growth ignited the beginning of a dreaming process where the church sought to answer the question, “How can we best steward the property and facility we have for the work of loving our neighbors?” Essentially, how do we build into the future with the goal of creating space that will benefit neighbors for the next century? This project is our thoughtful answer to those questions.
- Why has the church focused on affordable housing and child care?Our careful listening and learning has made it clear that affordable housing and childcare are desperately needed in our community. Our unique location on Gallows Road provides an excellent connection to county and communal resources, particularly bike, walk, and metro opportunities.
From Fairfax County’s web site: “With rents continuing to rise and incomes struggling to keep pace – particularly those jobs with low-to-moderate hourly wages – many critical frontline and essential workers are finding it increasingly difficult to find homes in the communities where they work. This includes people working in hospitality, retail, food service, childcare and education, health/public safety, and more.This issue affects us all regardless of whether your personal housing circumstances are threatened. After all, how can Fairfax County be a thriving community if the housing market cannot accommodate the diverse income ranges of the workers needed to support it?”
(You can learn more from Fairfax County HERE.)
- What is the benefit to the immediate community?
- New accessible playground for the neighborhood.
- Bike & walking paths allowing increased outdoor space for neighbors.
- Thoughtfully designed to allow pedestrian and bike connection with Sandberg and Cedar streets. (It is important to Vine that Cedar and Sandberg not become through streets, as we understand our neighbors agree.)
- Ability for church to host more and larger events for community groups (both indoors and out).
- The community’s teachers, police, fire fighters, nurses, skilled trades people could afford to live in Fairfax County.
- Childcare options that meet needs of local community.
- How will this project impact surrounding property values? From the National Association of Realtors (Read More HERE)“There are many misconceptions about affordable housing, the main one being that they decrease property values. A recent study in Alexandria, Virginia has proven that affordable housing actually increases or has zero effect on property value.”
“The Urban Institute recently released an affordable housing case study from Alexandria, Virginia. The results indicate that affordable housing has a positive if not zero effect on property values.‘ Affordable housing units in above-median-income census tracts are associated with a 0.06 percent increase in property values, and affordable housing units in below-median-income tracts are associated with a 0.17 percent increase in nearby property values.’‘Affordable housing units in Alexandria are associated with an increase in property values of 0.09 percent within 1/16 of a mile [one city block] of a development, on average” and “no effect on properties between 1/16 of a mile and 3/16 of a mile.’”
Source: How Affordable Housing Makes Communities Wealthier (California YIMBY, May 18, 2022)
- What might be some of the environmental improvements that could accompany redevelopment?
This project reduces overall traffic issues in Fairfax County by providing housing thoughtfully located near pedestrian, cycling, metro, and other future transit opportunities. It is a step toward reducing the negative environmental impact cars have on the environment. In addition, we are planning an increase in landscaped open space, improved stormwater management, and potentially stream restoration.
- How can we provide our questions and feedback to the church? Vine will advertise additional town hall meetings through our social media channels, as well as notifying surrounding HOA & the DLIA. You can also email any questions or thoughts to building@thevineva.org.
- Why Not Just Tear Down and Build a New Church or relocate elsewhere? With nearly five acres proximate to Metrorail, Vine’s tenets of faith argue for the land to be put towards higher uses to satisfy the needs of the broader community. Since 1887 this faith community has been committed to this neighborhood; our faith now calls us to build into the future here. It is important to the United Methodist Church, and to Vine, to maintain a healthy and growing presence in this growing community.
- How will the project be financed? As is typical of affordable housing projects, the church would lease or sell (e.g., a ground lease, land condominium, sale of development rights) a portion of the church property to an affordable housing developer, who will apply for LIHTC tax credits (federal government program) administered through Virginia Housing to obtain the bulk of the money to build the building. This funding may be augmented by private funds, Fairfax County funds, Amazon funds, and other typical affordable housing funding sources.
- Have you established a relationship with a funding source? Not at this juncture as it is too early in the process. The relationship with a funding source/affordable housing provider would likely not occur until much later in the comprehensive planning process (or following the planning process).
- After development will the property continue to be a single property parcel or will it be subdivided or a portion of it leased? It is too early to know the ownership or lease structure. This will depend upon the financing and negotiation with the affordable housing provider.
- Once the project’s completed, who will own the property? It is anticipated the church will own all or a portion of the property upon completion of the project. This will be dependent upon the financing structure, which has yet to be determined. If it is a ground lease, the church will retain fee simple ownership; if a land condominium, the parcel would be split.
- Who will manage the affordable housing? The church will not manage the affordable housing. As is typical of affordable housing projects, the affordable housing partner would directly or indirectly manage the project.
- What is the mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments?
The church has a desire to designate a substantial portion of the larger units for families (e.g., two- and three-bedroom units). The specific bedroom mix will be determined at the time of zoning application in conjunction with the County, the affordable housing provider, and Virginia Housing.
- Why was the first public townhall held the week the Site Specific Plan Amendment was submitted?
The first phase of the project was a multi-year process where the church engaged its mission by learning, listening, and dreaming. The goal of that process was to come up with a proposal that speaks to the ways the church feels called to build. All members and regular attendees of the church were invited to participate – and many neighbors were included in those conversations as they intersect with the church in mission and ministry. Phase One work continued through January of 2025.The second phase of the project began in February of 2025 by 1) sharing the completed proposal with the church body, and 2) the next day sharing with neighbors specifically invited to a meeting as their property surrounds Vine church. The proposal was submitted by SSPA deadline opening it to feedback from the county and neighbors. This second phase is the step of listening to those not involved in the planning process. Vine takes seriously the feedback process and looks forward to listening both to county leadership and neighbors.
- What transportation impacts will the project bring, and what transportation enhancements are contemplated? A traffic study will be conducted in conjunction with the county process.
- What does the comprehensive planning review process look?
Vine has been given the opportunity to engage an “out of turn” SSPA process and therefore withdrew their application from the standard process in March. Neighbors would like more detailed answers than are available with what is intended to be a high-level perspective step in initial application. Moving to an “out of turn” process will allow Vine to continue to plan and gain specifics – while thoughtfully engaging the community and providing the detailed information they are looking for.You can learn more about the SSPA process on the Fairfax County Web Site HERE.
- Will there be a zoning process after the planning process?
Yes. Information from Fairfax County about how that process works can be found HERE.
- How can we help support this project? First – we are grateful for your thoughtful consideration of the project and your prayers!
- Stay informed & ask questions.
- Help Vine spread accurate information about the project and invite people into thoughtful and respectful conversation.
- Be ready to step out in faith! Join us at Vine any time – and consider getting involved in our community.