• 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.
  Additional Information:
  “”DMV teachers face challenges affording to live where they work: Report,” May 27th 2025, WJLA ABC 7 News
  “Local commission warns of affordable housing and cost of living crisis in Northern Virginia,” Fairfax Times, Jan 24, 2025

• 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 as best as possible. (Please share any contacts with us!) 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 can I get into affordable housing? I’m struggling to keep up with my rent and can’t find any reasonable options anywhere nearby.We have been asked this a lot since we began exploring this project. We recognize the need and the feeling of fear that can accompany it.We encourage you to visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/housing/findinghomes. While waitlists are currently closed and the demand is great, this is the best way to learn about when waitlist or leasing opportunities become available.

• Concern: How long will this project take? We need affordable housing options as soon as possible.We too have learned that affordable housing is desperately needed in our neighborhood. We are not rushing the process, however. You can learn more about our timeline on our website (thevineva.org/building).In the fall of 2025 we are at the step where we are interviewing potential affordable housing developer partners so we can move this project from concept, to detailed plans. Those plans would then be submitted to the county, up for community discussion, and ultimately voted on by the Board of Supervisors.Because of the number of steps ahead of this project, we can’t faithfully answer a question on timing. We do commit, however, to keep our neighbors updated through quarterly townhalls and our web site.

• Concern: Will this project lower surrounding property values?Significant research has shown that not to be true.“Stable, affordable housing provides benefits to both people with low incomes and local economies overall. Despite these benefits, property owners who live near proposed affordable housing developments often oppose such projects, citing fear that the developments will cause their property values to decline. However, empirical research provides little evidence that subsidized housing depresses neighborhood property values.” – Urban InstituteThe above quote comes from a study done in Alexandria, VA. It, like many others across the country, actually demonstrate a slight increase in property values following the addition of affordable housing.

• Concern: People who rent do not invest in the community or care for the property.Residents of affordable housing tend to stay longer when housing is stable and located near work, schools, and transit. Vine believes that our location on Gallows Road, proximity to metro, coming bus rapid transit, Tysons, Mosaic, & INOVA grounds this development in a stable and thriving area that is well suited for it.

📌 Bottom line: Affordable doesn’t mean unstable. It means livable for working families and seniors who are otherwise priced out.

• Concern: Affordable housing isn’t right for this neighborhood.
  • Modern affordable housing is architecturally indistinguishable from market-rate housing.
  • Many communities are already de facto economically exclusive due to high housing costs—not by design but by zoning.

📌 Bottom line: Diversity in housing supports diversity in people—and thriving communities are inclusive, not exclusive.

 “Mounting problems of housing affordability, inequality, and climate change have shown that the American Dream has become increasingly unreachable, inequitable, and unsustainable for many families and the planet. Efforts by states and localities to end single-family zoning and legalize more diverse housing options can reverse this course—while also creating more vibrant, healthy, socially just, and prosperous neighborhoods. Transformation of zoning, in other words, can lead to a transformation of places.” – Brookings

• Concern: Our schools can’t handle it.
  • Vine’s affordable housing proposals is modest in scale and adds fewer students per household than market-rate housing.
  • The Board of Supervisors will take this question into consideration as they consider Vine’s proposal. 
• Concern: We bought our home here because we like the neighborhood as is and we do not want it to change.We understand and recognize that we are proposing a change to your neighborhood; our desire is to initiate that change thoughtfully and responsibly. Change is really hard. We not only acknowledge that, we understand it. This project is hard work for Vine and comes only on the other side of years of prayer and conversation in our community. We believe that the imperative to love our neighbors, and be part of solutions that benefit everyone, is at the core of who we are. We also believe that this project does not do harm to current neighbors. We are hopeful that continued conversation and learning will help all of us grow in understanding and knowledge about not only the problem, but the opportunity to be part of a solution.
  • One neighbor said to Pastor Katie, “We were not initially in favor of this project; it is not what we imagined in our back yard. However, we have come to consider the truth that our home and this current neighborhood was at some point someone else’s uncomfortable change too.”
    That neighbor then shared some of her specific concerns and asked how we might be able to address them in our proposal.
    We are thankful for that dialogue and look forward to more.
  • We believe all communities must share in addressing housing needs. Often, affordable housing is concentrated in just a few neighborhoods. Expanding it into single-family areas promotes economic equity and reduces segregation.

📌 Bottom line: Everyone benefits when all communities contribute—not just a few.

•   Concern: Who benefits from this project? Who is this project for?

We believe the entire community benefits from this project!

• Long Term Success of Area: Affordable housing not only provides needed housing, it benefits the long-term success of the area by adding space for people on the growing edge of new training, technology, and ideas. Without housing opportunities for people across a span of economic means, communities miss out on the diversity of ideas and experiences that lead to strength.There is significant research demonstrating that mixed housing opportunities make communities more resilient to economic shifts and it allows a community to continue to thrive into the future. (See Bibliography)

“Urban resilience refers to the capacity of urban systems to absorb, recover, and prepare for future shocks (economic, environmental, social, and institutional). Affordable housing is not just about providing shelter; it’s about creating a robust framework within which communities can thrive even in times of adversity.” – Homesight.org

“Just as biodiversity in the natural environment creates healthy, resilient habitats, housing diversity in the built environment creates strong, enduring communities.” – Torti Gallas & Partners

• Shared Green Space: The green space around the church and building unit will be thoughtfully designed to allow for walking or biking trails, time spent in nature, and access to accessible playground where all are welcome.

In addition, Vine’s community center style church building and community-focused ministry will continue to benefit many! We look forward to this project increasing the amenities of the neighborhood – and creating thoughtful space where people can gather, share, and serve.

•  Concern: Can neighbors use the improved green space, trails, and playground – or is it only for church members or residents of affordable housing unit?

Yes! This is imperative to Vine’s vision Our singular goal is to live out our love of God by loving our neighbors – all of our neighbors. We believe the best use of the space we have on Gallows Road is to share it more thoughtfully with those who already live here, and those who would benefit from living here. All are welcome.

•  Concern: What is the demand for affordable housing in our area?

We have learned that the demand for affordable housing in our community is both substantial and urgent. With nearly half of renter households facing significant cost burdens, the workforce and younger generation (in particular) face the inability to live within a reasonable distance of where they work, and where the larger community needs services.

 “45% of renter households in Fairfax are paying more than 30% of their income on housing—a common benchmark for cost burden.” – Housing&

• A 2019 strategic assessment noted that there is a current shortage of over 30,000 units of affordable housing in our community.
• Fairfax County aims to create 10,000 new affordable housing units by 2034

 “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?” – Fairfax County

•  Who benefits from this project? Who is it for?

Everyone. Affordable housing benefits the entire community, not just the residents who live in it.

• It helps workers, young people, and families stay near jobs and schools.
• It supports long-term community success by including people with diverse incomes, backgrounds, and experiences—which leads to innovation, resilience, and growth.

“Just as biodiversity in the natural environment creates healthy, resilient habitats, housing diversity in the built environment creates strong, enduring communities.”
– Torti Gallas & Partners

•   Will the green space, trails, or playground be open to everyone—or just for residents?

Yes—these will be open to everyone.
This project is rooted in Vine’s vision to share space with our neighbors, not wall it off. We want Gallows Road to be a place where people gather, play, rest, and connect—whether they already live here or hope to.

•  Is affordable housing actually needed here?

Yes—and urgently.

• 45% of renters in Fairfax County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
• There is a shortage of over 30,000 affordable units, with the county aiming to build 10,000 more by 2034.

“How can Fairfax County thrive if the housing market can’t support the workers who sustain it?”
– Fairfax County Strategic Plan

•   How do people apply for affordable housing?

Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/housing/findinghomes
There, you can sign up for updates when waitlists reopen or units become available.

•  How long will this project take?

We are currently interviewing developer partners (Fall 2025).
Next steps:

• Design & planning
• County review & community input
• Board of Supervisors vote

We don’t have a precise timeline yet, but we commit to quarterly town halls and website updates to keep you informed.

•  Concern: Will Affordable Housing Make the Neighborhood Less Safe?

What We Know:

Decades of academic research show that affordable housing does not increase crime. In fact, in many cases, it reduces crime.

“Affordable housing either decreases or does not affect crime rates. Violent and property crime tends to go down in lower-income neighborhoods after new housing is built. Rates of domestic violence also fall. Overall, there is no evidence that affordable housing increases crime.”
– Bell Policy Center

📚 Sources:

• Bell Policy Center
• UC Irvine Study
• National Low Income Housing Coalition

•   Concern: Affordable housing is desperately needed for many reasons, including environmental impact. Exclusive single family zoning creates car-dependent neighborhoods and increases traffic and emissions.

As a church community we share this concern and became more aware of it as part of our learning and engaging community partners and county leadership over the last few years – in addition to research.

“Residential segregation results in a disproportionate distribution of environmental health burdens along racial lines. Across all kinds and colors of neighborhoods, single-family zoning maximizes land consumption for housing, creating car-dependent neighborhoods with greater travel distances, more car trips, more traffic, and more emissions. Consequently, these neighborhoods’ social realm shifts from public spaces like sidewalks to private spaces like yards, with a corresponding decrease in social capital. “ – Brookings

•  Concern: Will This Cause More Traffic?

What We Know:

🚗 This is a valid and shared concern. A traffic study will be conducted as part of the process, and traffic impact will be taken into account.

•  Concern: Will This Change the Feel of the Neighborhood?

What We’ve Heard:
Some neighbors hope this section of Gallows Road remains single-family homes only.

Our Perspective:

🏙️ While we understand the desire to preserve neighborhood character, restricting all development limits community access to:

• Public transit (Metro, Bus Rapid Transit)
• Local economic hubs (Tysons, Mosaic, INOVA)
• Public amenities and investments

🌳 We believe in adding value to the neighborhood with:

• Accessible playgrounds
• Walking and biking trails
• Benches and shared open spaces
• Well designed space that fits the feel and improves the look of the neighborhood

•  Concern: Will Cedar Street Be Connected to Sandberg?

What We Know:

🚫 It is Vine’s priority to prevent this connection.
Vine has heard our neighbors and is committed to preventing this connection to avoid through-traffic from entering the neighborhood behind Vine Church. Our proposal does not include any drivable connection.

•  Concern: Is Affordable Housing Helpful or Harmful to Low-Income Families?

What Research Shows:

🏡 When done right, affordable housing is a stepping stone to stability — not a trap.

Without it, families often face:

• High housing costs
• Instability or homelessness
• Barriers to escaping poverty

Benefits of Affordable Housing:

• Improved financial security
• Better physical & mental health
• Higher educational outcomes
• Increased access to jobs and services

📚 Learn more:

• Why Housing Matters – NLIHC
• Community Benefits – United Way
• Impact Report – Home For All SMC

•  Concern: Vine isn’t listening to the community.

Our Perspective:

We Hear You — Even When We Don’t Fully Agree

We’ve heard from some neighbors who feel strongly that there should be no change to our property, or who feel unheard when their desire for “no change” or “not here” is not reflected in the path forward.

We want to acknowledge that change is difficult, and it’s completely valid to feel concerned, frustrated, or even skeptical. Feeling heard is not the same as being agreed with — and we know that can be hard.

Our commitment is to listen well, to hear both the specific concerns of those who prefer little or no change, and also the needs of the broader community who may benefit from greater access to housing, services, and opportunity.

Even when we don’t all come to the same conclusion, we can move forward with mutual respect, transparency, and a shared goal of strengthening our community.

 •  Concern: Vine is listening to people who aren’t neighbors.

What We’ve Heard:
Some believe that only those living directly around the church—or on nearby streets—should be considered “neighbors” whose voices matter in this conversation.

Our Perspective:

We deeply value the input of those who live closest to this property. Your perspective is essential, and your concerns are taken seriously.

👥 At the same time, our understanding of neighbor is rooted in a broader, Biblically inspired calling: to see all people as our neighbors. We also recognize the many people who are part of our daily lives, yet may not have the same access to housing in our community.

These include:

• The teachers and county staff who educate & serve our children
• The EMTs, nurses, and hospital staff who care for our families
• The workers who maintain our homes, drive our buses, and keep our community running

These neighbors are already present in our lives—working on our streets, in our schools, and in our homes. But too often, they cannot afford to live here.

We believe that building thoughtfully planned affordable housing is a way to extend opportunity, dignity, and belonging—not just to those who are already here, but to those who already serve here every day.

🏘️ Our goal is simple: to expand the circle of community without shrinking the quality of life for anyone.

•  Concern: Vine is engaging this project for the single purpose of making a profit.

What We’ve Heard:
Vine is selling part of its property as a means to raise money to build something bigger and better for themselves.
💡 Let us be clear: this project is not about profit; it is about loving the community and bettering the neighborhood.

Vine Church is financially healthy and stable. Instead of developing our property by other means we’ve chosen a more collaborative and service-oriented path. No “profit” is anticipated.

Our vision includes:

• A new church and community center
• An accessible, inclusive playground
• Open, welcoming grounds for walking, biking, and gathering

We’re partnering with an affordable housing developer through a land lease—not a sale. The anticipated developer (an independent entity) will build and manage the housing.

🏗️ Our goal: To be a blessing to the neighborhood and meet real, present needs.

 •  Concern: Will this lower nearby property values?

No.
Studies—including one in nearby Alexandria, VA—show that well-managed affordable housing has no negative impact on surrounding property values. In some cases, it slightly increases them.

“Empirical research provides little evidence that subsidized housing depresses neighborhood property values.”
– Urban Institute

•  Concern: Single-family zoning keeps traffic low and our air clean. Why change it?

In fact, exclusive single-family zoning creates more traffic and emissions by forcing car-dependence.

“It maximizes land use, increases travel distances and emissions, and reduces public gathering spaces and social capital.”
– Brookings Institution

•  Concern: Is affordable housing right for this neighborhood?

Yes. Affordable housing today is:

• Architecturally indistinguishable from market-rate housing.
• Designed with care, sustainability, and community in mind.
• A way to ensure our neighborhood remains inclusive, not exclusive.

“Transformation of zoning can lead to transformation of places—into vibrant, equitable, and sustainable communities.”
– Brookings

•  Concern: We bought our home here because we liked the neighborhood as it is. We don’t want it to change.

We hear you. Change is hard.

• This project came only after years of prayer, discernment, and conversation. We believe loving our neighbors includes creating space for them.
• One neighbor told Pastor Katie:

“At first, we didn’t want this. But then we realized—this neighborhood was once someone else’s uncomfortable change too.”

📌 Bottom line: Everyone benefits when all communities do their part. Let’s be part of the solution.