FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jewelyn Cosgrove, [email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Melwood and Wesley Housing Applaud Arlington County Leadership for Advancing the Future of Inclusive, Affordable Housing
Arlington, Va. — Melwood and Wesley Housing applaud the Arlington County Board for reaffirming its commitment to inclusive, affordable housing and allowing the Melwood-Wesley community, at the site of the former Nelly Custis School building in Aurora Highlands, to move forward as approved.
In a 4–0 vote, with one member abstaining, at its June 17 meeting, the Arlington County Board declined to adopt recommendations by the Historic Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) to designate portions of the property as historic. In its deliberation, the Board weighed the site’s historic context, the property owner’s preference, and the urgent need for affordable, accessible housing and ultimately determined that the property was not worthy of designation as a local historic district and that moving forward with the approved development best serves the broader community.
The Board’s action preserves the vision it approved in 2025: a groundbreaking affordable housing community designed with and for people with disabilities, creating 105 affordable housing units and approximately 17,000 square feet of new programmatic space to continue the essential work Melwood has provided at this location for more than 40 years.
“We are grateful to the Arlington County Board for standing by a thoughtful, inclusive vision for this site,” said Larysa Kautz, president & CEO of Melwood. “This decision recognizes that affordable housing and accessibility are essential to build a community where everyone belongs. We are eager to begin construction and create a community that will grow with Arlington.”
Understanding that the former school building has meaning for many people in Arlington, Melwood and Wesley remain committed to the architectural interpretation of the original building façade, the onsite relocation of the original flagpole and the installation of an historic marker as reflected in the approved site plan.
The Melwood-Wesley development will provide affordable homes for families earning as little as 30 percent of Area Median Income and approximately 30 percent of residences will have a priority preference for people with disabilities. The community will include family-friendly units and accessibility features that exceed standard requirements, including roll-in showers, wider hallways, and other design elements that support independence and community inclusion.
This development has undergone years of public review, collaboration with the community, and careful consideration by County staff, advisory groups, commissions, neighbors, and the Arlington County Board. More than 20 meetings within the community were held to gather input and feedback, and information collected was incorporated into the development’s design. The County’s decision allows that work to continue and keeps Arlington on the path toward becoming a national model for inclusive housing.
“At a time when affordable, accessible housing is desperately needed, we appreciate Arlington’s leadership in making this a priority,” said Kamilah McAfee, President & CEO of Wesley Housing. “We thank the Board for thoughtfully weighing the merits of the recommendation and for supporting a path forward that brings this community-centered vision to life, consistent with the previously approved vision.”
