Image caption: Artist’s rendering of the Melwood-Wesley Inclusive Community, March 2025.
Arlington, VA – Melwood, a leading advocate, innovator, and expert in expanding opportunities for people with disabilities, and Wesley Housing, a premier nonprofit affordable housing developer and supportive services provider, are moving forward with a groundbreaking new development that will position Arlington as a leader in disability-forward, community-inclusive affordable housing.
The Melwood-Wesley Inclusive Community which received site plan approval from the Arlington County Board last week, will transform Melwood’s current building into a five-story mixed-used development featuring 105 affordable housing units—a large portion of which will have a priority preference for people with disabilities.
“This development project is where our region’s affordable housing crisis and the natural evolution of Melwood’s mission meet,” said Larysa Kautz, President & CEO of Melwood. “Today, fewer than one in four adults with disabilities live independently. Most live with their families, often with aging parents, because alternatives are limited, unaffordable, and lack meaningful inclusion. The goal of this community is to meet critical housing needs while also expanding opportunities and inspiring broader change.”
The development project comes as Arlington and the greater Washington-metro region face a severe affordable housing crisis, and as the country at-large struggles with a lack of community-inclusive independent living options for people with disabilities. Twenty-six percent of people in the U.S. have a disability, but less than six percent of housing is accessible. The Melwood-Wesley Inclusive Community meets these challenges by creating housing that is inclusive, accessible and affordable in a highly desirable, transit-accessible neighborhood.
The community is being designed using the Inclusive Design Standards, a set of design recommendations developed by The Kelsey, Mikiten Architecture, and the Inclusive Design Council. Co-created by advocates, developers, and architects and intended to serve as a resource for public and private housing developers nationwide, the Inclusive Design Standards are the current “goldstandard” for disability-forward housing creation.
“When completed, this community will feature best-in-class accessibility features, smart home technology to aid independence, and amenities and services that facilitate community engagement,” said Wesley Housing President & CEO Kamilah McAfee. “Our focus is on creating a welcoming environment for everyone—residents and neighbors alike—while addressing the urgent need for affordable, accessible housing in Arlington.”
The property will also feature 17,000 square feet of ground-level community space and will serve as a new home for Melwood Community Services’ programming, including career exploration, development, and skills building for adults with disabilities.
Melwood and Wesley Housing remain committed to ensuring the development project respects the character and history of the neighborhood. This includes interpretation of the existing Nelly Custis school façade, thoughtful architecture that complements and transitions down in scale to the surrounding area and enhanced open space both at grade and on building terraces.
Construction is expected to begin in 2026, following the finalization of financing and building permits.
Media Contact:
Jewelyn Cosgrove
Vice President, Government and Public Relations
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Claire Stawick
Marketing and Communications Manager
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About Melwood Inc.
Melwood Inc. is a leading innovator, educator, advocate, and expert in expanding opportunities for people with disabilities to work and thrive in the community, as well as a source of critical services for those looking to grow and learn from our best practices. Learn more at www.melwood.org.
About Wesley Housing
Wesley Housing, a leading nonprofit developer in Virginia and the District of Columbia, has worked to provide affordable rental housing for individuals and families for more than 50 years. Since its founding, Wesley Housing has emerged as a premier developer of affordable housing. Wesley Housing currently owns over 3,000 rental units, providing quality housing for thousands of individuals and families each year. Wesley Housing supplements housing with supportive services to build up the lives of more than 4,700 residents, including low- and moderate-income families, older adults, and individuals with disabilities and/or chronic disease. For more information, please visit www.wesleyhousing.org.
