Reevesland Project FAQs

BMCA

REEVESLAND FARMHOUSE PROJECT FAQs

(as of 1/25/2023)

 Editor: Chris Tighe

 

Q: What is the Reevesland Farmhouse?

A: A great history of the historic Reevesland Farmhouse can be found here http://www.boulevardmanor.org/civic-association/history/ And 

https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Projects/Project-Types/Local-Historic-District/Reevesland

Q: Who currently owns the property?

A: Since 2000, Arlington County has owned the property. It is designated as a historical site. 

 

Q: What is planned for the Reeves Farmhouse property? Will the original building be preserved? What else is being built?

A: Habitat for Humanity of Washington, DC & Northern Virginia (Habitat DC-NOVA), L’Arche Greater Washington, DC (L’Arche GWDC), HomeAid National Capital Region (HomeAid NCR), and the Boulevard Manor Civic Association (BMCA) are partnering on an adaptive reuse of the Reeves Farmhouse, currently owned by Arlington County, VA. Habitat DC-NOVA, HomeAid NCR, & L’Arche GWDC (collective, the development team) are developing plans to rehabilitate the existing farmhouse and construct a historically compatible addition for use as a group home.

The planned adaptive reuse of the Reeves Farmhouse envisions historically restoring the exterior of the existing farmhouse and constructing a historically compatible addition to accommodate four to five individuals with intellectual disabilities and their companions/caregivers. The interior of the home will be fully renovated to accommodate current living standards and functionality while increasing its energy efficiency whenever possible. Upon completion, L’Arche would be the owner and operator of the home.

See this link for current presentation.  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eiwpeRIIW4WllxuVXGIJun283ZL-esJ_/view?usp=share_link

Q: How has BMCA been involved in this process? What is the Civic Association role moving forward?

A: BMCA has been involved since 2015 when a member (now a board member) approached a County Board member to raise a vision and an idea to have Habitat DC-NOVA take the property.  After a brainstorming session with Habitat DC-NOVA and the County Board member the idea of a group home for adults with disabilities took hold.  Approx Jan 2017 a BMCA wide meeting was held in which preliminary drawings were shown and engagement started. Once that engagement session happened, in May 2017 the development team contacted the County with an unsolicited proposal for rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the farmhouse as a group home for people with developmental disabilities.  In Feb 2020, a County Board meeting was held in which a letter of intent was passed to convey the property (https://www.arlingtonva.us/About-Arlington/Newsroom/Articles/2020/Agreement-Preserves-Reevesland-Farmhouse-Supports-People-in-Need).  The BMCA President (actually was the individual who first approach the County Board member with the idea in 2015) spoke at that meeting and spoke of the widespread acceptance of the BMCA community to move the plan forward.

Q: Who will be conducting the construction work? 

A: Habitat DC-NOVA and HomeAid NCR (along with Builder Captain Toll Brothers) will lead construction activities.

HomeAid National Capital Region: HomeAid National Capital Region provides safe and dignified housing and programmatic facilities for those experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness by maximizing their relationships within the building industry to garner in-kind donations of labor and materials.

To achieve its mission, HomeAid connects regional builders and housing industry professionals with nonprofits focused on ending homelessness. This connection allows each group to do what they do best. HomeAid’s Builder Captains and Trade Partners donate their expertise, time, and resources to renovate or build homeless shelters, housing facilities, and other non-profit spaces. This generous donation allows organizations to allocate their resources on programming and interventions to work toward sustainably ending homelessness. It’s the ultimate win-win!

HomeAid National Capital Region is the official nonprofit of the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association (NVBIA) and is a chapter of HomeAid America.

For more information, visit: https://homeaidncr.org/ 

Habitat for Humanity of Washington, DC and Northern Virginia: Habitat DC-NOVA serves local families making 30-80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) who are in need of safe, affordable housing. Their homeownership program serves families looking to become homebuyers, and their home repair program serves seniors and adults with disabilities in need of in-home support. They build and complete repairs for individuals in the District of Columbia, Arlington County, Fairfax County, and the Cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax. 

For more information, visit: https://www.habitatdcnova.org/ 

Q: Who is L’Arche and what is their mission?

A: L’Arche Greater Washington, DC will own and manage the property once construction is complete and the County provides a Certificate of Occupancy. L’Arche Greater Washington, D.C. is a community of people with and without intellectual disabilities sharing life together. L’Arche GWDC is part of the L’Arche International Federation. There are over 150 L’Arche communities around the world. The mission of L’Arche is to celebrate the unique value of every person, recognizing and accepting our need of one another and building relationships that transform all of us.

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, L’Arche GWDC provides housing and support services to adults with intellectual disabilities, and serves hundreds of people in the wider community, of many different backgrounds, by offering a place of belonging and growth. Daily life at L’Arche centers on relationships, led by “core members,” the adults with intellectual disabilities who live in L’Arche homes. People come from all over the country and the world to visit L’Arche and learn from core members and the model of mutual care and relationships.

To learn more about L’Arche GWDC, visit: www.larche-gwdc.org

Videos about L’Arche

Testimonials

L’Arche GWDC Annual Reports

Q: What is the approval process moving forward?

A: To move the process forward, the development team must take the following steps:

  1. Receive a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Affairs and Landmarks Review Board (HALRB), which will likely include two meetings with the Design Review Committee and separate meeting of the full HALRB for review and approval. For an overview of that process, visit: https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Commissions-and-Advisory-Groups/Historical-Affairs-Landmark-Review-Board.
  2. Concurrently, the development team must meet fundraising benchmarks for construction expenses.
  3. Once conditions 1 and 2 are met, the property will be conveyed to Habitat DC-NOVA, who will produce detailed construction documents and file for permits. From this point, the project will proceed “by-right,” requiring administrative review, approval, and inspections. 

The development team is responsible for developing architectural plans within the framework established by the County. The preliminary design plans have been developed by Wiencek & Associates. 

This section will be updated as the process moves forward. 

Q: How was this plan developed?

A: The overall plan to turn Reevesland farmhouse into a residence for adults with developmental disabilities started in 2015, when a BMCA Board member approached an Arlington County Board member about bringing in Habitat DC-NOVA to renovate the farmhouse.  Since then, multiple BMCA meetings and County meetings have occurred to discuss and plan.  Unfortunately, 2020 COVID-19 outbreak and ‘shut down’ mothballed plans until now (2023).

Q:Will we receive project updates? How frequently?

A: BMCA Board Member Chris Tighe will be the BMCA POC for this project and will send out BMCA wide messaging weekly on any updates that can be shared.  He will also be updating this FAQ page as new questions come in.  He is involved in a weekly ‘exec stand up call’ that will always include BMCA, members of the development team (Habitat DC-NOVA, HomeAid NCR and L’Arche GWDC) and may involve others (e.g. the County, Construction developers, etc) as warranted.

Q: How can the community participate in the process?

A: There are various ways the community can participate

  1. Make sure you attend the BMCA Quarterly meetings to get in-depth quarterly updates
  2. Donate to L’Arche GWDC or Habitat DC-NOVA with earmarked donations for the project
    1. L’Arche Donation Webpage 
    2. Habitat DCNOVA Donation webpage
  3. Once the development team gets to the point in which volunteers are needed, a community wide call will be made
  4. Help keep the site (once construction starts) secure by reporting any suspicious activity
  5. Volunteer at a local L’Arche GWDC residence in Arlington to learn about residents and L’Arche GWDC programs
  6. Many other opportunities will be presented and BMCA will push those out.

 

Q: Who is going to live at the Reeves Farmhouse once it is complete? 

A: Four-to-five adults with disabilities and at least one fulltime staff member will live at the property.  

 

Q: Will the Reeves park space (sledding hill, community garden) continue to be open to the public?

A: Yes.  BMCA is working with Habitat DC-NOVA to make sure that as much as possible the sledding hill and the Reevesland Learning Gardens will always be open to the public.  Although specific construction phases may place limits on specific areas for safety reasons, every effort will be made to have a minimal impact on the public park area.  Please note though that in certain phases of construction for safety reasons, some access will have to be limited.  BMCA leadership is committed, through constantly working with the development team, and the County, to provide as much advance notice if areas need to be cordoned off for safety purposes.