To the editor: A year ago, the Arlington County Board voted to upzone Arlington’s single-family neighborhoods to allow multi-family dwellings of up to six-units by right. A year later, it is more and more apparent the so-called Expanded Housing Options (EHO) rezoning was based on false promises and false premises.
With the program unable to meet its supposed goals of supplying more affordable housing, it’s time to put the EHO program on hold before more damage is done to neighborhoods and Arlington’s tree canopy.
The proposal, originally known as Missing Middle, originated from Arlington’s 2015 Affordable Housing Master Plan. And EHO supporters argued to the County Board that additional housing would be more affordable.
Indeed, today the county government falsely promises on its Website that EHO housing will provide housing that is more affordable for “young adults, who are just starting their careers,” and “public servants in search of mid-scale homes, such as teachers, police officers and firefighters.” Yet a December 2023 Wall Street Journal article revealed that EHO supporters understood affordable housing (by the common understanding of the term) would not be provided by EHO units.
Missing Middle housing being marketed includes townhouses at more than $1.2 million each. Most of the existing homes to be torn down to make way for EHO units had assessed values of less than $1 million.
The more than 40 applications for EHO housing are sprinkled throughout Arlington. Neighbors are objecting to EHO permits because of the impact on traffic, parking and stormwater runoff as well as zoning permits approved in error. Any number of the lots have mature trees with extensive tree canopy.
Before more damage is done to Arlington neighborhoods, the EHO permit process should be halted and the County Board should strengthen real programs – and not make false promises – for affordable housing.
Josh Handler, Arlington
