(RECAP: The Charlottesville Board of Architectural Review has partially approved the design of a project to construct a six-tale apartment complex behind two existing buildings on West Main Street. The BAR approved the massing and scale of the project in February and held a preliminary discussion on the design project in July. Two buildings currently on the site will be retained as part of the projects. One is the home of the Blue Moon Diner and the other is a convenience store. Parts of the convenience store will be removed. The project currently features 53 residential units that will be a mix of studios and one- and two-bedroom units. The BAR granted approval of the building’s elevations, materials and colors. Architect Jeff Dreyfus will need to come back with details on windows, handrails, lighting, landscaping and signage before final approval can be granted. A fact sheet provided states the developer hopes to start construction early next year and open the building in the summer of 2018.)

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(RECAP: In a tremendous victory for NMHC and NAA, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) on Sept. 22 introduced legislation to spur the production of multifamily rental homes for America’s working families through a Middle-Income Housing Tax Credit (MIHTC) that complements the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. The apartment industry strongly supports the bill, and we immediately applauded its introduction in a statement, based on our concerns that there is a lack of affordable housing available to millions that comprises the nation’s workforce. For this reason, we worked closely with Senator Wyden to develop his proposal that would make building the needed units financially viable. Specifically, under the “Middle-Income Housing Tax Credit Act of 2016,” states would receive allocations of tax credits that would be distributed competitively to finance 50 percent of the cost of qualifying units.)

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(RECAP: Loudoun supervisors approved on Thursday a major rezoning of the long-stalled Lexington 7 property off Route 7. The rezoning includes 60 acres of proffered plotted office development within the 76-acre property to residential, commercial and industrial park uses, permitting at least 113 age-restricted townhomes, a 125-room continuing care facility, a gas station two drive-through restaurant and a restaurant, and commercial buildings. Ahead of the vote Supervisor Umstattd warned the board that she thought it was a “mistake” to convert a “prime commercial corridor” on Route 7 to residential.)

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