Historic Reevesland Property Transferred to Habitat for Humanity
Published on July 25, 2024
On Monday, July 22, 2024, the Arlington County Board approved an agreement to convey the Reeves Farmhouse to Habitat for Humanity of Washington, DC, and Northern Virginia (Habitat DC-NOVA), concluding a decades-long process. The historic property will be preserved and rehabilitated to convert its residential portion into a shared living home for individuals with developmental disabilities.
"After a decades-long process to find a purchaser for this historic site, we are delighted that the property will be repurposed to serve our developmental disability community,” Board Chair Libby Garvey said. “County staff has received overwhelming support from the community on the project. This outcome is a model example of our values and priorities, and of the magic that can happen when the County and community come together.”
Expands Housing for Residents with Developmental Disabilities
Once the renovations are complete, L’Arche Greater Washington, D.C. (L’Arche GWDC), a non-profit residential service provider for adults with intellectual disabilities, will serve as the long-term owner and operator of the home.
Habitat DC-NOVA, in partnership with HomeAid National Capital Region (HomeAid NCR), will complete rehabilitation of the farmhouse, restoring the existing kitchen and living space, reconfiguring the second floor to make it more ADA-accessible, and constructing a first-floor addition to allow for new bedrooms and bathrooms.
The Board also approved the allocation of up to $2.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to support the adaptive reuse of the farmhouse. CDBG is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program that enables localities to provide funding for projects that will address housing and community development needs for low- and moderate-income individuals and families.
“Arlington County’s 2022-2026 Consolidated Plan identifies affordable, permanent supportive housing for people with disabilities as a critical need,” said Housing Division Chief Anne Venezia. “The Reeves Farmhouse adaptive reuse project will enable Arlington to further its Consolidated Plan goals by providing housing to a population that has very few affordable housing options.”
Arlington's Department of Human Services (DHS) has appreciated a longstanding collaborative partnership with L'Arche GWDC for nearly 20 years as a residential provider operating two Arlington-based group homes that support individuals with autism and intellectual disability.
“Acquisition of the Reeves Farmhouse opens up an opportunity for four more adults with developmental disabilities to call L'Arche home, most of whom would be placed outside of the County due to limited group home availability in Arlington,” said Developmental Disabilities Bureau Chief La Voyce Reid. “Simply put, this opportunity means a place called home for some of our most treasured County residents.”
Preserving Parkland
Reevesland, which has the distinction of having been the last operating dairy farm in Arlington, remained in the same family for three generations and represents an important era in Arlington’s history. The land for what was once a 160-acre farm was originally purchased in 1863, and the family continued to raise dairy cattle until 1955, about the time trucks replaced milk cans. The area continued to transform from a rural community into the thriving county it is today – farming operations ceased, and most of the land was subdivided and sold. Eventually, in 2001, the County acquired the remaining 2.45 acres and set out to preserve the residential building while creating public park space.
The parkland, including a beloved sledding hill and the Reevesland Learning Center gardens, will remain open for public use. L'Arche is committed to deepening partnerships between its residents and the Learning Center.
“Since 2010, Arlington County has been searching for appropriate uses for the historic farmhouse, and while there were many potential options for how to proceed, it’s exciting that the property will be repurposed to serve an important public need,” said County Manager Mark Schwartz. “This project goes a long way in increasing partnerships between affordable housing and historic preservation. It would not have been possible without the vision and invaluable work of our partners.”
Preserving History
Indeed, the County is not only creating public space and a home for individuals in our developmental disability community, but it also is working with non-profit partners to preserve a historic property in a public park.
HomeAid NCR, a nonprofit general contractor, will be managing the renovation and construction plans with Habitat DC-NOVA, as approved by the Arlington County Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board. The County also worked with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR), the state historic preservation office, and several consulting parties to develop a Memorandum of Agreement to mitigate the alterations to the historic farmhouse.
Additionally, an architectural survey of the property must be completed (including photo documentation of the farmhouse prior to any construction), an archaeological data recovery and monitoring plan will need to be developed, and a historic marker will be created to share information about this project and the property’s history.
Preservation and construction activities are slated to begin in 2024 and continue through 2025.
About Reevesland
The historic Reeves Farmhouse, which is located in the Boulevard Manor neighborhood next to Bluemont Park, became a local historic district (LHD) in 2004. A preservation easement that protects its exterior was also recorded in 2018. Architecturally, the Reeves Farmhouse represents a rural vernacular style incorporating modest Greek Revival and Queen Anne detailing. The farmhouse was expanded multiple times in over a century and is a time capsule into the first half of the 20th century. Learn more: Reevesland.
Arlington County Historic Preservation Program
The Historic Preservation Program works to protect, interpret, celebrate, and educate the public about Arlington’s history, built environment, and cultural heritage. Arlington’s historic places are important links to the past and contribute much to its character. Our program seeks to engage with a diverse range of voices to foster the racial and cultural equity of history in Arlington. Our work encourages the community to explore, understand, and appreciate the diverse history, architecture, and people that weave the fabric of our heritage.
Arlington County Housing Division
Arlington County’s Housing Division is dedicated to developing and preserving affordable housing options that strengthen the community. The division offers a range of programs and services tailored to tenants, homeowners/buyers, landlords and property managers. By implementing comprehensive, long-term strategies like The Affordable Housing Master Plan, the division plays a pivotal role in confronting housing-related challenges within the County. Through Community Development planning and initiatives, the division also provides funding and assistance to local community groups to help improve the quality of life for Arlington residents. The Housing Division actively advocates for, facilitates access to, and enhances the sustainability of housing opportunities throughout Arlington County.
Arlington County Developmental Services
The Department of Human Services' Developmental Services program maximizes chosen outcomes for persons with developmental disabilities through service coordination and implementation in the most integrated community settings. Key components of this include support coordination; residential services such as community living, respite, in-home, supervised apartments, group homes, and community-based care facilities; and employment, habilitation, and transportation.