Katie Wenger, Arlington Resident

Dear Arlington County Board members:

I'm a recent college graduate and live in Virginia Square. As an Arlington resident, I would like to urge you to pass the zoning changes included in the Missing Middle housing study. The cost of housing in Arlington is a constant topic of concern among me and my friends. I know young adults who grew up in diverse communities in Arlington but whose entire communities are now being forced to move out because housing prices have increased so much. One said that they no longer feel that working-class people of color like them belong in Arlington. If we want to preserve a diverse and inclusive community in Arlington, we need to make housing affordable for people other than the very wealthy, and rezoning to allow Missing Middle housing is an important way to do that.

Just because single-family zoning in 78% of Arlington is the status quo does not mean that it is the fairest or most beneficial policy. These zoning rules were implemented in the early twentieth century along with policies like redlining and restrictive covenants to reserve neighborhoods for white people, and they have similar effects today. Single-family zoning means that when a home is torn down, the new one built usually costs over a million dollars and is out of reach for all but the wealthiest—usually white—buyers. With rezoning to allow Missing Middle housing like duplexes and townhomes, a broader range of people could afford to buy a home in Arlington, including more families of color, seniors, and public servants like teachers. The increase in housing supply would also reduce the upward pressure on rents, relieving the burden on renters who cannot afford to buy a home. While many steps are needed to maintain and develop the diverse and equitable Arlington we envision, Missing Middle housing is a crucial step in the right direction.

Thank you for your consideration.

Best,
Katie Wenger