A planned public housing development will move forward in Orange County.
The development, known as the Madison Road Supportive Housing Project, has been in the works for several years. It consists of creating a multi-story, 21-unit planned public housing development in the Town of Orange on property currently occupied by the long defunct Sheltering Arms Homeless Shelter and a community services building on Madison Road, near the Dogwood Village entrance. The Sheltering Arms building is owned by Orange County while the other is owned by Encompass Community Supports, formerly known as Rappahannock-Rapidan Community Services. The two existing buildings will be demolished to make way for the housing development. The adjacent health department building is not included in the project.
In 2023, the multi-million dollar project was awarded $900,000 through an Affordable and Special Needs Housing loan, as well as low income housing tax credits. The apartments will be for those who meet the federal standards for affordable housing. Fair market rental rates are established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and updated annually. Some residents will also have housing vouchers which will allow them to pay only a percentage of their income.
Late last month, a public hearing was held on the project. Encompass Executive Director Sheryl Reinstrom said the idea is to create a multi-story building that will house a new children’ s services office on the ground floor with additional floors of low-income housing with 18 one-bedroom units and three two-bedroom units. She said a rental office will be included in the building which will have a rental manager on site at all times during the day, making sure there is a supervisory presence in the building.
Encompass operates a similar project which is at full occupancy with an average five-year wait to get individuals into the program. The intent of the Madison Road project would be to establish a client priority selection process to give priority to Orange County residents and those most vulnerable.
The Madison Road property will be secured via a 75-year ground lease from the county for the .74 acres involved. The rent for the lease will be $100 per year with the actual value of the property estimated at $250,000. A promissory note for that amount has been signed with the total value due to the county in 2056 with 4.72% interest.
No one spoke during the public hearing. Supervisors authorized the execution of the lease, promissory note and deed of trust 4-0. District 4 Supervisor Crystal Coleman abstained from the vote as she is on the Encompass board, but said she is in full support of the project.
