The City of Fairfax, VA is located in the heart of one of the most affluent and suburban counties in America. As an independent and fully built-out city, however, Fairfax has been significantly impacted by the growing demand in the Northern Virginia region, leading to rapidly rising housing costs. With almost no undeveloped land remaining, city leaders have been seeking opportunities to increase the number of affordable and market rate housing options while maintaining the neighborhood structure and historic character that have attracted residents for decades.

In 2023, while with a previous employer, Aaron led a team of talented consultants to conduct a Housing Needs Assessment for the city to help them understand their existing gaps and potential future needs. A major goal for this report was to understand the housing market and help direct zoning and policy updates for redevelopment districts, or “Activity Centers,” throughout the city. Ideally, these redevelopment districts would create targeted areas for increased density and mixed-use spaces that could help broaden the types of housing available in the city. In tandem with Fairfax’s Affordable Dwelling Unit Ordinance, redeveloping these Activity Centers could diversify the city’s housing stock and increase and improve affordability without impacting the existing naturally-occurring affordable options that many residents rely on.