Program Provided Framework for Future

Continued from Page 7 loneliness epidemic sweeping the country with similar health effects to smoking. “Loneliness can lead to death; it is that simple.” King said.

After King’s presentation, the attendees were split into small groups to discuss and rate Falls Church in each of the domains. Groups generally agreed on several points. First, they love the culture of Falls Church and rated civic participation extremely high. Second, the proximity of Falls Church to DC and highways was positive, but the ability to get around locally was negative, with narrow, blocked, or missing sidewalks criticized, and many suggesting bringing back “The George” shuttle of the past.

Though a brief detour, some invoked the dissatisfaction many had with the City’s communications during the T-Zone discussions over the winter. Otherwise, communication was ranked highly, with the News-Press being mentioned as one factor.

Most consistent, however, was the extremely low ranking of housing affordability and diversity. Between a lack of inventory, eyepopping home sale prices, soaring inflation, and an already high cost of living, most feel the city has become too expensive for most families to live in. One noted that most current residents likely purchased their homes for a small fraction of their current value, and speculated that current rates would have kept many out.

Another mentioned that, though smaller units are technically becoming available, they are mostly extremely expensive rentals. Most expressed strong disinterest in transitioning from owning to renting, with many uninterested in leaving their homes at all. “Could the city set up a grant fund to make [existing] houses more accessible?” asked one resident, an idea that organizers said was worth considering.

The AARP Livable Cities program provided a framework for discussing the community’s future, and created an opportunity for residents to voice opinions about how to make Falls Church a more livable, equitable, and inclusive community. The impressive turnout showed how dedicated our residents are to the Little City being inclusive in a big way, and made it clear that Falls Church Forward has tapped into a desire among residents to be more proactively involved in the decision-making process.

Falls Church Forward will need to engage with residents and city government further to pursue inclusion as one of AARP’s Livable Cities. This includes exploring solutions to make housing more affordable and diverse, improving local transportation options, increasing green spaces, and perhaps even establishing endowment funds to prioritize shared values moving forward. This meeting was an excellent step towards expanding the livability of Falls Church for people of all ages and backgrounds.