Renovated Homes, With Nods to the Past
New Owner Revamps Carousel Court

By Susan Straight
Special to The Washington Post
Saturday, December 6, 2008

The renovation of Carousel Court has provided dozens of restored and affordable family-size apartments in the Baileys Crossroads neighborhood of Fairfax County.

The property is on Seminary Road, just off Route 7. There are 90 units, all with private balconies, in five three-story, garden-style buildings. Most of the apartments have two or three bedrooms. Each building has laundry facilities in the basement.

The property was bought in January 2007 by AHC, a nonprofit developer that started in 1975 as an affordable-housing provider for Arlington County and has since spread around the region. The purchase and renovations were paid for in part by tax credits and subsidies designed to provide below-market rent to families, so there are ceilings on tenant income. Households must earn no more than 50 or 60 percent of the area's median income. This means two people applying for a one-bedroom unit must have a combined income of less than $47,220 a year. For a two-bedroom unit, three residents must earn less than $53,160 per year combined.

The property used to be called Sunset Park, but AHC renamed it to reflect the history of Baileys Crossroads. "The original Bailey family ran carnivals, and their Barnum and Bailey circus wintered in the area for years," said Celia Slater, AHC communications manager. "AHC chose Carousel Court because it was reminiscent of the warm, family-friendly atmosphere of days gone by."

AHC began renovations immediately after it bought the property, one building at a time. Maintaining the combination of old and newly renovated buildings presented headaches for maintenance manager Deion Washington. Although he was familiar with maintenance of newer buildings, "I had a lot to learn" about the older buildings, he said.

During renovations, residents could move to other apartments on the property. Occupants of about 20 of the original 89 units stayed and moved into newly renovated units when they became available. A 90th unit was added during renovation by converting an office.

Ijaz Rana and his wife, Shazia Ijaz, were among the residents who remained at the property throughout the renovations. They moved to the complex from Pakistan eight years ago. "Our friends were living here. They were good friends," Rana said.

Their two daughters, Rimsha Rana, 10, and Malleha Rana, 7, live with them in a two-bedroom unit.

Ijaz praised the recent changes to the complex. "Before, the building was too old," she said. "We had a lot of roaches. But [the new owners] changed everything. There are no roaches now."

She proudly showed off her new kitchen. "I love to cook," she said.

Kitchen renovations included removing the hanging cabinets over the peninsula counters and raising the counters. "Now the kitchen is very good if you have a family gathering," Rana said. "The counter is a better height," he said.

Washington has lived at the property for more than a year and has gotten to know many residents. He said he has learned about different cultures from his neighbors, who hail from a variety of countries and continents. Many cook food from their native countries to thank him when he repairs something. He said he's always surprised by their hospitality and generosity.

"Sometimes they'll fix a plate for me before even asking. I'll try almost anything," he said.

Washington also knows a lot of the complex's many children. "I may not know all of their names, but I know them by face and by apartment," he said. That helps keep problems with the kids to a minimum.

Rana and Ijaz said their primary concern is their children. Their older daughter has shown such promise in her studies, Rana said, that they think: "She'll be more productive for this country. Our ultimate goal is to see her in a good position."

"The main attraction for me and my wife is that it's near schools," he said. His daughters go to Parklawn Elementary, a public school, and Belvedere Elementary, a magnet school about a mile away. Both daughters have thrived in their schools, including being elected student association presidents.

"We are very satisfied," Rana said.

Rosa La Torre lives in a two-bedroom unit with her daughter, Briana Portillo, 5, and her infant son, Enrique Portillo. She moved in eight years ago, when her brother-in-law lived in the building. "It's close to everything. It's close to my work," she said.

The playground is a favorite part of the renovation, she said. "In the summertime, we're out there every day, especially my girl," she said.

Magdi Abdalla and his wife, Rasha Ibrhaim, who recently moved to the United States from Egypt, were looking for a three-bedroom apartment for themselves, Abdalla's mother and their three girls, ages 8, 6 and 5. They spent some time at a different apartment building before moving to Carousel Court. "I was looking for a three-bedroom with reasonable rent and in a good area," Ibrhaim said.

Their three-bedroom unit at Carousel Court overlooks the green lawn and new playground. Through her third-floor balcony, Ibrhaim can watch her children playing while she cooks or cares for her mother-in-law. Beyond the lawn, her balcony looks onto a neighborhood of single-family houses.

The children have fit in well in the neighborhood, Ibrhaim said. "From the first day, they had friends. They were playing back there," she said, motioning to the back lawn. "They love it."

Because she knows other parents in the community and because of the enclosed nature of the lawn, she feels comfortable with her children playing there. "It's safe. There are no cars around," she said.

Ibrhaim said her family made a good choice. "Everything is convenient. The shopping, the doctors. It's easy for me to go anywhere," she said.