[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 10, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E388]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING MR. WALTER D. WEBDALE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS M. DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 10, 1999

  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
individual who has dedicated the past 25 years of his career and life 
to serving the people of Fairfax County, VA. On Friday, February 26, 
1999, Mr. Walter D. Webdale will retire as Director of the Fairfax 
County Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
  The Department of Housing and Community Development was established 
in 1974, and Mr. Webdale has been the Director since its inception. 
Under his leadership of the last 25 years the HCD has won nationwide 
recognition as one of the preeminent policy leaders and innovators in 
the fields of affordable housing and community development. The Agency 
has been the recipient of more than 40 major awards and special 
recognitions for project design and development, community development, 
property management, and affordable housing finance.
  But more important than the national accolades are the tangible 
improvements he was able to provide to the people of Fairfax County. 
During Mr. Webdale's 25 years of service, the HCD built or acquired 
more than 800 units of public housing. Additionally, 1,500 more units 
were developed under the Fairfax County Rental Program, an initiative 
of Mr. Webdale's, which preserved existing affordable housing and made 
it available to seniors and moderate income households not able to find 
housing through Federal housing projects.
  One of Mr. Webdale's most lasting contributions to Fairfax County, 
and the Nation, will be the mixed income/mixed financing program which 
combines the use of Low Income Housing Tax Credits with Public Housing 
development funds, and has become the model which is being replicated 
across the Nation. Because of this innovative program, coupled with the 
Agency's financing expertise, the HCD secured the designation as an FHA 
Risk-Sharing Agency in Virginia. The Fairfax County Housing and 
Community Development Agency was the only local housing authority in 
Virginia to qualify for this designation.
  While Mr. Webdale dedicated much of the Agency's resources to 
developing low-income housing, the HCD also implemented a strong series 
of programs to support and encourage first-time home buyers. All told 
over the past 25 years more than $26 million was invested in needed 
home improvements to almost 1,700 qualified homeowners under the Home 
Improvement Loan Program. Complimenting the improvement funds, two 
separate home ownership programs were created which have subsequently 
provided more than 1,000 first-time home buyers with home ownership 
opportunities.
  Mr. Speaker, I have merely hinted at the contribution Walter Webdale 
has made to Fairfax County. He is recognized nationwide as one of the 
leading Housing and Community Development professionals in the country. 
A number of the initiatives he developed in Fairfax County have been 
adopted by other Housing Authorities across the Nation. Mr. Walter D. 
Webdale has dedicated the best years of his life in the service of 
others, and has done it with a determination and professionalism well 
beyond the norm. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of Fairfax 
County, VA, I wish to sincerely thank Mr. Webdale for all he has done 
and wish him well as he enjoys a long-overdue vacation.

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