AHC Inc. Breaks Ground on $39 Mil Redevelopment of Arlington Affordable Housing Community

ARLINGTON, Va., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb -- AHC Inc., a leading developer of affordable housing in Maryland and Virginia, today broke ground on its $39 million redevelopment project of Arlington View Terrace East, an affordable housing community located on the eastern end of Columbia Pike. The current community includes 77 apartments spread out among seven two- and three-story buildings. The Arlington View Terrace East redevelopment is demolishing the largest of the structures, which currently includes 30 homes, and replacing it with a new Energy Star Certified & EarthCraft Certified Gold structure with 77 apartments. With construction beginning later this month, the redevelopment will boost the number of affordable apartments to 124 at Arlington View Terrace and create several new amenities and features for residents.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by local dignitaries, including Virginia State Delegate Alfonso Lopez and Arlington County Board members Matt de Ferranti and Katie Cristol.

"I'm delighted to be here today for the groundbreaking of much-needed affordable homes along Columbia Pike in Arlington," said Virginia State Delegate Alfonso Lopez. "I believe investing in affordable housing is essential to the economic vitality of not only Arlington, but also to the entire Commonwealth. In today's competitive economic climate, it takes a lot of resources to get an affordable housing project off the ground. I am proud this project is being funded through Virginia's Affordable Housing Trust Fund - which I created in 2013 - along with support from other local and national partners."

"Preserving and expanding access to safe, habitable affordable housing is a priority in our community," said Arlington County Chair Matt De Ferranti. "Along with creating life-changing opportunities for dozens of local families, it's also great to see that Arlington View Terrace East has been designed to contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future by including access to free WiFi and green design elements like solar panels."

Ricky Clark, a service manager at AHC for nearly 20 years who grew up at AVT, also participated in the event.

"This will always be home for me," Clark said. "A lot of these residents have lived here a long time. People enjoy both the sense of community and the convenience of being right off Columbia Pike."

The new building will feature sustainable design elements, including a projected 190-panel solar system, AHC's second solar project in Arlington. The solar project is expected to generate 84,000 kwh a year, enough to power nearly 8 single-family houses a year. Arlington View Terrace East is also AHC's First Energy Star Certified Building and includes an extensive green roof to support stormwater management. The community qualified for Gold-level certification with EarthCraft Multifamily (ECMF), the nation's first multifamily-specific green building program.

Residents will also enjoy a new community room, fitness room, courtyard, leasing office, and parking garage. The apartments will feature attractive plank flooring, bigger and more numerous windows, new appliances, and free WiFi for each apartment.

"We're excited to break ground on redeveloping Arlington View Terrace East to bring more quality affordable apartments to Arlington," said John Welsh, VP of Multifamily Development at AHC Inc. "Primely located in the heart of Arlington, central to jobs and the vibrant streetscape of Columbia Pike, this is a much-needed community that will provide dozens of local, hardworking families with an opportunity to build brighter futures."

Expected to be completed by early 2023, AVT's 77 new affordable apartments will house families earning between 30% and 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and will offer 15 three-bedroom apartments. Further, eight homes have been set aside for Arlington County's Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program, which provides the opportunity for residents with disabilities to maintain their housing and pay no more than 30% of their income towards rent. There will also be eight fully ADA accessible units, and the new building will meet Universal Design standards.

This project was made possible by AHC Inc.'s local and national partners. Arlington View Terrace East won an allocation of $2.03 million in competitive tax credits from Virginia Housing (VHDA), which will generate $19.5 million in tax credit equity. The Arlington County Board allocated up to $8.23 million in loan and grant funding, and the project was also selected for a $900,000 loan from the Virginia Housing Trust Fund.

Other funding partners include Virginia Housing (VHDA), Capital One, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (VDHCD), Hudson Housing, and NeighborWorks America. AHC Inc. also collaborated with Cunningham and Quill Architects, who designed the renovation, Harkins Builders, who will execute the construction, Walter L Phillips, AVT's civil engineer and Klein Hornig, LLC, financing council.

To learn more about Arlington View Terrace East, visit: https://www.ahcinc.org/portfolio/arlington-view-terrace-east/

About AHC Inc.
Founded in 1975, AHC Inc. is a nonprofit developer of affordable housing that provides quality homes and education programs for low- and moderate-income families. Based in Arlington, VA, AHC has developed more than 7,800 apartment units in 50+ properties in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. AHC's Resident Services program reaches 3,000 children, teens, adults and seniors each year through on-site education and social service programs and activities. For more information, visit https://www.ahcinc.org/.

Media Contact

Vlad Drazdovich, AHC Inc., 9546965965, [email protected]

SOURCE AHC Inc.

Related Links

https://www.ahcinc.org/