Arlington Mill Residences Named Best Housing Development at Virginia Governor’s Housing Conference – November 7, 2014
Arlington Mill Residences Named Best Housing Development at Virginia Governor’s Housing Conference
Arlington, VA (November 7, 2014) – Arlington Mill Residences, Arlington’s first committed affordable housing community using Public Land for Public Good, was named Best Housing Development in Virginia, the highest award presented during the Virginia Governor’s Housing Conference Awards Luncheon last week in Norfolk, VA.
“Arlington Mill Residences, built in partnership with Arlington County, is the first new affordable development along Columbia Pike since the revitalization effort began as envisioned by the Columbia Pike Neighborhood Plan,” said Nina Janopaul, President and CEO of the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH). APAH is the owner and developer of this innovative property.
“APAH was able to dramatically increase housing for extremely low income families at Arlington Mill Residences because of significant cost savings achieved by building atop the County-built parking garage that is shared with the adjacent Arlington Mill Community Center. This public benefit is having a profound impact on our very low income individuals and families living there.” Janopaul said.
Opened in February 2014, Arlington Mill Residences and the adjacent Arlington Mill Community Center were built on the site of a former Safeway and surface parking lot. The Residences, a 122-unit affordable rental property, is a four-story building with structured parking.
Ninety-eight units are two and three bedrooms for larger families and 39 units are for individuals and families who are very low income, including 13 units for individuals and families receiving supportive services from Arlington County. Arlington Mill Residences offers a bilingual, onsite resident services program and easy access to the nearby Community Center, parks and bike path.
In partnership with Arlington County, Arlington Mill Residences has a unique eight-unit wing with separate community space and five additional units throughout the building to house formerly homeless individuals and families. Arlington Mill Residences achieved EarthCraft Virginia certification for energy and environmental standards and is District Energy Ready in anticipation of Arlington’s Energy Plan.
Over 3,000 people applied to live in Arlington Mill. Of the 122 households who moved in 80% were from Arlington.
Pictured L to R: Susan Dewey, Virginia Housing Development Authority; David Cristeal, Arlington County Housing Division; John Milliken, Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) Board member; Maureen Markham, Arlington County Housing Division; David Perrow, APAH; Nina Janopaul, APAH; Anne Venezia, Arlington County Housing Division.
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APAH is a nonprofit that develops, preserves, owns, and advocates quality rental housing that is affordable to low and moderate-income families and promotes opportunity for residents through partnerships and programs. Founded in 1989, APAH is the only nonprofit affordable housing developer working exclusively in Arlington County. APAH now helps 1200 households live in quality, affordable rental homes. APAH received these honors: Developer of the Year by the Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND) in 2014; Prize for Innovation and Impact from the Arlington Community Foundation in 2011; HAND Innovation Award in 2009 and Arlington Chamber’s Best Nonprofit in 2008.
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