Governor McAuliffe Awards APAH $750,000 for Columbia Hills Apartments

Arlington, VA (January 19, 2016) – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today a $750,000 award to the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) from the Virginia Housing Trust Fund. The award will provide a long-term no interest loan to support the construction of Columbia Hills Apartments, a 229-unit affordable housing development slated to break ground later this year.

Speaking at today’s announcement event, Governor McAuliffe said, “Columbia Pike showcases how we can really provide affordable housing that can successfully be integrated into our communities. The key is cooperation and engagement from our elected officials, our developers and, of course, our citizens. I am proud to award these grants and watch them work to improve real people’s lives and grow our economy.”

The Virginia Housing Trust Fund was created to promote affordable housing and homelessness prevention across the Commonwealth. In all, Governor McAuliffe announced more than $6.9 million in grants and loans to an audience of affordable housing leaders, members of the Arlington County Board, and the media at Arlington Mill Community Center. Welcoming Governor McAuliffe, John Milliken, APAH’s Board chairman, noted, that “We are gathered today in the public portion of a unique and award-winning facility developed in partnership with Arlington County. APAH’s Arlington Mill Residences has 122 affordable housing units, including 13 for permanent supportive housing. None of this would be possible without the strong support of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its guidance (and dollars) help marshal the federal, state, local and private resources necessary to make these often complicated projects a reality for the families that live in them.”

The Trust’s Competitive Loan Pool is intended to create and preserve affordable housing units within the Commonwealth. The loans support projects that will meet local affordable housing needs and support the Commonwealth’s housing policy. Thirty-one applications were submitted requesting $18 million in loans. “APAH is honored to be selected for a $750,000 loan from a very competitive applicant pool,” said Nina Janopaul, APAH President/CEO. “These funds will enable us to further reduce the rents on some of the new apartments we are building at Columbia Hills, enabling more Arlingtonians to live and thrive in our community.”

Columbia Hills will be a 100% affordable property built on land already owned by APAH at its existing Columbia Grove Apartments. Features include a new, eight-story concrete building atop underground parking, a community room for resident programs, a new playground, 13 accessible units and 10 units are designated for permanent supportive housing. APAH anticipates breaking ground on Columbia Hills in summer 2016.

Click Here to Read the Full News Release.

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About APAH

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. APAH works exclusively in Arlington County. Founded in 1989, APAH now helps more than 1200 households live in stable, secure and affordable rental homes. In 2014 APAH was named Developer of the Year by the Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND). APAH’s Arlington Mill Residences has been awarded Best Housing Development in Virginia at the Virginia Governor’s Housing Conference; EarthCraft Virginia’s MultiFamily New Construction Project of the Year and Urban Land Institute – Washington’s Excellence in Housing Development Award. APAH received the Prize for Innovation and Impact from the Arlington Community Foundation in 2011; in 2009 APAH received the HAND Innovation Award and in 2008 was named Best Nonprofit by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce.

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