APAH is proud to announce that two APAH projects, Oakwood Senior and Ballston Station, received Virginia Housing Trust Fund awards from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).  The awards loan $900,000 into each project, which APAH will support construction-related costs. Both projects, one in Fairfax County and the other in Arlington County, are scheduled to start construction later this year and open in 2023.

“We applaud the innovative efforts of the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing to increase affordable housing options throughout the region,” said Erik Johnston, director of DHCD. “The investments by the Governor and General Assembly in the Virginia Housing Trust fund provides vital gap financing to make safe and affordable housing available for our most vulnerable populations, and these projects are transforming the community and ensuring housing stability for households throughout Northern Virginia.”

Oakwood Senior will provide 150 units of affordable housing for independent seniors near the Van Dorn Metro station and will be APAH’s first project in Fairfax. With outstanding access to transit and plans for onsite resident services, this project will create new opportunities for affordable housing and enable vulnerable households to age in place. The vision for the project grew out of a mission-driven collaboration with the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RHA). The project provides one- and two-bedroom apartments all affordable to seniors making 60% or less than the area median income (AMI). It will also include community rooms, a game room, a garden room, a library, a business center, a dedicated resident services space, laundry facilities, and a landscaped courtyard and walking paths.

APAH’s new Ballston Station will be a mixed-use project with affordable housing atop a church and community service center. For a century, the Central United Methodist Church (CUMC) of Ballston has served the Arlington community with worship and community services. Over the past few decades services have included daycare space and weekly food distribution to those in need. In the new Ballston Station, CUMC will continue this mission with a brand-new sanctuary space, daycare, and community kitchen on the first two floors of the new building. Above will be 144 apartments, all affordable at 60% AMI or below. Future residents will have access to onsite community rooms, a business center, laundry facilities, and a landscaped courtyard and terrace.

With the new awards from the Virginia DHCD, Oakwood Senior and Ballston Station can offer units with deeper affordability levels than otherwise would be possible.

Thank you, DHCD, for their continued support and commitment to affordable housing in Northern Virginia.