From left to right: Carmen Romero, True Ground; Senthil Sankaran, Amazon; Rich Jordan, True Ground Board Chair; Takis Karantonis, Arlington County Board Chair; Jack and Jean Sweeney, True Ground Founders; Ron Danniell, Capital One; Monique Johnson, Virginia Housing; John Jablonsky, National Equity Fund.
The project, which will deliver 432 critically needed affordable apartments in National Landing, is the largest affordable housing development in Arlington, VA in decades.
ARLINGTON, VA (September 18, 2025) True Ground Housing Partners broke ground on The Sweeney, a 432-unit affordable apartment community in the heart of Crystal City/National Landing in Arlington, Virginia. The Sweeney emerges from a unique collaboration between Amazon, Arlington County, True Ground Housing Partners and EYA. In 2020, the Washington Housing Conservancy acquired the Crystal House complex with financing from the Amazon’s Housing Fund. Amazon subsequently donated the development rights to Arlington County for affordable housing development. The building was formerly called Crystal House 3 and was renamed The Sweeney in honor of Jean and Jack Sweeney, two of the eight founders of True Ground Housing Partners.
“The Sweeney represents a unique opportunity to add much needed affordable housing in one of Northern Virginia’s most dynamic markets,” said Carmen Romero, President and CEO of True Ground Housing Partners. “This once in a generation public private partnership, in this location three blocks from Amazon’s HQ2, will bring economic diversity and affordability in this amenity rich neighborhood, providing all the essentials that every family needs to thrive. The scale and impact of this project demonstrate what’s possible when we combine innovative financing, donated land, and a shared commitment to housing opportunity for all.”
Arlington County Board Chair Takis Karantonis expressed, “Housing Affordability is Arlington’s biggest generational and moral challenge. We celebrate Crystal Houses 3 – The Sweeney – as a powerful demonstration of how value-driven and solutions-focused partnerships between Civic Society, Local Government, Business and Non-Profits, literally build a future of inclusion and success for all our Community.”
“When Amazon donated the development rights for this site to Arlington County, we envisioned exactly this type of collaborative outcome – 432 affordable homes that will allow families of all income levels to live near job centers, transit, and essential services,” said Senthil Sankaran, Managing Principal of Amazon’s housing fund. “We’re grateful for the remarkable partnership with Arlington County, True Ground Housing Partners, EYA, and all the funding partners who came together, demonstrating that when public and private sectors align resources and expertise, we can create lasting impact for the entire community.”
“Housing is the cornerstone of strong communities, and Capital One is proud to have provided in the past five years more than $900 million investments in affordable housing across Northern Virginia to help meet this critical need,” said Roy Danniell, Community Finance Manager at Capital One. “True Ground has been a longstanding partner and leader in this effort, and The Sweeney is the latest example of how public and private partners can come together to deliver not just housing, but lasting opportunities for individuals and families to thrive.”
“Virginia Housing applauds the collaborative spirit of Arlington County and True Ground Partners that produced this outstanding project,” said Virginia Housing Chief of Programs Monique Johnson. “The Sweeney will provide necessary housing in the Northern Virginia region where we are seeing expanded job growth and a continued need to increase the affordable housing stock to create thriving communities for all that call this region home.”
Project partners for The Sweeney include Arlington County, Amazon, National Equity Fund, Capital One, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, Virginia Housing, CBG Building Group, KGD Architecture, and KCM. The $99 million bond allocation from the Governor and Local Housing Authority pools was leveraged with public and private funds for a total $230 million budget. Additional funding sources include: more than $50 million in Arlington County Affordable Housing Investment Fund loans; nearly $90 million Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity from National Equity Fund; $130M construction lending from Capital One, $10M in Virginia DHCD loans; $1M from the Federal Home Loan Bank and $57M of permanent loan commitments from Virginia Housing.
The development is the first phase of a larger, multi-phase Crystal House community that will create a vibrant mixed-income district that combines families and seniors of all income levels. Future phases will include affordable senior housing, market-rate rental units, two new parks, and homeownership opportunities from EYA. The Sweeney will feature amenity spaces designed specifically for families, including informal gathering areas and multipurpose rooms for social, wellness, and resident service programming.
True Ground expects the project to have a substantial economic impact for the Commonwealth, with an estimated 700 workers expected to participate in construction. The Sweeney represents a significant investment in Virginia’s construction economy, with bond proceeds supporting contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers, and other professionals. Early construction began after completing the financial closing in August 2025, and the project is expected to be delivered in early 2028.
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About True Ground Housing Partners
True Ground is a nonprofit affordable housing developer, enabling diverse families to imagine hopeful futures, even in one of the nation’s highest cost markets. At True Ground, we believe that hope, like a home, needs nurturing and care. With housing access becoming harder than ever, we are dedicated to building hope and opportunities for those feeling left out. We are committed community builders, breaking down barriers and providing the support needed to turn aspirations into secure, comfortable apartment homes. We are not just building homes; we are changing the landscape for affordable housing, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to live in a safe and welcoming community. True Ground was named one of the nation’s Top 50 Affordable Housing Developers of 2023 by Affordable Housing Finance, one of only a dozen nonprofits to make the list. Visit www.truegroundhousing.org to learn more.
