The funds from Arlington Community Foundation’s Amazon gift will significantly lower monthly rents for some of the 160 units
Arlington, VA (December 5, 2019) – The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) today announced that $1 million of the $3 million gift Amazon gave to the Arlington Community Foundation in June will go towards its innovative Terwilliger Place / American Legion project. The funds will dramatically drive down the rental rates for some units at the innovative redevelopment in Virginia Square.
“We are so honored that the Foundation and Amazon chose APAH for the initial gift. This contribution will go a long way in making this special project even more impactful,” explained APAH President and CEO Nina Janopaul. “Thanks to today’s gifts we can increase the number of Terwilliger Place homes that will be affordable for those living in the lowest income bracket – families living on minimum wage.”
The project – named Lucille and Bruce Terwilliger Place – has gained national attention as a novel approach to addressing the challenge of finding space for affordable housing in expensive urban centers. When the Legion decided to sell its 1.3 acres of prime property in Virginia Square in 2016, APAH proposed a mixed-use space that would allow the Legion to stay in place and expand its mission to meet the needs of local veterans and low-income families. The project is believed to be the first of its kind in the country and will serve as a model for other communities.
Once completed, the 1.3-acre development will feature 160 affordable quality apartments and a new, modern 6,000 square foot facility for Legion Post 139. Veterans will be given priority placement in half of the building’s 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom units, making it ideal for families. APAH will provide onsite support services such as financial literacy programs, workforce development, and tutoring for resident youth. The first floor of the seven-story building will feature a new, modern space for Post 139 with amenities such as private counseling spaces, community activity rooms and a computer lab.
“Programs like the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit make it possible to provide affordable housing for families earning less than the median income. But for some families, it still is not enough. For families in the lowest income bracket – charitable gifts like this are essential,” Janopaul explained. “Thanks to the generous support of the community we can offer dramatically lower rental rates on some of the units.”
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For a PDF of the press release, click here.
