Pictured left to right: Sarah Wholey; Jane Wholey; Mike Chiappa, True Ground; Megan Wholey; Carmen Romero, True Ground; Senator Barbara Favola; Dennis Wholey; Martha Williams, Wholey Legacy Homes resident; Matt de Ferranti, Arlington County Board; Rich Jordan, True Ground Board; Don Scoggins, Virginia Housing; Chair Takis Karantonis, Arlington County Board; Kanesha Brown, Virginia Housing; Gina Metrakas, Capital One; Skef Wholey. Photo credit: Edward Underwood Photography
The redeveloped community adds 234 affordable apartments in the heart of Arlington
Arlington, VA (December 9, 2025) — On Monday, December 8th, True Ground Housing Partners (formerly APAH) marked the grand opening at Wholey Legacy Homes, a new affordable housing community in Arlington’s Rosslyn neighborhood. Together with project partners, True Ground celebrated the redevelopment project, which turned 31 garden apartments into a modern 234-unit building serving residents earning between 30-60% of the area median income (AMI).
Honoring the Wholey Family’s Commitment to Arlington
True Ground, originally named Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH), was founded in 1989 by four families whose faith motivated them to address affordable housing in their community. Named after the late Joe and Midge Wholey, two of the organization’s founders, Wholey Legacy Homes honors an Arlington couple who were grounded in their commitment to social justice and service. Joe Wholey served on the Arlington County Board during the 70s and was largely responsible for the Long Range County Improvement Program that developed much of Arlington as it is known today. Midge Wholey, a nurse, directed Community of Hope, offering healthcare to patients regardless of income. “Midge and Joe Wholey believed that housing is a basic human right, and that affordable housing is a foundation of a strong community. I think they would be amazed and proud that the organization they helped found over thirty-five years ago has grown to what it is today,” Notes Skef Wholey, son of Midge and Joe. “They’d be humbled that this development, providing hundreds of affordable units, bears their names.” Learn more about the Wholeys at this link.
Community Impact
Wholey Legacy Homes is a redevelopment of a portion of True Ground’s Marbella Apartments community, turning 31units on a 1-acre site into a 12-story, 234-unit building. Located in Rosslyn’s Radnor – Fort Myer Heights neighborhood, Wholey Legacy Homes is convenient to Rosslyn and Courthouse Metro stations, bus transit, retail amenities, parks, and job opportunities. The community provides 84 one-bedroom, 100 two-bedroom, and 50 three-bedroom apartments to accommodate families of varying sizes. The 148,500 square foot building features 110 garage parking spaces (0.47 parking ratio), an outdoor courtyard and tot lot, multiple community spaces for resident programming, leasing and resident services office suites, fitness center, and rooftop terrace with picturesque views of Arlington and DC. True Ground will seek EarthCraft Gold, Energy Star, and Zero Energy Ready Homes (ZERH) certifications, as Wholey Legacy Home features rooftop solar panels and green building features. Residents also enjoy free Wi-Fi connectivity in their units and common areas, further increasing affordability and bridging the digital divide. Twenty-four units are fully accessible to those with physical disabilities, and 110 units meet Universal Design guidelines.
“This property represents True Ground’s commitment to our Arlington roots. We’re proud to recognize the Wholey family while reinvesting in our communities,” said True Ground President and CEO, Carmen Romero. “We’ve added more than 200 affordable homes with this redevelopment and are planning an additional 320 apartments down the block. Our regional affordable housing supply is still far short of demand, and we’re working hard to continue adding quality housing like Wholey Legacy Homes.”
Partners and Financing
The total project cost of Wholey Legacy Homes is approximately $136 million with construction costs close to $83 million. Virginia Housing is providing a total of $32.5 million in permanent loan financing, which includes $16.5 million in REACH funds. Arlington County’s Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF) provided $21.8 million in financing. Capital One, a strong partner with True Ground, provided the construction loan and partnered with Hudson Housing Capital to purchase the tax credit equity. Additional funding sources include: $7.6 million in loans from Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), including $1.8 million from Virginia HTF (Housing Trust Fund); $4 million from Virginia HIEE (Housing Innovations in Energy Efficiency); and $1.8 million from NHTF (National Housing Trust Fund). Wholey Legacy Homes was awarded both 9% and 4% Low Income House Tax Credits (LIHTC), marking True Ground’s seventh project to employ this complex financing structure.
“Housing is the cornerstone of economic opportunity and strong communities, and Capital One is proud of our track record as a top community development lender. Last year alone, we provided $2.9 billion in financing to develop over 15,000 units of affordable rental housing nationwide,” said Gina Metrakas, VP of Government Relations at Capital One. “We are proud of our longstanding partnership with True Ground Housing Partners, and their commitment to empowering residents across their communities. The opening of Wholey Legacy Homes is a testament to how community, public, and private partners can come together to deliver not just housing, but lasting opportunities for families and communities to thrive.”
“True Ground has been a genuine innovator in the housing industry, from creative partnerships and financing, imaginative redevelopment, and integration of advanced building techniques,” said Kanesha Brown, Community Outreach Regional Manager for Virginia Housing. “True Ground has a proven track record of providing the community with quality housing options that are affordable, and Virginia Housing is excited to support Wholey Legacy Homes, the latest in a long partnership with True Ground.” Other valued project partners include general contractor Donohoe Companies, KGD Architecture, KCM construction management, civil engineer Walter L. Phillips, and landscape architect Parker Rodriguez.
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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. 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.
