On November 17, Arlington Presbyterian Church (APC) celebrated their homecoming, returning to their former site opening a new worship, office and multi-use space on the ground-floor of Gilliam Place, a 173-unit affordable housing community developed by the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) along Columbia Pike.  The project includes eleven barrier-free units for persons with disabilities and approximately 8,500 sq. ft. of ground floor space that will include a new home for Arlington Presbyterian Church as well as expanded facilities for La Cocina VA, a bilingual culinary training program for low-income individuals. La Cocina, which will begin its construction later this year, will also provide kitchen space and training for entrepreneurs and a community café.

The press release reads: “APC’s move back to their former property where they worshipped for over a century, completes an 8-year journey for their congregation in discerning new ways they might be called to be church in the community. After their bold decision to sell their existing church building and property to APAH for the development of affordable housing in 2014, the congregation returned to lease a portion of the ground-floor retail space from APAH in the completed building.  ‘APC’s new worship space is a communal, Spirit-filled gathering area that invites participation, creativity, and equality for the sake of South Arlington,’ said Pastor Ashley Goff.  The brand-new multi-use building is named in honor of Ronda A. Gilliam, APC’s first African-American elder, a community leader and clothing ministry founder.”

Financing was provided by Enterprise Community Partners Faith Based Development Initiative, Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA), Arlington County and the Virginia Housing Trust Fund. Additional partners on Gilliam Place include: Capital One, KGD Architects and Donohoe Construction Company.

Congratulations to APC, APAH and all partners!

To read more details, check out media coverage here.

On August 28, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray, and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) broke ground on two 100% affordable housing communities, Providence Place and the Strand Residences, which will deliver 179 affordable units in the Deanwood neighborhood of Ward 7 through the New Communities Initiative (NCI).

“After years of delays on these projects, Mayor Bowser charged us with making sure that we delivered for the residents of Ward 7, ” said Interim Deputy Mayor Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio. “Thanks to the commitment and hard work of District agencies, the community and our development partners, we are realizing the future for this historic Deanwood community.”

Providence Place is a 93-unit community with a mix of family-size apartments located at 601 50^thStreet, NE on the campus of the historic Progressive National Baptist Convention headquarters. The Strand Residences, located at 5119 Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE, next to the historic local landmark, the Strand Theater, will include 86 one- and two-bedroom affordable apartments and first floor retail space for a neighborhood non-profit and a community-based retailer.

Both properties include units prioritized for residents from Lincoln Heights and Richardson Dwellings – 35 units at Providence Place and 28 at the Strand Residences reserved for households at less than 30% median family income (MFI), or approximately $35,150 for a family of four. The remaining units at both properties, 116 units total, will be made available to other households earning up to 60% MFI, or approximately $70,320 for a family of four.

Providence Place and Strand Residences were made possible through a collaboration of District government agencies including DMPED, the DC Housing Finance Agency, and the DC Housing Authority. Development partners for Providence Place include Urban Matters and Atlantic|Pacific Communities with the Progressive National Baptist Convention. Developers for the Strand Residences are NHP Foundation, The Warrenton Group, and the Washington Metropolitan CDC. Congratulations to all involved!