Governor McAuliffe Awards APAH $750K for Columbia Hills Apartments
Arlington, VA (January 19, 2015) – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced a $750,000 award to the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) from the Virginia Housing Trust Fund. The award will provide a long-term no interest loan to support the construction of Columbia Hills Apartments, a 229-unit affordable housing development slated to break ground later this year.
Speaking at the announcement event, Governor McAuliffe said, “Columbia Pike showcases how we can really provide affordable housing that can successfully be integrated into our communities. The key is cooperation and engagement from our elected officials, our developers and, of course, our citizens. I am proud to award these grants and watch them work to improve real people’s lives and grow our economy.”
The Virginia Housing Trust Fund was created to promote affordable housing and homelessness prevention across the Commonwealth. In all, Governor McAuliffe announced more than $6.9 million in grants and loans to an audience of affordable housing leaders, members of the Arlington County Board, and the media at Arlington Mill Community Center. Welcoming Governor McAuliffe, John Milliken, APAH’s Board chairman, noted, that “We are gathered today in the public portion of a unique and award-winning facility developed in partnership with Arlington County. APAH’s Arlington Mill Residences has 122 affordable housing units, including 13 for permanent supportive housing. None of this would be possible without the strong support of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its guidance (and dollars) help marshal the federal, state, local and private resources necessary to make these often complicated projects a reality for the families that live in them.”
The Trust’s Competitive Loan Pool is intended to create and preserve affordable housing units within the Commonwealth. The loans support projects that will meet local affordable housing needs and support the Commonwealth’s housing policy. Thirty-one applications were submitted requesting $18 million in loans. “APAH is honored to be selected for a $750,000 loan from a very competitive applicant pool,” said Nina Janopaul, APAH President/CEO. “These funds will enable us to further reduce the rents on some of the new apartments we are building at Columbia Hills, enabling more Arlingtonians to live and thrive in our community.”
Columbia Hills will be a 100% affordable property built on land already owned by APAH at its existing Columbia Grove Apartments. Features include a new, eight-story concrete building atop underground parking, a community room for resident programs, a new playground, 13 accessible units and 10 units are designated for permanent supportive housing. APAH anticipates breaking ground on Columbia Hills in summer 2016.
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