Arlington County Board Approves Plan, Financing for Buckingham Neighborhood Mixed-Income Housing Complex
- 98 units committed to remain affordable 60 years
- Most units to be family-sized
- $7.82 million AHIF loan to help finance
ARLINGTON, Va. – January 27, 2014 – (RealEstateRama) — The Arlington County Board today approved a plan to build a five-story mixed-income apartment building in the Buckingham neighborhood that will include 98 committed affordable units, most of them family-size. The Board also approved a $7.82 million Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF) loan to help the non-profit Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) finance the development.
“This Board, and this County, are both committed to preserving and increasing our supply of affordable housing,” said Arlington County Board Chair Jay Fisette. “With this project, we get a net increase of 71 affordable homes, most of them family-sized, and all of them within walking distance of Metro. These are homes that will stay affordable for generations to come.”
The Springs Apartments will replace a 27-unit garden apartment building in the Buckingham neighborhood, within walking distance of Ballston Metro, with a 104-unit building with office space on the ground floor and underground parking. Six of the units will rent at market rates.
APAH plans to relocate its offices to the 5,630 square feet of office space on the ground floor of the new building, at 4318 N. Carlin Springs Road, at the northeast corner of North Carlin Springs Road and North Thomas Street.
Total project costs are expected to be $38 million for the redevelopment.
The plan is consistent with, and implements recommendations from, the North Quincy Street Plan Addendum, adopted by the County Board in February 2013.
The Board took four votes on this project, voting unanimously to amend the General Land Use Plan; unanimously to rezone the site; unanimously to approve the site plan for the development, and unanmously to allocate the AHIF funds for the project. To read the staff report, visit the County website. Scroll down to Item # 42 on the Regular County Board Meeting Agenda for January 25, 2014.
Net increase of 71 affordable units
The new building replaces the Carlyn Springs Apartments, a complex that included 21 apartments affordable to households earning up to 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). Of the new committed affordable units, 11 percent will be affordable to renters earning 40 percent AMI; 11 percent to 50 percent AMI and 78 percent to 60 percent AMI. Eighty-two percent of the units will be family-sized. Eleven units will be supportive housing, providing services to the tenants that help them live more stable productive lives. Another 11 units will be fully accessible. The units will be committed for 60 years.
Relocation assistance for qualified residents
Relocation assistance will be provided to all residents of the existing building. The County Board, in December 2013, approved a Tenant Assistance Fund Policy that will provide assistance for qualifying relocated tenants who need extra rental assistance to bridge payments during the period they are relocating to another apartment, plus up to 12 months.
For more information on this project, visit the County website. Scroll down to Item #42 on the Agenda for the County Board January 25, 2014 Regular Meeting.
Community process
The Site Plan Review Committee reviewed the plan for The Springs Apartments during three meetings in 2013, addressing issues such as architectural revisions, open space, and transitioning the site. The Housing Commission, Transportation Commission and Planning Commission each held one meeting this month that addressed the plan.
Project at a Glance
Project
- The Springs Apartments
- Location: 4318 N. Carlin Springs Rd.
- 5-story, 104-unit multi-family residential building with a small groundfloor office
- Underground garage; 110 parking spaces
Developer
- Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing
Architect
- Kishimoto.Gordon.Dalaya PC
Contact
- Laura London, APAH
tel: 703-276-7444 email: llondon (at) apah (dot) org
LEED Scorecard:
- Earthcraft Certification
Community Benefits
- 98 affordable units, mostly family-sized, committed to remain affordable 60 years
- $75,000 public art contribution
- $47,290 Utility Underground Fund Contribution
- Streetscape improvements, including 12-foot sidewalk with an eight-foot clear zone on North Carlin Springs Road and 11-foot sidewalk with six-foot clear zone on North Thomas Street
- Bicycle parking exceeding County standards
- Commitment to negotiate with the County for a public access easement to a proposed new park in the middle of the block, if the adjoining property is not redeveloped
Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the “10 miles square” parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation’s Capital. Slightly smaller than 26 square miles, it is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, and one of only a handful with the prized Aaa/AAA/AAA bond rating. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods and quality schools, and has received numerous awards for Smart Growth and transit-oriented development. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world — including the Pentagon — Arlington stands out as one of America’s preeminent places to live, visit and do business.
