News from AHC Greater Baltimore l December 2019

2019 has been a busy year as AHC Greater Baltimore continues our mission of developing affordable homes and helping communities thrive. Highlights include:

We were delighted to be named one of the top 50 affordable housing developers in the country by Affordable Finance Magazine. Our construction and development teams have been busy this year in Virginia, Maryland and DC. Highlights include breaking ground at The Spire in Alexandria; topping off The Apex in Arlington; celebrating the renovation of two older properties, Lafayette Apartments in Fairfax and Colonial Village West in Arlington (see below); participating in a partnership to redevelop a 7-acre project in Baltimore; continuing to work on Waterfront Station, a joint venture in Southwest DC; and acquiring a new property in Montgomery County.

Our community efforts have also been recognized. AHC Greater Baltimore's Health and Wellness Program at MonteVerde Apartments received the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition's 2019 Innovation Award for creating a comprehensive onsite network to help elderly residents improve access to health care services and decrease isolation.

Other Resident Services accomplishments include a new Career Fair initiative for middle and high school students that is already paying off with internships and job shadowing opportunities. All 24 AHC high school grads went to college - the first in their families. We are also thrilled by our students' impressive persistence rate in college. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, 84% of AHC students stick with college and graduate. This compares to 56% of first-generation students and 74% of students with college-educated parents. We credit our awesome tutors, onsite K-12 programs and, of course, our amazing students' determination and tenacity for this impressive achievement.

Along with our Resident Services programs, AHC is also committed to building community throughout the areas we serve. This year, for example, we hosted a Faith and Housing Round Table in Alexandria that included the HUD Secretary and City representatives. We also created a safety initiative in Arlington's Green Valley neighborhood with community partners and AHC residents. And, in Baltimore, our annual Women's Empowerment Conference inspired more than 25 local residents to connect and overcome obstacles.

None of our work (or successes) would be possible without the support of our many volunteers, partners and supporters. We are grateful for each and every one of you and all you do to provide affordable homes and strong futures for residents in the communities we serve.

The year-long Colonial Village West renovation in Arlington is complete! To celebrate, AHC and Harkins Builders hosted a holiday gathering for residents in the brand new community room. The 750-square-foot community space will be furnished with computers and plenty of activity space. 

The renovation focused on improving sustainability and building systems, including all new energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, water-saving fixtures, new windows, roofs and plumbing.

The large 1930s garden-style apartment community is on the National Register of Historic Places. An AHC community since 1982, the apartment community serves 70 families and seniors.

The $24 million renovation financing came together with support from long-time AHC partners, including a tax-exempt bond issuance by the Arlington County Industrial Development Authority, 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA), and a permanent loan from Freddie Mac through Capitol One.