The Macedonian - Bringing Green, Affordable Apartments to Arlington

Boasting a wide array of environmentally-friendly features and affordable prices, the new Macedonian apartment community in Arlington, VA was completed in March 2011, and soon had its 36 spaces filled with residents.

"The Macedonian happened because government, property owners and residents worked together to achieve a common goal-"high-quality, green, affordable housing," said Chris Zimmerman, chairman of the Arlington County Board. "These 36 apartments are the newest additions to the County's growing inventory of affordable housing - which now includes nearly 6,200 committed affordable units."

The $12 million development, which utilized $3.4 million in HOME funds, is the culmination of a partnership among AHC Inc., a nonprofit affordable housing developer based in Arlington, VA; Macedonia Baptist Church, the property owner; Arlington County Department of Housing; Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA); and Enterprise Communities. Located in Arlington's historic Nauck community, the four-story building includes 19 one-bedroom and 17 two-bedroom apartments. The ground floor of the building also houses more than 2,000 square feet of commercial space for the Bonder and Amanda Johnson Community Development Corporation and has room for a planned business incubator.

In addition to its ample space, The Macedonian has multiple "green" features, including a green roof to reduce both storm water run-off and heat build-up and a unique centralized heating/cooling system. These features earned the development certification from EarthCraft Virginia, a company that works to certify quality homes while still protecting the environment.

"The Macedonian is the most energy efficient multifamily building we've done in northern Virginia with some of the best integrated design we've seen in the state," said Philip Agee, Green Building Technical Manager at EarthCraft Virginia.

The apartments' additional green amenities include Energy Star appliances, low-emissivity double pane windows and water-conserving plumbing fixtures. The community also includes a laundry room, roof-top deck, computer room, 38 underground parking spaces and a secure entry.

Targeted for residents earning between 50 and 60 percent of the area's median income, the apartments are accessible by bus to the Metro rail and to shopping, services and activities in the nearby Shirlington neighborhood. Rental assistance will be provided through Arlington County's Supportive Housing Program to five housing units reserved for residents with physical and mental disabilities.

Financing for the Macedonian was provided by Arlington County's Affordable Housing Investment Fund, bonds from the Virginia Housing Development Authority and a low-income housing tax credit equity investment from Enterprise Community Investment, Inc. Other partners included Bonstra Haresign Architects and Bozzuto Construction.

"The Macedonian exemplifies innovative, green affordable housing that provides not only quality homes for those who need them most, but are also beneficial for the community as a whole," said Walter D. Webdale, AHC President and CEO.