Wesley Housing Breaks Ground on The Cadence and
Celebrates Preservation of Two Nearby Apartments
Photo by Dan Brown
Arlington, VA – October 7, 2020: Wesley Housing, Arlington County, and other project partners gathered on Tuesday to break ground on The Cadence, a new affordable family development in the Buckingham neighborhood of North Arlington. Additionally, attendees celebrated two of Wesley Housing’s imminent preservation projects located less than one block away, making the ceremony a unique 3-in-1 celebration showcasing Wesley’s vision of a campus-like community.
The ceremony, limited in size to adhere to current guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control, officially kicked off the construction of The Cadence’s 97 affordable units, including five efficiencies, 41 one bedrooms, 40 two bedrooms, 11 three bedrooms, 10 fully accessible ADA compliant apartments, and a co-located Community Resource Center. Resident amenities will also include a fitness center, on-site laundry facilities, interior courtyard, indoor bike storage space, playground, and below-ground parking. Wesley Housing will be meeting Energy Star and EarthCraft Multifamily Gold green building standards for the new development.
The Cadence received a substantial contribution from Arlington County including loans from the Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF), Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), as well as significant funding from the Virginia Housing Trust Fund (VHTF).
“Arlington County is pleased to be a partner in this development by helping finance the construction of 97 much needed units of affordable housing. Once constructed, this development will help provide over 51 family sized units to low-income families, helping to meet an incredible need in our community,” said Libby Garvey, Chair of Arlington County Board.
Photo by Dan Brown
“Virginia Housing is proud to play a role in these three important affordable housing financings. These developments demonstrate the importance of the federal Housing Tax Credit, which is being used here to facilitate both new construction, and the rehabilitation of existing apartment homes. Virginia Housing is also pleased to be providing permanent mortgage financing for The Cadence development,” said Art Bowen, Managing Director of Rental Housing of Virginia Housing.
Knightsbridge Apartments and Whitefield Commons, two neighboring communities owned and operated by Wesley Housing, will also undergo major exterior and interior renovations while preserving affordability. Knightsbridge Apartments will soon begin substantial renovation of its existing 37-units in order to improve and modernize its operational efficiencies for the long-term preservation of this project-based Section 8 property. Following an award of 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits earlier this year, Whitefield Commons is also poised to begin a major renovation and the addition of five new units at the current 63-unit historically significant garden-style apartment complex. Knightsbridge Apartments and Whitefield Commons presently serve households at or below 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and at or below 60% of the AMI, respectively.
“We are thrilled to be moving forward on these three projects with the support and expertise of our valued partners,” said Wesley Housing President/CEO Shelley Murphy. “Once complete, our Buckingham campus will truly reflect a shared commitment to develop and preserve affordable housing at varied income levels, including the creation of 23 additional fully accessible units that are very much needed in Arlington.”
To learn more about the projects or to sign-up to receive future leasing information, please visit WesleyHousing.org.
About Wesley Housing: Wesley Housing, a leading nonprofit developer in Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia, has been working to provide affordable rental housing for families for more than 45 years. Since its founding, Wesley Housing has emerged as a premier developer of affordable housing. Wesley Housing has acquired or developed 2,300 rental units, providing quality housing for thousands of at-risk individuals and families each year. Wesley Housing supplements housing with supportive services to build up the lives of its residents, including low- and moderate-income families, older adults, and individuals with disabilities and/or chronic disease. For more information, please visit www.wesleyhousing.org and follow @WesleyHousing on social media.
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