Stay in the Know
Sign up for news and updates
September 24, 2025
Alexandria, VA – September 24, 2025: We are pleased to announce that Wesley Housing was selected by JBG SMITH, a developer and owner of high-quality, mixed-use properties across the D.C. metropolitan area, to be their affordable housing partner as part of the Potomac Yard redevelopment. JBG SMITH will donate land to support a new affordable housing community in the City of Alexandria.
Wesley Housing plans to develop approximately 88 affordable rental apartments on the 0.55-acre parcel of land (601 E. Glebe Road), donated by JBG SMITH. The proposed six-story building will feature predominantly family-sized two- and three-bedroom units, serving households earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income (AMI). On average, rents will be affordable to households at 60% of AMI. Planned amenities include a multipurpose community room, a leasing office, bike storage, and other resident-focused spaces.
This new community is part of JBG SMITH’s large-scale redevelopment of Potomac Yard into a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood that combines housing, retail, and transit access. Located directly adjacent to the Potomac Yard Metro station, the affordable homes will offer residents unparalleled access to jobs, schools, and amenities, ensuring families can thrive in one of Alexandria’s most dynamic growth areas.
“This development presents a rare opportunity to create deeply affordable housing in a high-opportunity, transit-oriented neighborhood,” said Wesley Housing’s President and CEO, Kamilah McAfee. “The community will expand opportunity and choice for families who may otherwise be priced out of our region.”
The development also supports the City of Alexandria’s forthcoming Housing 2040 Master Plan, which outlines the next generation of housing goals through 2040. By creating committed affordable rental homes for households at or below 60% of AMI in a transit-accessible location, the development advances the City’s goals to expand housing options across income levels and life stages, strengthen resident stability, and contribute to broader land use, transportation, and sustainability priorities.
“Our collaboration with Wesley Housing reflects JBG SMITH’s commitment to ensuring Potomac Yard is a community that everyone can call home,” said Taylor Lawch, JBG SMITH’s Co-Head of Development. “By contributing land for affordable housing as part of our larger redevelopment, we are creating a more inclusive neighborhood that offers a diverse array of housing options.”
Wesley Housing and JBG SMITH are working together to advance the development through the City of Alexandria’s entitlement process, including community meetings and coordination with City staff as part of the Development Special Use Permit (DSUP) submission process. The development remains on schedule as it moves through the review process. Wesley Housing expects to pursue competitive Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) to support construction, alongside the substantial land donation from JBG Smith.
###
About Wesley Housing: Wesley Housing, a leading nonprofit developer in Virginia and DC, has worked to provide affordable rental housing for individuals and families for more than 50 years. Since its founding, Wesley Housing has emerged as a premier developer of affordable housing. Wesley Housing currently owns over 3,000 rental units, providing quality housing for thousands of individuals and families each year. Wesley Housing supplements housing with supportive services to build up the lives of more than 4,700 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
About JBG SMITH: JBG SMITH owns, operates, and develops mixed-use properties concentrated in amenity-rich, Metro-served submarkets in and around Washington, DC, most notably National Landing, that we believe have long-term growth potential and appeal to residential, office, and retail tenants. Through an intense focus on placemaking, JBG SMITH cultivates vibrant, highly amenitized, walkable neighborhoods throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Approximately 75.0% of JBG SMITH’s holdings are in the National Landing submarket in Northern Virginia, which is anchored by four key demand drivers: Amazon’s headquarters; Virginia Tech’s $1 billion Innovation Campus; proximity to the Pentagon; and our placemaking initiatives and public infrastructure improvements. JBG SMITH’s dynamic portfolio currently comprises 12.0 million square feet at share of multifamily, office and retail assets, 98% of which are Metro-served. It also maintains a development pipeline encompassing 8.7 million square feet of mixed-use, primarily multifamily, development opportunities. JBG SMITH is committed to the operation and development of green, smart, and healthy buildings and plans to maintain carbon neutral operations annually. For more information on JBG SMITH please visit www.jbgsmith.com.