On February 28, 2022, the Arlington County Board voted 5-0 to move forward with the phased redevelopment of the Marbella Apartments as well as $21,400,000 in loan financing (Affordable Housing Investment Fund) for the first phase of the project. A portion of the Marbella’s existing apartments will be redeveloped into two new 12-story buildings with a resulting 555 committed affordable homes (CAFs)—an unprecedented number for one location in the County. All 555 homes will remain affordable for 75 years and will include much-needed family-sized and senior units. In addition to the nearly 500 new units on the site, approximately 60 existing older garden-style apartments will be renovated to better serve the current families in need of affordable housing.
The project will also help achieve digital equity in Arlington by providing hard-wired, free internet access to all residents. The new buildings will meet many green building goals including an array of rooftop solar panels and a green roof, as well as native plantings and stormwater management features.
The Marbella’s developer, Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH), will now begin applying for financing and permitting for the first phase of the project, which will begin construction in 2023.
The Marbella is an ideal location for affordable housing because it ensures that residents have convenient access to the Rosslyn and Courthouse Metro stations, bus transit, restaurants, parks, and employment.
AHS applauds this important step forward for affordable housing in Arlington and urged the County Board to support the project.
AHS’s full letter to the County Board reads:
February 11, 2022
Hon. Katie Cristol
2100 Clarendon Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22201
Dear Ms. Cristol,
The Alliance for Housing Solutions is writing to support the Marbella Apartments redevelopment project to be considered by the Board on Feb. 12. We would like to thank you, the other Board members, and County staff for maintaining affordable housing as a priority.
The Marbella Apartments will provide 555 newly constructed units, which will be committed affordable units (CAFs) for a period of 75 years. The developer also proposes to preserve and renovate the remaining garden-style apartments in the complex. Use of the new Zoning Ordinance amendment allowing additional height is an important component of the success of this project. We applaud the number of family-sized units planned for these buildings and the depth of affordability of the units, as well as the designation of 125 senior-restricted apartments.
The Marbella Apartments project is an excellent example of appropriate in-fill development for this site and will provide housing, employment access, and community opportunities, to hundreds of low-wage families in this resource-rich neighborhood. It will advance County priorities of equity and sustainability, two important goals in Arlington’s Affordable Housing Master Plan.
We urge the Board to support this important project in the Radnor-Fort Myer Heights neighborhood, and once again thank you for your continued commitment to affordable housing throughout Arlington.
Thank you for your consideration,
Jenny Denney Lawson
Chair, Board of Directors
Martha Bozman
Interim Executive Director