ARLINGTON, Va. (February 8, 2005) – The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) today celebrated the completion of a five-unit apartment building on the grounds of its recently renovated Cameron Commons Apartments with an Open House attended by elected officials, community leaders and Cameron Commons residents. The event, sponsored by Virginia Commerce Bank, was held at Cameron Commons, 2036 North Cameron Street in North Arlington.
APAH purchased the Cameron Commons Apartments property and a vacant lot adjacent to the apartment building in Summer, 2002. Arlington County Affordable Housing Investment Funds provided a key source of financing for the acquisition and planned preservation, rehabilitation and expansion of affordable housing on North Cameron Street.
Cameron Commons is located in the High View Park community, one of Arlington's historic African-American neighborhoods. APAH and its architect worked closely with the John M. Langston Citizens' Association as well as with neighbors and long-term residents of the property to meet the housing needs identified by this working group (affordable family-sized rental housing for large households, multi-generational households and households including persons with disabilities).
APAH then undertook an extensive rehab of the existing building at 2040 North Cameron before beginning construction of a five-unit building next door. In addition to replacing the original building's flat roof with a pitched gable roof and adding exterior lighting at the site, the extensive scope of interior work included conversion of heating and air conditioning systems to individually-controlled and metered gas hydronic units located in each apartment; improvements to the overall electrical system; new kitchen cabinets and appliances (including dishwashers) and flooring; renovation of bathrooms; and installation of new windows, doors and carpeting. Incorporating an abandoned storage room, one of the ground floor apartments was converted into a fully wheelchair-accessible three-bedroom apartment.
Extensive work in the building's common areas included expansion of the laundry facility; replacement of the existing front "storefront" façade windows; improvements to the common area air circulation system; and a controlled access system to enhance building security.
Tenant cooperation and APAH's ongoing resident support program allowed the rehab to be accomplished with no dislocation of residents, although residents did move to a nearby hotel for approximately ten days during the most intense renovation period.
On the adjacent lot at 2036 North Cameron Street, a complementary townhouse-style five-unit structure was built based on neighborhood input that sought to created much needed multi-family housing within the context of an increasingly gentrified townhome and single-family house neighborhood. The five units in 2036 are all large, three-bedroom apartments. One unit is fully handicapped accessible. The new building maximizes use of the lot's challenging topography and the two second-story apartments have nine-story high ceilings, further adding to the feel of space and light. Innovative architectural elements are unique to each unit.
The majority of the sixteen total units at Cameron Commons are reserved to serve households with incomes at or below 50% of the area median income (AMI). A few units will continue to serve families earning at or below 60% AMI. It is hoped these income parameters will enhance housing opportunities for High View Park's working families.
In addition to Arlington County's participation, project and construction financing was provided by Virginia Commerce Bank and Virginia Housing Development Authority. The Unitarian-Universalist Affordable Housing Corporation provided gap financing.
About APAH
The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1989 whose mission is to provide safe, affordable housing to residents throughout the County. APAH purchases and renovates apartment buildings and rents the units to low- to moderate-income individuals and families. All APAH communities are Equal Housing Opportunity communities.
For more information on the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing, visit us online at www.apah.org. |
