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Arlington,
VA (January 25, 2007) - On Thursday, February 8, 2007 at 11:00 am, the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) will break ground for Rosslyn Ridge, an innovative apartment building to be constructed using green building practices. The 15 story, 238- unit building -- 13 efficiencies, 138 one-bedrooms, 66 two-bedrooms, 14 three-bedrooms, and 7 three-bedroom town homes - will include 98 affordable units, and replaces an APAH-owned 22-unit garden apartment building, also known as Rosslyn Ridge. Virginia and Arlington County officials will join in the ceremony at 1531 N. Pierce Street. With respect to the State's funding, the project represents one of the single largest financing packages for the Virginia Housing Development Authority.
"With the increasing shortage of properties, this type of redevelopment may represent our best hope to add a significant number of apartments affordable to hard-working people such as teachers, first-responders, and nurses," comments Carolyn Settles, APAH's Board Chair.
One innovation is the local government partnership. "Arlington County has been a key partner since we began planning. Inclusion of development density from a park across from the site - without impinging on the park -- allows a much larger building than would have otherwise been possible. Increased density creates an economy of scale. It makes the project economically feasible and permits a larger number of affordable units," notes Douglas Peterson, APAH's Executive Director.
Green building practices also marks Rosslyn Ridge, an innovative multi-family home development. Believing that affordable housing is more than low rents and that green building is critical to sustainability and long term ownership, APAH has adopted green building practices as policy. APAH has committed to build one of the first Silver Certified LEED apartment buildings in Northern Virginia, one of several in the area. Components include heightened recycling of the existing building materials, a green roof, non-emitting paints and adhesives, and the use of non-toxic cleaning products. The Smart Growth Alliance of Washington DC has identified the project as a unique and significant Green Building. Not only do these practices result in lower operational costs and make economic sense for an owner, APAH believes that growing numbers of people will chose "green buildings" for philosophical and even health reasons, and will publicize an anticipated enthusiastic response by potential renters to urge more multi-family housing developers to adopt green building practices.
Founded in 1989, the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing is a private nonprofit whose mission is to provide safe, affordable housing to residents throughout the County. Our communities are Equal Housing Opportunity Communities. For more information visit us online at www.apah.org.
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