The Arlington County Board has approved $18 million in revenue bonds to support the redevelopment of the Goodwill on S. Glebe Road.
The funding will benefit AHC Inc., which is partnering with Goodwill to develop affordable housing on the site, located at 10 S. Glebe Road in the Alcova Heights community.
In February 2023, Goodwill announced its selection of AHC (Affordable Homes & Communities) to redevelop the parcel on which its 1950s-era store and donation center is located.
The project represents the first of its kind in the nation where a Goodwill property and affordable housing will be co-located on a site.
According to county officials:
“The mixed-use project consists of an expanded Goodwill retail and donation center occupying the bottom two floors of the building, 128 committed-affordable housing units located above the retail space, and a child-care center planned to accommodate up to 40 children, all atop two stories of below-grade parking.”
The $18 million in revenue-bond funding will support 65 of those housing units — five studio apartments, 20 one-bedroom units and 40 two-bedroom units. The apartments will be available to those earning between 30% and 60% of area median income.
The bonds, issued via the Arlington Industrial Development Authority, will be secured by the project itself, meaning the county government and taxpayers will not be liable in case of a default.
County officials say AHC aims to close on the ground lease and construction financing by August, beginning construction immediately after closing. Construction is expected to last 27 months.
At the same Jan. 25 meeting, Board members approved issuance of $99 million in Industrial Revenue Authority bonds in support of affordable-housing development on the Crystal House parcel.
True Ground Housing Partners, formerly the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing, is the development partner on that project.
The Crystal House infill project will provide 344 affordable units, county officials say.
