An affordable housing redevelopment project at the Goodwill on S. Glebe Road broke ground over the weekend.
Community leaders joined Goodwill of Greater Washington and Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC) personnel at the ceremony to mark the beginning of work on redeveloping Goodwill’s longstanding retail outlet and collection facility at 10 S. Glebe Road.
When complete, the new facility will include a new Goodwill retail facility and collection center, plus 128 units of affordable housing and an onsite child-care facility. It will be the first national co-location of a Goodwill store with an attached affordable housing component.
The new facility “reflects our commitment to meeting people where they are,” said Catherine Meloy, president/CEO of Goodwill of Greater Washington.
“While we are proud of what this represents today, we are even more inspired by the possibilities it creates for the individuals and families we walk alongside,” Meloy said. “This new space will not just be a destination, but a foundation for opportunity, stability and growth.”
The Goodwill/AHC venture will include 94 family-sized apartments, seven permanent supportive housing units and apartments affordable to those earning between 30% and 60% of area median income.
The partnership “shows how bold collaboration can reimagine what affordable housing can be,” said AHC president/CEO Paul Bernard. “It’s a powerful example of the partnerships and sustained commitment needed to meet today’s housing challenges and build pathways for families to thrive.”
County Board members approved the project in February 2024. Goodwill closed its existing store on the site last fall in preparation for new development.
AHC financed the $81 million project through a variety of local, state and federal funds. The Arlington County government provided $13.6 million in grant and loan funding, while Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund contributed $12.8 million.
“Every family deserves a stable place to call home, and this project shows what’s possible when community partners come together with a shared sense of urgency,” said Senthil Sankaran, the managing principal of Amazon’s housing fund.
Goodwill financed its $16.5 million retail redevelopment through AHC’s ground lease, a construction loan from Capital One and a $1 million donation from the Ryan family. Eagle Bank has committed to providing a permanent loan following construction.
The new project was designed by MTFA Architecture. Harkins Builders is serving as the general contractor.
Goodwill of Greater Washington traces its roots to 1935, and currently operates 24 regional retail stores plus additional contract sites.
