Solar Panels Installed at Columbia Grove
Energy-saving panels heat water | APAH recently installed solar panels on one building at Columb ia Grove Apartments to reduce hot water heating costs. The panels were funded in part by a grant from the Virginia Department of Minerals and Mines. Skyline Innovations installed 60 solar panels, serving 6 buildings (88 units) at Columbia Grove. We expect to save $5,000 a year for the first 10 years and then $10,000 a year after that. (Savings for the first 10 years is shared with the installer.) |
| APAH Speaks Out in Support of Affordable Housing Finance
Capitol Hill panel underscores value of Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program |
 | | Robert Rozen, Yvonne Aiken, Nina Janopaul |
APAH President/CEO Nina Janopaul and Columbia Grove Resident Yvonne Aiken spoke in support of affordable housing and the importance of Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) financing at a recent House Caucus session moderated by APAH Board member Robert Rozen. "Eight APAH properties (including Columbia Grove), totaling nearly 600 units have been funded through this highly effective financing program," said Nina Janopaul during her presentation. "Since APAH purchased Columbia Grove, they have worked to create a strong community where we know and help our neighbors," added Yvonne Aiken. The LIHTC program has become a highly efficient and effective tool in generating private equity capital for affordable rental housing. The LIHTC program has helped meet a critical affordable housing shortage by stimulating the production or rehabilitation of nearly 2.5 million affordable homes nationwide. Of those, 81,000 affordable homes are in Virginia. Through development activity, the LIHTC program creates and supports approximately 95,000 jobs annually.
APAH chooses Bank of America Merrill Lynch as LIHTC equity partner for Arlington Mill
APAH selected Bank of America Merrill Lynch as the LIHTC equity partner for construction of Arlington Mill Residences. See the news release for details. |
| Meet APAH Board Member
Susan Bell joins APAH Board | |
Susan Ingraham Bell was the Director of Arlington's Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development from 1998 until her retirement in 2011. Her division has primary responsibility for comprehensive planning, project development, affordable housing policy, neighborhood programs, capital projects and historic preservation, construction permits and inspections. Since retirement, she is working as an independent planning consultant and spending time with her daughters.
In April 2011, the Arlington County Civic Federation honored Ms. Bell with an award recognizing her "fair, open and effective leadership" and willingness to work with local residents. She holds a master's degree in urban and regional planning from George Washington University. She and her family reside in Arlington's Lyon Park neighborhood. |
| Resident Services Hosts a Variety of Programs
Columbia Grove and Marbella residents focus on parenting, education, workplace-related programs and community-building. |  APAH resident services recently hosted programs on parenting, gang prevention and school options for children with special needs. In addition, ten residents completed the CPR class and received certification. Among the participants, three needed CPR for their work and one felt CPR would benefit her job search. A mother (who only speaks Arabic) and son took the class together so that he could translate. |
| Mt. Olivet Methodist Church Brings "Change the World" Day to Columbia Grove
Knitters teach basic techniques | |
Several of the 250 members of Mt. Olivet who volunteered at  numerous Northern Virginia locations during the national Change the World Weekend, met at Columbia Grove to teach interested residents how to knit. APAH residents and Mt. Olivet volunteers hope to turn this into a recurring program. A knitting group with a resident leader has been meeting regularly at APAH's Marbella Apartments. |
| APAH Longtime Donors Meet for Legacy Luncheon
Founders and guests meet at new Buchanan Gardens Community Room |  Long-time donors, including APAH Founders Joe and Midge Wholey and Dolores Leckey, joined APAH Chair Rita Bamberger and President/CEO Nina Janopaul for lunch at the new Buchanan Gardens Community Room in May. The group shared stories about the APAH's early days that will be incorporated into an APAH timeline. Nina Janopaul reported that Buchanan Gardens will be completed in August and that 65% of residents who were with APAH when construction began remain Buchanan residents. APAH also announced our new Legacy Giving Program that includes options for remembering APAH in planned giving options. |
| Pike Plan Calls for Ambitious Affordable Housing Preservation
June 2012 - Columbia Pike Land Use and Housing Study | | Arlington County staff will request that the County Board authorize advertisement of the Pike Plan at its meeting in June 2012, with final consideration and approval scheduled for July 2012. The draft plan contains this specific affordable housing goal: "Retain or replace all (100%) of the current market rate affordable units (MARKS) with rents affordable to households earning at or below 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) within the next 30 years. This equates to approximately 3,200 units." This Plan also identifies the tools to achieve this ambitious goal. For more information on the exact timeframe, visit the County website. |
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