Housing and Economic Development Go Hand in Hand at Goodwill Project in Arlington
Pictured above: Virginia Housing breaks ground alongside representatives from AHC, Goodwill of Greater Washington, Arlington County Board and Amazon.
July 23, 2026Across the Commonwealth, many communities are finding that the best way to provide quality, affordable housing is to think beyond just housing. Virginia Housing was recently among various partners on hand for the groundbreaking of Goodwill of Greater Washington, a multifamily housing development by Affordable Homes and Communities (AHC) that is among the only mixed-use developments in Virginia to combine designated affordable housing with commercial retail.
Homes at the Goodwill of Greater Washington development will be available to households earning between 30-60% of the area median income, and 94 of the 128 units will offer either two or three bedrooms, ensuring options for larger households. There will also be a childcare center, a Goodwill flagship store and a donation center, along with seven permanent supportive housing units that combine long-term affordability with support services for people with chronic illnesses, disabilities or mental health issues.
Space in the childcare center will be set aside for the children of building residents and Goodwill staff before it is offered to the public. Residents will also have access to an array of transportation options, as the site sits at the corner of two of Arlington’s main arterials, is served by transit lines and is adjacent to a forthcoming branch of Arlington’s off-street trail network.
“This project is merging affordable housing with other critical components of economic development, including workforce development and community revitalization,” said Markus Crewe, Virginia Housing Northern Virginia Community Outreach Regional Manager. “It’s very unique. Economic mobility is the end goal here, and we’re thrilled to see so many partners come to the table to get this type of innovation off the ground.”
AHC received a Virginia Housing Predevelopment Loan for the Goodwill of Greater Washington development in 2024, using the funds for architecture and engineering services, and site plan review. Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs) and Housing Opportunity Tax Credits (HOTCs), both administered through Virginia Housing, are helping to finance construction. Financing for the project also includes construction and Freddie Mac-securitized permanent loans from Capital One, as well as funding from Arlington County’s Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF), the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund.
“This project unites economic development and community service with affordable housing,” said Anne Venezia, Housing Director at the Arlington Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development. “The new building will provide space for community-serving businesses, as well as new committed affordable homes that meet several goals of the county’s Affordable Housing Master Plan. It’s a great example of how mixed-use can translate to multi-benefit.”