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Top 8 Stories From 2024

An outdoor pool area with lounge chairs and flowers, set in front of a brick apartment building; inset circles show a group of three smiling women and an older man holding a gift and flowers.

In 2024, Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC) celebrated grand openings, graduations, and milestones in real estate development. Thank you to all of the partners, donors, volunteers, and staff members who helped make the year one full of progress and community-building, all while keeping residents at the heart. Check out AHC’s top 8 stories from 2024 below.

1. AHC Approved for Phase II of Terraces Redevelopment

Affordable Homes & Communities received zoning approval from Arlington County for the second phase of redevelopment at The Terraces at Arlington View community.

A modern, multi-story apartment building with large windows and varied brick exterior lines a tree-lined street. Pedestrians walk on sidewalks, and cars are parked or driving on the road under a bright, partly cloudy sky.

The plan will replace 37 apartments on the west side of South Rolfe Street with 78 new apartments, more than doubling the homes and furthering our revitalization work in this community. Read more.

2. Meeting the Need: AHC Opens Health & Wellness Suite

A smiling man in a beige cap and graphic t-shirt holds a wrapped gift basket with a purple ribbon, sitting indoors with colorful artwork on the walls behind him.

Affordable Homes & Communities and partner National Capital Treatment & Recovery (NCTR) held a grand opening of the Health & Wellness Suite at MonteVerde Apartments on April 29.

MonteVerde is a northwest Baltimore City community for nearly 300 seniors and non-elderly residents with a disability.

NCTR, a provider of treatment for people with substance use disorders, is using the space to support residents onsite through substance misuse treatment and counseling. Read more.

3. Grand Opening of The Westerly in Southwest DC

On June 17, Affordable Homes & Communities, Hoffman & Associates, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, and Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen celebrated the grand opening of The Westerly, located in the heart of the district’s Southwest neighborhood.

A group of people stand smiling in front of The Westerly building entrance, holding a red ribbon for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 350 Maple Drive. Some hold large scissors, and greenery is visible behind the glass doors.

This new community includes 449 apartments, 136 of which are affordable. They range from studios to two-bedrooms with dens. Read more and watch a video about the opening.

4. AHC Celebrates 2024 CCR Graduates

A group of graduates in semi-formal clothes sit and stand together, joyfully tossing their caps in the air under a festive arrangement of black, gold, and white balloons.

Family, friends, and mentors celebrated the 42 graduates of AHC’s College & Career Readiness (CCR) program on June 17.

The graduates received acceptance from 68 out of the 105 schools they applied to and received $3.8 million in gift aid and scholarships from those schools. All of the graduates committed to attending a four-year university or two-year community college. Read more and watch a video from the ceremony.

5. Research Project with Georgetown Students

AHC and a team from Georgetown University’s Executive Master of Business Administration program in Dubai set out to show the impact of AHC’s Resident Services and develop a plan to help AHC reach its five-year goals. On July 18, after months of collaboration, the students presented their findings.

A diverse group of people stands outdoors, smiling and posing together. They hold a round sign that says ahc Affordable Homes & Communities, highlighting their commitment to the Affordable Homes & Communities Strategic Plan. Trees and brick buildings are visible in the background.

The students collaborated with a team of AHC staff to learn about AHC’s Resident Services, operations, and finances. The team analyzed data and developed steps AHC can take to expand in many areas, including fundraising, sustainability, and communications. Read more.

6. Dyslexic Edge, IMSE, AHC, and the Booz Allen Foundation Announce Partnership

Two young children sit at a table and smile, working on a science project using lemons and wires. The girl wears a pink shirt, and the boy wears a white shirt with a cartoon character.

In October, AHC launched an innovative program called Dyslexic Edge Academy with partners Dyslexic Edge, the Booz Allen Foundation, and the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education.

This groundbreaking program provides students in grades 1-3 with critical reading intervention and STEM enrichment in a safe, supportive, and engaging environment where they can develop academic, social, and personal skills. Read more and watch a video of the program in action.

7. AHC + Goodwill: Securing Key Funding

In February, Affordable Homes & Communities and Goodwill of Greater Washington got the greenlight for their proposed redevelopment of Goodwill’s flagship store in Arlington, Virginia.

A modern, multi-story apartment building with a Goodwill store on the ground floor, surrounded by trees, people walking, and cars driving on a sunny day with a blue sky and scattered clouds.

The redevelopment includes 128 apartments, a childcare center, and a brand-new Goodwill retail and donation center.

Since then, the project has received community support and funding, moving it forward in the development pipeline. Read to check out key milestones for the project in 2024.

8. AHC and Partner Make Milestone Acquisition

Lounge chairs line a sunny outdoor pool beside a brick apartment building, with potted flowers and palm leaves in the foreground and blue sky overhead.

Donaldson Impact Investments partnered with Affordable Homes & Communities to acquire Country Place Apartments in Burtonsville, Maryland.

According to the Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA), this is the only deal ever executed with the By-Right Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program and market rate equity which was provided by New York Life and Declaration Partners.

This 312-unit, Class B apartment community marks the newly formed Donaldson Impact Investments’ first acquisition, and the innovative partnership with AHC secures the community’s long-term affordability and introduces new resident services. Read more.