Expanding Impact: Walter Webdale and the Evolution of AHC

Part of a story series about AHC’s 50-Year History

In 1999, Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC) appointed Walter Webdale as its first President & CEO during a pivotal time when the organization was focused on increasing its regional impact through multifamily housing.

AHC had also just cleared a major hurdle: bylaws that had limited its work to Arlington.

“As a result, we preserved or built much-needed affordable housing in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Alexandria, Fairfax County, and Montgomery County,” Walter said.

Growing the Portfolio

Walter Webdale, pictured on the left, discussing housing plans with a board member.

When Walter first started, AHC had 1,600 apartments across 13 Arlington apartment communities. Growing that portfolio meant finding creative solutions in a market where land was scarce, and real estate prices were climbing. One approach was redevelopment: building on land AHC already owned.

AHC devised a plan to construct two mid-rise buildings on a large, underutilized parking lot at Woodbury Park. The adjacent Frederick and The Park were completed in 2007. The Frederick added 108 new affordable apartments in Arlington County, in addition to the existing 364 at Woodbury Park. The Park, next to the Frederick, consisted of 99 market-rate condominiums whose sales provided part of Frederick’s financing.

AHC also partnered with area churches whose congregations had shrunk and could no longer maintain their large properties. Through partnerships with Macedonia Baptist Church in Arlington and St. James and the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Alexandria, AHC developed three apartment communities with 242 affordable homes. (See these faith-based communities.)

Walter Webdale, pictured second from left, at The Macedonian groundbreaking with local politicians and a community member.

The result gave congregations a new way to fulfill their missions beginning in the 2010s and early 2020s.

More Than Housing

For Walter, the work always extended beyond physical buildings. He believes stable housing gives families the foundation to put down roots — children enroll in local schools, families join community groups, and neighbors build support networks.

“Stable housing is the springboard to a better life.”
– Walter Webdale, Former AHC President & CEO

“AHC has done that very well, providing affordable housing to thousands of vulnerable families in the area for 50 years,” Walter said.

Innovative Land-Swap

Walter calls The Jordan his favorite project. The original 24-unit building on Wilson Boulevard sat on the edge of a single-family neighborhood. When AHC sought to redevelop the site in 2007, nearby residents pushed back, concerned about increased commercial development encroaching on their neighborhood.

Ellen Bozman, former Arlington County Board member and community leader, proposed a solution: a land swap with developer JBG Smith, which had recently acquired the former Bob Peck Chevrolet site on Glebe Road, just a block away. AHC exchanged its original parcel for a portion of JBG’s redevelopment site, resulting in a new 90-unit affordable apartment community in Ballston. JBG, in turn, redeveloped the original Jordan site into townhomes that fit more naturally into the adjacent neighborhood.

“It was challenging, innovative, and incorporated design elements that added livability to the community,” Walter said.

Walter Webdale at the dedication of Ellen’s Trace beside The Jordan.

A narrow strip of land beside The Jordan was also transformed into a quiet urban oasis with plantings and benches, named in honor of Bozman and commemorating her many contributions to Arlington County.

Large-Scale Housing Preservation

The acquisition of The Gates of Ballston in 2002 stands out as another defining moment. The garden-style apartment complex, located in Arlington’s Buckingham Historic District, was under intense pressure from developers looking to convert it to market-rate housing at a time when Arlington’s affordable housing stock was rapidly shrinking. AHC, with financial support from Arlington County, joined forces with housing advocates and residents to preserve the 465-unit, 17-acre community.

After taking ownership, AHC undertook full rehabilitation of every apartment, added three-bedroom units, relandscaped extensively, and built a two-story community center to expand onsite Resident Services.

“I think we really reached a whole new level of expertise and sophistication,” he said.

Walter Webdale, pictured on the far left, at the ribbon-cutting of The Gates of Ballston community center.

A Lasting Mission

Walter Webdale, pictured in the middle, at a construction site with builders.

Looking back, Walter regards AHC as a pioneer in affordable housing development and in building the public-private partnerships that made innovative projects possible. He credits Resident Services, first introduced under Executive Director Lou Ann Frederick, as one of AHC’s most enduring contributions.

By offering programs directly where residents live, AHC set itself apart from other housing providers and became a leader in the field — connecting residents with afterschool programs, summer camps, tutoring, and career counseling right at home.

When asked about legacy, Walter comes back to the organization’s resilience.

“Affordable housing is a hard business, and it hasn’t gotten any easier. Yet groups like AHC … succeed because they keep at it, despite the odds and challenges that happen along the way.”
– Walter Webdale, Former AHC President & CEO

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