AHC Inc., an Arlington developer of low-income housing, was recently honored with the 2020 Excellence in Housing Affordability Award from Urban Land Institute (ULI) Washington, a district council of the national nonprofit. This award recognizes AHC’s Alexandria, Va. apartment community St. James Plaza for providing quality affordable housing that enhances people’s lives.

The Trends Conference Awards highlight innovative and exceptional developments that enrich neighborhoods in the Metropolitan Washington Region. AHC Inc. was selected from among 40 nominees. All nominated projects embody excellence and creativity across a number of categories, including developmental approach, land use economics, access and mobility, sustainability, and community and culture.

AHC Inc.’s St. James Plaza was distinguished for its innovative design, zone planning, and local partnerships. The apartment community includes a mix of efficiencies, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartment homes for households earning up to 60 percent of the area median income.

The $32 million development transformed a three-acre parcel of land owned by a long-time church, St. James Methodist Church, into a vibrant mixed-income, mixed-use community.

The site also includes a 2,300-square-foot preschool for 50 children. Operated by nonprofit The Campagna Center, the school is located on the first floor of St. James Plaza. Thirty-one market-rate townhomes, developed by Craftmark, further integrate the development into the existing single-family neighborhood.

Inside the apartments, oversized windows add an airy, open feeling to the apartments, which also include wood-toned vinyl-plank floors and contemporary finishes. Other amenities include a play area, community room, fitness center, and underground parking.

Development partners include the City of Alexandria, Capital One Bank, Hudson Housing Capital, Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), NeighborWorks and NeighborWorks Capital. Designed by Cunningham-Quill Architects, the five-story building was constructed by Harkins Builders.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized among so many innovative developments in the metro-D.C. area,” said John Welsh, VP of Multifamily Group at AHC Inc. “As we develop our properties, we make each decision with affordability, sustainability and quality in mind, and we’re proud of creating communities that residents love to call home.”

Based in Arlington, AHC has developed more than 7,500 apartment units in 50+ properties in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. AHC’s Resident Services program reaches 3,000 children, teens, adults and seniors each year through on-site education and social service programs and activities. For more information, visit https://www.ahcinc.org/.