New Community Elevates Standards of Mixed-Income Housing and is
FIRST and ONLY EarthCraft-Certified High-Rise Community in Virginia
ARLINGTON, VA — April 26, 2017 — The Bozzuto Group and non-profit developer Wesley Housing Development Corporation were joined today by State Senator Barbara Favola and representatives from the Virginia Housing Development Authority and Arlington County to celebrate the grand opening of Union on Queen, a mixed-income, multifamily community in Arlington. The community offers 193 apartment residences, of which 78 (40 percent) are designated as affordable housing. Significant support was given to this project from Arlington County and the Virginia Housing Development Authority as well as from financial partners Capital One, Hudson Housing, Walker & Dunlop and Freddie Mac.
The community offers market rate apartments and affordable apartments during a time when there is growing demand for mixed-income housing in the Washington metropolitan area. As one of the few mixed-income housing developments in Arlington, the community plays a pivotal role in helping fulfill Arlington County’s Affordable Housing Master Plan while inspiring other developers to build mixed-income communities.
At Union on Queen, housing is affordable to households earning 50 percent and 60 percent of area median income. By creating mixed-income communities with affordable housing options, teachers, police officers and firefighters, as well as low-income renters such as service workers with jobs essential to the community (restaurant staff, retail clerks, cashiers, daycare workers, hairdressers, maintenance technicians and security guards), or retired people living on Social Security income, can live in the neighborhoods where they work.
Union on Queen elevates the standard of future mixed-income housing by achieving historic preservation goals of Arlington County and dedicates 41 percent of its site to open space. It also received the first and only EarthCraft-certification for a high-rise community in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Union on Queen is located at 1515 N. Queen Street in downtown Arlington, with easy access to Route 50, 1-66 and the George Washington Parkway. This 12-story, LEED Silver certified development is considered a transit-oriented community because of its proximity to the Orange, Blue and Silver Metro lines at the Rosslyn and Courthouse stations which quickly connects residents to the Washington metropolitan area. It is a short walk to the many excellent restaurants, shopping and entertainment options in neighboring Georgetown and Rosslyn.
“Our company has had a long held belief that the best way to provide affordable housing was in mixed-income communities,” said Tom Bozzuto, Chairman and Founder – Bozzuto. “Union on Queen embodies the shared belief of our development partners that home should be a sanctuary, regardless of location or cost. Thank you to our partner Wesley Housing and our friends at Arlington County. Together, we are creating a strong community for future generations.”
“We strive to build homes that create meaning for our residents and give them a sense of purpose,” said Toby Bozzuto, president and CEO, Bozzuto. “Union on Queen is an exceptionally designed project that offers our residents many choices and caters to many lifestyles. It enhances the neighborhood through outstanding design and materials while establishing a strong sense of pride in the community that is shared by all residents.”
“This community welcomes everyone no matter where they fall on the economic scale,” stated Shelley Murphy, President of Wesley Housing Development. “Working with our partners at Bozzuto and Arlington County, we have helped stabilize the neighborhood with quality living arrangements for residents with mixed-incomes and their families. This development is significant in Arlington County’s Affordable Housing Master Plan and provides housing that is affordable for a broad range of Arlington residents.”
“Affordable housing has a positive impact on the future of a community,” stated Virginia Senator Barbara Favola. “Union on Queen helps provide a foundation on which families can build stable and productive lives. I am proud of the role and support that the Commonwealth of Virginia has played in its success.”
“Union on Queen provides wonderfully updated and new apartment homes to hundreds of Arlington families. It also represents the next generation of housing affordability because it is better integrated into the surrounding community, has features that will help its residents save money with access to more ways to get to and from work, and helps to strengthen our economy,” said Arlington County Housing Director David Cristeal.
“We’re thrilled that Union on Queen has welcomed it first residents, an important milestone in the county’s effort to increase the availability of affordable housing,” said Ed Delany, senior vice president, Community Finance, Capital One. “Affordable housing helps strengthen communities, and partnering to play a role in that process is exciting. This is particularly the case when it involves a project such as Union on Queen, which embodies how the availability of top tier design and sustainability can reach across income levels.”
Union on Queen’s well-designed floor plans include studio apartments as well as one, two, and three bedrooms. Its numerous amenity spaces encourage neighbors to socialize and interact. The community’s outdoor living areas flow seamlessly into a landscaped patio with comfortable seating surrounding large outdoor kitchens next to an inviting fire pit and green space. The expansive rooftop deck with fireside lounge, coffee bar and kitchen offers incomparable views of the United States Capitol building.
Architectural firm Davis Carter Scott designed Union on Queen, with interior design by Design Works. Bozzuto Construction Company served as the general contractor.
About Bozzuto
The Bozzuto Group is an experiential real estate company that is continually celebrated for its developments, customer service and workplace culture. With an expertise in homebuilding, multifamily development, construction and management for itself and its clients, Bozzuto is devoted to crafting extraordinary experiences.
Founded in 1988, Bozzuto has developed, acquired and built more than 42,000 homes and apartments. Currently, it manages more than 60,000 apartments and two million square feet of retail space along the East Coast between Miami and Boston, in the Northeast and Chicago. www.bozzuto.com
About Wesley Housing Development Corporation
Wesley Housing Development Corporation (Wesley Housing), a leading non-profit Northern Virginia developer, has been working to provide affordable rental housing for families for more than 40 years. In its four decades of service, Wesley Housing has emerged as a premier developer of affordable housing with a portfolio with a market value of more than $76 million. Wesley Housing has acquired 26 rental properties, providing quality housing for more than 2,200 at-risk children and their families. Wesley Housing supplements housing with supportive services for residents, including low- and moderate-income families, seniors, and the disabled.