From left: Steve Smith, Truist; Rich Jordan, APAH Board of Directors; Rev. Sarah Harrison-McQueen, CUMC; Tammy Neale, Virginia Housing; Jeanne Butler, Unity Homes resident; Chair Libby Garvey, Arlington County Board; Maureen Coffey, Arlington County Board; Susan Cunningham, Arlington County Board; Carmen Romero, APAH.
On Monday, April 15, Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) and Central United Methodist Church (CUMC) marked the grand opening of Unity Homes at Ballston, a new mixed-use development located at 4201 Fairfax Drive in Arlington. The occasion was celebrated among project partners and local officials, including representatives from Arlington County Board, Virginia state legislature, and the offices of U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, and U.S. Rep. Don Beyer. The new, eight-story property replaced the former CUMC church building with 144 affordable homes co-located with a modernized church sanctuary space, Kinhaven School daycare serving approximately 90 children, and Provision Church Catering’s commercial kitchen space. This project adds needed affordable housing in a high-opportunity, transit-accessible location in the heart of Ballston.
APAH President and CEO Carmen Romero expressed, “We are proud that Unity Homes at Ballston is finally here — this project encountered multiple obstacles on the path to redevelopment, but together with our partners at CUMC, Arlington County, and so many others, we pressed forward. It's an honor to partner with CUMC to bring their calling to life, transforming the site and co-locating their new space with affordable housing.”
Project Details
Unity Homes at Ballston serves residents earning between 30-60% of the area median income (AMI) and features 108 one-bedroom apartments, 24 two-bedroom apartments, and 12 three-bedroom apartments. Fifteen units are deeply affordable to residents earning 30% or less AMI.
Residents will enjoy 5,000 square feet of amenity space, an outdoor courtyard with a green roof, and multiple community rooms and flex space for regular activities. It features energy-efficient building techniques. APAH’s resident services program provides a full-time coordinator to connect residents with local resources, provide individualized support, and organize resident-centered programming onsite.
Unity Homes at Ballston is notably transit-accessible, located directly across from Ballston-MU Metrorail station and multiple Metrobus stops. A new commercial kitchen space, occupied by Provision Church Catering, will provide onsite meal distribution and mission-minded catering services. This prime location is within walking distance of multiple universities, grocery stores, retail and recreational amenities, and ample employment opportunities.
The new CUMC sanctuary space features 11 stained-glass windows from the original church building and streaming technology to meet the congregation’s current needs and goals.
Public Art
A Louis Comfort Tiffany stained-glass window, Christ in Blessing, that was previously in the Abbey Mausoleum in Arlington is located in the new church narthex. This piece is the largest of 13 windows reclaimed from the mausoleum by Arlington Public Art in partnership with the Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing & Development Historic Preservation Program. Christ in Blessing is available for public viewing on Sundays 10 a.m. to 12 noon and Monday through Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.