Amazon Offers To Donate $40M In Land For Affordable Housing

ARLINGTON, VA — Amazon announced Tuesday its intention to donate $40 million in undeveloped land on the Crystal House Apartments site to Arlington County, according to a county release. This move could help the county add more than 550 units to hits affordable housing stock.

Amazon will agree to transfer the land, which it originally acquired with the help of the non-profit Washington Housing Conservancy (WHC), to Arlington as part of an Assignment and Assumption Agreement.

The agreement also gives Arlington the option to develop part of the overall unit count for moderate- to lo incomes housing at other properties in the county. The Arlington County Board will consider the agreement at its July meeting.

Earlier in the year, Amazon's Housing Equity Fund provided $381.9 million in low-rate loans and grants to WHC, whose mission is to preserve affordable properties so that they will be available for moderate- to low-income residents. At that time, the tech giant purchased an option to develop the Crystal House site.

If the county board signs the agreement with Amazon, it will have the flexibility to develop at least 554 affordable residential units. A minimum of 148 of these units will be dedicated to households making 50 percent or less of the area median income (AMI). In addition, a minimum of 406 units will be available for households making 80 percent or less on the site by Jan. 1, 2028.

“Amazon is demonstrating dedication and commitment to the Arlington community with this game-changing opportunity to increase affordable housing in the County,” said Arlington County Housing Director Anne Venezia, in a release. “Future development on the Crystal House site will help bolster critical housing supply goals in an area with limited affordable housing options.”

Approval of the agreement will kick off a selection process to identify a master developer and sub developers who will carry the project through to completion. Project development will follow the goals laid out in the county's Affordable Housing Master Plan, the Housing Arlington program, and other policies.

“The National Landing BID applauds Amazon for its ongoing efforts in helping to advance our area's goal of remaining inclusive and equitable amid growth," said Tracy Sayegh Gabriel, president and executive director of the National Landing Business Improvement District. "By assigning its option on the undeveloped land at Crystal House to Arlington County for the creation of additional affordable housing, Amazon is reinforcing its strong commitment to ensuring that National Landing provides quality housing options for residents of all income levels."