Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC), a significant provider of affordable housing, is set to transition nearly all of its properties in Arlington to new management firms by the year’s end.
This move comes after the nonprofit faced numerous complaints regarding poor living conditions in some of its Arlington facilities.
To enhance residents’ experiences, AHC has enlisted the services of CAPREIT and KETTLER, with the plan of having both firms manage approximately half of Arlington’s AHC properties by the end of 2025.
Currently managing AHC properties are Paradigm, Drucker + Falk, Harbor Group Management, and Habitat America, all of which are set to be replaced, with the exception of Paradigm, which will continue overseeing Historic Ballston Park.
Paul Bernard, President of AHC, stated, “The intention all along was to look at the four [firms] and do something different — to look at the four, and then shrink down to, perhaps, two.
It is something that would be easier for us to manage and something that we thought would be probably a lot more effective [and] efficient for our residents.”
In 2022, AHC halted all property management responsibilities, previously grappling with issues of unsafe living conditions at facilities like Serrano Apartments on Columbia Pike.
Recently, concerns were raised again regarding another property, The Shelton in Green Valley, prompting Bernard to address these issues at a Tenant-Landlord Commission meeting in July.
Bernard emphasized, “Every year, we try to get better in terms of what we do.”
He added, “The change wasn’t for change’s sake.
It’s always, can we be better at all of what we do and how we deliver to residents?”
Some AHC properties have already informed residents about upcoming management changes.
For instance, residents of Westover Apartments received a letter stating that management would be shifting from Harbor Management Group to CAPREIT.
In the letter, AHC mentioned, “This partner was chosen because they share our mission and commitment to resident experience and customer service.
CAPREIT also has deep affordable housing expertise and enhanced resources for maintenance, property upkeep, and improvements.”
Bernard assured that the change in management would not result in any increase in rent.
While some existing property staff may remain during the transition, the new management firms will have the discretion to assess and make necessary changes.
Taking the helm in 2022, Bernard expressed that these changes aim to foster a shift from a “transactional to relational” approach in managing properties.
He remarked that CAPREIT and KETTLER aligned more closely with AHC’s mission.
“We want to be at a place where a resident will feel as though they’re a part of a community — not just renting a box,” he stated.
CAPREIT currently operates over 40 residential properties across multiple states, including notable locations such as Square 50 Apartments and 770 C Street Apartments in Washington, D.C.
On the other hand, KETTLER manages 77 properties across seven states, prominently within the D.C. area, and is currently overseeing three Arlington buildings: The Fields of Arlington, Garfield Park, and Acadia at Metropolitan Park.
As this transition unfolds, AHC aims to improve the quality of life for its residents, marking a new chapter in its service commitment.
image source from：arlnow
