June 17, 2024
With 136 New Affordable Homes, The Westerly Brings Unique Design, Ample Amenities, and Local Retail and Educational Offerings to the Vibrant Southwest DC Neighborhood
WASHINGTON, DC (June 17, 2024) — Today, Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC), Hoffman & Associates, a nationally recognized leader in mixed-use and residential development, along with the District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and Councilmember Charles Allen celebrated the grand opening of The Westerly, the company’s newest apartment building in the heart of Washington, DC’s Southwest neighborhood. This unique residence is less than one block from the Waterfront Station Green Line metro station and three blocks from The Wharf. The Westerly includes 449 apartment residences, ranging from studios to two bedrooms with dens, with 136 affordable residences. With a wide array of amenity spaces, retail, educational, and cultural options, The Westerly provides critically needed housing and expands community offerings for the Southwest DC neighborhood.
Of the total residences at The Westerly, 30% are designated affordable housing, more than twice the regional average, made possible through an innovative financing structure and partnership with AHC, an affordable housing developer that works across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. These homes are evenly split between households earning 30% and 50% of the Area Median Income. To deliver this level of affordable housing availability at The Westerly, the project team took an unprecedented approach by combining a market-rate equity investment with 4% and 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. This new approach to funding is poised to support both public and private entities, paving the way for more affordable housing solutions across the country.
“We know that to meet our city’s housing needs and goals, we have to be relentlessly creative in how we invest in, execute, and deliver projects in neighborhoods across our city,” said Mayor Bowser. “We’re proud that what was once a vacant parcel is now a mixed-use and mixed-income community that is bringing more vibrancy and creating new opportunities in the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood.”
Designed by Torti Gallas + Partners, The Westerly features a unique façade with angular balconies cascading across the building, mimicking the movement of the wind and water, along with artful landscaping by Michael Vergason. Its unique apartment homes offer European-inspired kitchens with frameless wood cabinetry, quartz countertops, and stainless-steel appliances. Bathrooms feature large ceramic tiles and spacious vanities with hotel-style backlit mirrors, while select residences offer balconies and terraces with views of Southwest DC, the U.S. Capitol Building, and the Washington Monument. Designed by Hickok Cole, the interiors are filled with natural light, creating warm and inviting living spaces. *
Beyond its residences, The Westerly offers nearly 20,000 square feet of amenity space across 15 distinct areas. Highlights include a rooftop pool deck with panoramic views of Southwest DC, the U.S. Capitol Building and the Washington Monument, a second-floor expansive outdoor courtyard with a fire pit, entertainment lounges, a fully equipped fitness center, coworking and meeting spaces, and a welcoming lobby lounge.
“In the heart of our vibrant Southwest neighborhood, The Westerly embodies our commitment to delivering innovative communities that bring us together,” said Shawn Seaman, President of Hoffman & Associates. “With its 449 apartment homes, including 136 affordable housing units, striking modern design, an array of amenities, and community-serving retail, we are proud to welcome residents to this dynamic new place to call home and continue contributing to the overall growth of this neighborhood that we proudly serve.”
“We’re proud to partner with Hoffman & Associates to integrate this deeply affordable housing component within the overall development,” said Paul Bernard, President & CEO of AHC. “We’ve created a dynamic, mixed-income community of opportunity where residents at all income levels live side-by-side in a vibrant, growing neighborhood. The great amenities, neighborhood features, and onsite resident services programming at The Westerly will bolster the ability of individuals and families to thrive and transform. This new community is a milestone in our efforts, positively impacting the lives of all who call The Westerly home.”
The Westerly is also home to 29,000 square feet of space for neighborhood-serving retail. This includes Good Company Doughnut Cafe, a family-owned and operated three-meal cafe that specializes in doughnuts; GoodVets, the popular nationwide modern veterinary care provider; AppleTree Public Charter School, a pre-kindergarten education staple of the Southwest neighborhood, which provides families with classrooms, collaborative learning spaces, and an enclosed play area; and a to-be-announced dedicated cultural space.
The Westerly is made possible by development partners Affordable Homes & Communities, CityPartners, and Paramount Development, along with capital partners Grosvenor Americas, Merchants Capital, and The Richman Group, with DC’s Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, DC’s Department of Housing and Community Development and DC’s Housing Finance Agency. Torti Gallas + Partners is the architect; Hickok Cole is the interior designer; Michael Vergason is the landscape architect; Clark Construction is the general contractor; and Bozzuto is the property manager. For more information about The Westerly, visit www.TheWesterlyDC.com.
* All features and finishes are unit-specific.
Media Contacts
Meredith Elliott
804-539-3430 | meredith@thebrandguild.com
Jennifer Smith
571-556-7403 | jennifer.smith@ahcinc.org
About Hoffman & Associates
Hoffman & Associates is a nationally recognized leader in both residential and mixed-use development across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Since its founding in 1993, Hoffman & Associates has developed over 75 mixed-use, residential, office and retail projects with an unwavering commitment to sustainable and innovative development that puts community first. Hoffman & Associates is an industry leader in creating inclusive communities that bring people together and enhance the way we socialize, work and live together. The company has large-scale developments throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, Virginia, and North Carolina, with a portfolio totaling $6 billion. Hoffman & Associates is also the managing member of Hoffman-Madison Waterfront, a joint venture with Madison Marquette, which developed The Wharf, a $3.6 billion, 3.5 million-square-foot neighborhood along Washington, D.C.'s waterfront. Other large-scale, neighborhood developments include Seaboard Station, Union West, West Falls and Parcel B at Audi Field. Hoffman & Associates’ current residential portfolio includes 4600 Fairfax Drive, The Alder, The Oak, The Westerly, 2500 Distribution Street, 3200 W Moore Street, Amaris, The Signal, The Point and The Miles. Hoffman & Associates has offices in Washington, D.C. and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information, please visit www.hoffman-dev.com.
About Affordable Homes & Communities
Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC) is a nonprofit developer that creates and preserves affordable and mixed-income housing in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Since 1975, AHC has developed more than 8,400 apartments in 54 communities. AHC builds opportunity by creating quality homes with holistic resident services. AHC connects residents of all ages with onsite services that help transform lives, provide housing stability, and advance the economic resiliency of entire communities.