Amazon donating land to Northern Virginia county for affordable housing

Amazon is donating $40 million worth of land to Arlington County, Va., to build more affordable housing near a second headquarters the company is constructing in the area.

The donation will allow for the construction of 550 affordable housing units as the company makes its way into Crystal City, according to The Washington Post. 

The county’s housing director, Anne Venezia, said Amazon’s move is a “game-changing opportunity.”

The acquisition of the undeveloped land is part of a bigger deal made by Amazon to preserve affordable housing in the areas where the company builds new headquarters.

Amazon originally gave $380 million of its Housing Equity Fund to Washington Housing Conservancy to buy Crystal House, an 825-unit apartment complex that provided affordable housing. 

Similar efforts have been made in Seattle and Nashville, Tenn. At the beginning of 2021, the company pledged to spend $2 billion to create affordable housing near Arlington, Va., as well as the other two cities. 

The housing agreement between the city and Amazon would see 738 units built by a developer of the city’s choice. There will be 148 units dedicated to those making 50 percent or less of the median income for the area and 406 units dedicated to those making 80 percent or less. 

However, the county board must vote on the company’s move to donate undeveloped land. The vote will take place Sunday, according to the Post. 

The Hill has reached out to Amazon for comment.