The Nauck community in Arlington has a long and proud history as a haven for African-Americans before the Civil War, when free blacks owned land and built homes in Nauck. The dismantling of the Freedmen’s Village after the War brought more black families to the neighborhood along with institutions like schools and churches which were the center of the community.

In the late 1990’s, Nauck remained as one of the few “affordable” areas in Arlington. Today the community is in the midst of rapid demographic change. Many of the homes that once defined the area have been razed and have given way to luxury homes priced well beyond the means of the middle class. Properties that were once subdivided to create more living opportunities for families have now been consolidated leaving room for only the affluent.

BAJ partners with Macedonia Baptist Church and the Arlington Housing Corporation to create affordable housing on vacant land. Our goal is to create affordable housing that will support the community and enhance the neighborhood. BAJ recently reached a major milestone when we broke ground on The Macedonian, a state of the art, affordable residential building with 60 units. This was a great moment for BAJ and many members of the community celebrated this occasion with us.

BAJ also supports the community through the development of small businesses. The stability and success of small business creates a much needed economic opportunity and source for jobs. BAJ is currently developing a small business incubator and will offer spaces for community services and office space for other community based non-profits.