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This Old House to Feature Mi Casa Renovation Project Starting February 11th - MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
In its first visit to our nation's capital, This Old House, an Emmy Award-winning PBS series, is chronicling Mi Casa, Inc.'s renovation of a deteriorated rowhouse located near the White House.
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Photo by Peter Ross
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Starting Saturday, February 11, 2006 at 9 am, eight episodes documenting the transformation will broadcast on WETA, a PBS affiliate in Washington, DC. For a project overview and to view a live web cast of the renovation, visit the web site of This Old House, www.thisoldhouse.com.
Mi Casa, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable home ownership opportunities throughout Washington, DC. This project is Mi Casa, Inc.'s 35th single-family house renovation since its inception in 1992.
To learn more about Mi Casa, Inc. and its mission, visit their web site at micasa-inc.org.
Manna CDC to Become Independent Organization: New Organization to Emphasize Community Organizing and Equitable Development
Manna CDC, the 10-year-old grassroots community development corporation that invigorated the Shaw neighborhood's economic and social renaissance, is restructuring to form a new independent organization focused on community organizing, popular education, and resident-led policy advocacy. Manna CDC currently operates under the MANNA, Inc. corporate structure. Recognizing Manna CDC's extraordinary growth and progressive values, the MANNA board of directors believes restructuring will enable Manna CDC to expand its capacity and create a new, progressive organizational model in line with its goals.
Presenting Capitol Corner Condominium: MANNA's First Green Building Initiative
On October 11, 2005, MANNA hosted an open house to celebrate the completion of its first green "demo" project, Capitol Corner Condominium, located at 320 K Street, NE. The future homeowners of Capitol Corner, key project supporters, and Manna staff attended the open house to celebrate the completion of the project and to learn about the green features of the building.
The building was donated to MANNA in 2003 by the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus and was formerly used as a residence for priests. After a gut renovation, the building was transformed into two 2-bedroom units which have been sold for $160,000 and $172,000.
The cabinets installed at Capitol Corner were made by Citilogs, a company that uses wood from dead, diseased and nuisance trees in urban areas, effectively diverting this wood from the solid waste stream.
MANNA's ability to implement green features was made possible by support from a number of sources. A $40,000 grant was awarded by the Home Depot Foundation to cover the costs of the green features, supplemented by a $15,000 grant from Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and a significant discount from McCormick Paints on their line of VOC-free paints. Project construction was financed by the Unitarian Universalist Affordable Housing Corporation. Some of the green features included soy-based foam insulation, low-e and argon gas filled windows, and cabinets made from salvaged wood. For more information about the green demo project or any other inquiries into MANNA's green initiatives, please contact Alexis Smith at asmith@mannadc.org or 202.832.1845.
Jubilee Housing Welcomes Katrina Residents
Thanks to the coordinated efforts of a variety of groups brought together by a common
concern, Jubilee Housing made nine unfurnished apartments available to evacuees from Hurricane Katrina.
Jubilee Housing is a nonprofit organization that provides low-income residents with below market priced apartments and supportive services in the Adams Morgan neighborhood. When Katrina struck, a combined effort of Jubilee residents, friends, donors, local community church groups, and the Jubilee Support Alliance (JSA) enabled Jubilee Housing to mount a substantial response in a relatively short period of time.
JSA is a group of business professionals in the Washington, DC area who are dedicated to improving the Adams Morgan community and helping to raise funds for Jubilee Housing. As part of an annual volunteer work day program, JSA cleaned,
painted, and made repairs to prepare the nine units. Jubilee Housing staff worked with DC agencies to coordinate the processing of residents to move into the apartments.
The staff is also providing counseling and support to assist the new residents in finding jobs and making plans for the future.
Additionally, neighbors, residents, and businesses provided furniture, utensils, and clothing.
An informal welcome celebration party is being planned. Find more information about Jubilee Housing at their web site, jubileehousing.org
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February 7th - CDSC's Neighborhood Tour - MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
The Community Development Support Collaborative (CDSC) has scheduled its first Neighborhood Tour of 2006. CDSC's tours are helpful for investors and other interested parties learning about the opportunities and challenges of community development.
This tour will be hosted by one of the newest CDSC neighborhood partners, So Others Might Eat (SOME). SOME, best known for its comprehensive approach to addressing the many needs of homeless and near homeless people, is embarking on a new initiative to develop 1000 units of supportive housing. Join your colleagues and learn how nonprofit organizations and foundations can collaborate to develop and maintain housing for some of the lowest income residents of the District of Columbia.
The tour will take place on Tuesday, February 7, 2006, from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm. Bus service will be available for pick-up and drop-off at 1825 K Street, NW, Washington, DC at the first floor lobby. Lunch will be provided. Registration is required. For more information or to register for the tour, please call Martin Mellett at 202.296.4582 or e-mail RSVP to: mmellett@lisc.org.
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SOME Begins Renovation of Freedom House
On January 6, 2006, So Others Might Eat (SOME) began renovating Freedom House, the most recent acquisition by the organization. The building will accomodate 30 single adults upon its completion in the Spring of 2006.
The renovation, in progress, involves kitchen remodeling, painting, new carpet installation, and upgrading of the wiring system to offer cable, phone, and high speed internet for each resident. Once completed, Freedom House will provide six five-bedroom suites, each containing a kitchen, two full bathrooms, living room, and small dining area. SOME provides more than 200 units of long-term affordable housing to meet the needs of the poor and homeless of our nation's capital. Find more information about SOME at their web site, some.org.
Tenants Select MHCDO to Preserve Affordable Housing, Create Ownership Opportunities at Mayfair Mansions
In December, Mayfair Mansions' 2005 Tenant Association, Inc.
announced its selection of Marshall Heights Community Development Organization (MHCDO) and Community Preservation and Development Corporation (CPDC) to purchase and redevelop the 569-unit Mayfair Mansions apartment complex in Ward 7. Plans include targeting approximately 70% of the units for affordable rental preservation and converting 30% of the units to condominiums to create homeownership opportunities for current residents.
Completed in 1946, Mayfair Mansions is one of the city's earliest garden apartment complexes and one of the first conceived and designed as a housing opportunity for working- and middle- class African American residents in the District. In 1989, this cultural landmark was added to the District of Columbia Register of Historic Sites and the National Register of Historic Places. For more information about the historical background of Mayfair Mansions, click here.
ÒMHCDO is thrilled to play a part in keeping Mayfair Mansions affordable for existing residents and making homeownership available to many of them,Ó said Carrie L. Thornhill, MHCDO's president and CEO. ÒThis is an example of the important work that MHCDO is able to engage in thanks, in part, to operational support from the Community Development Support Collaborative.Ó
CNHED Completes Another Successful Training Season
The Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development (CNHED) is still flying high off the success of its 2005 Training Institute. Thanks to support from the Community Development Support Collaborative, CNHED trained 324 participants from 57 member organizations to sharpen their skills in community development issues. CNHED members and staff regard 2005 as one of the best training seasons of the Institute.
Though the CNHED Training Institute has been in existence for several years, its popularity increased with the introduction of a series of courses titled DC Systems Seminars. The seminars, sponsored by SunTrust Bank, clarify the inner workings of the District of Columbia's government programs and agencies. CNHED is proud of the success of its Training Institute and is enthusiastically preparing for the 2006 sessions. For more information about the CNHED Training Institute, visit their web site at cnhed.org.
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© 2006 NEWSBRIEFS is a bimonthly publication of the Community Development Support Collaborative (CDSC), www.cdsc.org, a project of Washington Grantmakers. CDSC invests in the revitalization of DC's neighborhoods and the preservation of affordable housing with capacity building grants, training, and technical assistance.
CDSC | 1825 K Street, NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006
phone: 202.296.4582 | fax: 202.785.4331 | e-mail: info@cdsc.org
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