|
Tenants Become Homeowners in Northwest DC
Brightwood Park, a Northwest DC neighborhood, has experienced a surge in both rental and homeownership costs. Many garden-style apartment complexes in the area are rapidly converting to luxury condominiums, making it unaffordable for low- to middle-income families living in the area to stay. Additionally, new developments of market rate housing are changing the face of this traditionally diverse, working-class neighborhood.
Upon receiving notice that their building was up for sale, and facing the possibility of being displaced from their homes, the tenants of 5610 Colorado formed a tenant association to exercise their first rights of refusal and purchase the property. They hired Mi Casa as their development consultant and, after several months of hard work, they successfully purchased their 36-unit building on September 11, 2006. The residents voted to convert to a limited-equity cooperative and have since been making the transition into ownership. They have already hired a management team and are beginning their second stage of development, working with an architect to begin the renovation of their building.
New Leadership at MHCDO
During the fall of 2006, Michael Watts became the Interim President and CEO of Marshall Heights Community Development Organization. Mr. Watts has an established relationship with MHCDO, having served on the Executive Committee as Treasurer and as an at-large member of the Board of Directors for three years. He brings a wealth of local government and non-profit management experience to the position as well as a strong knowledge base of both MHCDO and the Ward 7 community. He most recently served as Executive Director for the Center for Youth Family Investment, and has a long record of service in various government and non-profit agencies dealing with youth. The Board of Directors also named Floyd Myers as its new chair. Mr. Myers is a native of Ward 7 and a veteran of the Metropolitan Police Department. He has been a member of the MHCDO board since 1994.
Community Connections Opens New Building for Persons with Disabilities
Community Connections, a nonprofit mental health and housing agency, recently opened its newly renovated 11-unit building at 1800 Ft. Davis Street, SE. Using funding from Cornerstone and M and T Bank, Community Connections was able to substantially rehabilitate this formerly abandoned building which had been used as a drug haven. Despite early concerns from neighbors who had worked hard to eradicate the drug activity and were now concerned about the building's new proposed use, the doors opened with neighborhood support and appreciation. The former garage area in the basement of the building was converted into a community room so tenants can hold birthday and family celebrations and come together as a community. Community Connections has renovated several small apartment buildings throughout the city for tenants with special needs.
Crestwood Cooperative Purchases Building
Mi Casa has teamed up with the tenant association of 1630 Irving St. NW to preserve the affordability of their Mount Pleasant building. Mount Pleasant, long-time home to a diverse working class including large low-income and recent-immigrant populations, has become a highly sought-after and rapidly gentrifying neighborhood. With its prime location less than 0.5 miles away from two metro stations and minutes from downtown Washington, D.C., it provides easy access to several universities and government offices. Due to its location and distinctive character, the neighborhood is in the midst of a cultural and socio-economic resurgence as it gains popularity among wealthier newcomers.
The Crestwood Cooperative purchased their building at 1630 Irving St. NW in 2005 and closed on their permanent loan with DHCD last fall. They are committed to maintaining affordability for 40 years. Now that the building ownership is secured, residents are working on overdue maintenance and renovations. They are also moving towards the second phase of development, the complete renovation of their building.
|
Wheeler Terrace Creates Affordable Homeownership, Restores Community
Housing Counseling Services (HCS) initially became involved with Wheeler Terrace, a multifamily project-based Section 8 building, three years ago when the building was offered for sale by the owner. Unclear of their options, the tenants had signed away their right to purchase the building to a development consultant. Working with HCS, the tenants formed an association and hired a lawyer who was successful in releasing them from the contract and restoring their option to purchase the building. According to Tenant Association President Garlinda Joyner, "Housing Counseling Services was the first to implant the idea that we need a tenant association...they helped us get a lawyer, a development partner...[they] even taught us how to run meetings. HCS has been there every step of the way." Today, Wheeler Terrace has received comprehensive leadership training from HCS, which has not only educated the tenants of their rights and responsibilities, but has brought them together in a way that has enabled their success and allowed them
to decide for themselves what the future of their building will be. "We're tired of the crime," said Ms. Joyner. "Our vision is to have newly renovated apartments and a safe and secure environment for our children." HCS continues to work diligently with the tenants to ensure that their vision will soon become a reality. According to Ms. Joyner, "I believe HCS will continue to be there with us. It is good to have an organization that always follows through."
Barnaby House Purchase Moves Forward
So Others Might Eat (SOME) recently received preliminary approval from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)
and will close on the purchase of Barnaby House in mid February. The 10-unit building will serve extremely low-income families in Southeast Washington. The building was renovated by the current owner, and SOME will make additional minor renovations to include a staff unit, offices, and community space. Similar to SOME's other family housing programs, Barnaby House will provide safe, decent, affordable housing as well as supportive services and access to all of SOME's other programs. SOME looks forward to helping 10 families move in to Barnaby House this spring.
Upcoming Events - Mark Your Calendar!
Feb 28th - CDSC's Neighborhood Tour
The Community Development Support Collaborative (CDSC) has scheduled its first neighborhood tour of 2007 for February 28th, from 9:15 am to 1:30 pm, for its current investors and other parties interested in learning about the opportunities and challenges entailed in revitalizing neighborhoods in the District of Columbia. The tour will be hosted by the Organizing Neighborhood Equity DC (ONE DC), formerly Manna CDC.
ONE DC focuses on community organizing, equitable development, popular education, and resident-led policy advocacy. It moves beyond service provision to build sustainable community capacity and leadership so that low-income people of color can speak for themselves. ONE DC's work centers around affordable housing, community development, and new initiatives that will benefit the Shaw neighborhood. The CDSC invites you to participate in an informative and interactive tour and learn how nonprofit community development organizations, corporations, and foundations can collaborate to strengthen the fabric of neighborhoods in Washington, DC. The bus will pick-up and drop-off at 1825 K Street, NW in the first floor lobby. Lunch will be provided. Registration is required. For more information or to register for the tour, please call Tamar Greenspan at 202.296.4582 or e-mail RSVP to tgreenspan@lisc.org.
9th Annual Manna 5k Fun Run/Walk
On Saturday, March 24th, runners, walkers, kids, dogs, strollers, and volunteers will join together to celebrate 25 years of building affordable housing at Manna's 9th Annual 5K Fun Run/Walk in beautiful Rock Creek Park. This event is a great opportunity for every member of the family to enjoy some fresh air and exercise, and help support Manna's efforts to preserve affordable housing in the District. Top finishers will each receive prizes donated by local businesses. The competition will continue after the race, as kids of all ages gather to participate in several games, including a 3-legged race, a potato sack race, and a hula hoop competition. Manna would like to invite everyone to come and make this year's Fun Run another huge success! For more information and to register, please visit www.mannadc.org or contact Jessie Contreras at 202-832-1845 ext. 161.
|
© 2007 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
|
|
