Residents of the Congress Heights neighborhood in Ward 8, city and federal officials, and a host of representatives from financial institutions, corporations, and nonprofit organizations celebrated the start of construction on March 1st for the Shops at Park Village. The new commercial development, in a 65,000 sq. ft. space, will provide the community with a full-service grocery store, a sit-down restaurant, retail shops, and offices.

At present, there is no grocery store or sit-down restaurant in Ward 8. The sense of anticipation was especially evident among the residents such as Gloria Whitfield, who captured the feeling when she said, "We've been waiting a long time for this!"

Construction of The Shops at Park Village, located on the former Camp Simms site at the intersection of Alabama Avenue and 15th Street, SE, began with a ceremonial groundbreaking.

The project developers are William C. Smith and East of the River CDC, a longtime partner of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). LISC is helping to make the project possible by providing $18.6M of the $21M total development costs through New Markets Tax Credits, a tool that brings private investment to commercial developments in lower income communities. Wachovia Bank is also providing financing to the project through the purchase of the tax credits.

Speaking from the podium, LISC President Michael Rubinger spoke directly to residents as he commended them for their perseverance and described how LISC's New Markets Tax Credits bring positive change to communities all over the country. He concluded by stating, "I can think of no better return on our investment than the improvement to the quality of life for those who call this community home."

$20 Million Jubilee Housing Renovation Program Begins

Less than two months since closing on financing, Jubilee Housing has completed the interior demolition of three of four buildings in Phase I of a major rehabilitation project. Completion of the first three properties is expected to take place by the fall of 2006 with the final property to be renovated soon thereafter. The financing package for the renovation is comprised of Low Income Housing Tax Credits, HOME funds, Housing Production Trust Fund, Lead Safe Washington, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, and PNC Bank. In addition to comprehensive renovations, several new amenities will be added to the buildings including a ten-station technology center, a multipurpose classroom, and a meeting hall for residents. A wellness center, a library area, and expanded space for Good Shepherd Ministries will be created in two of the buildings. When complete, Jubilee Housing will have rehabilitated and preserved over 250 rental units for households earning significantly below the median income. The program will also guarantee, for another generation, much valued diversity in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood.

East of the River CDC Selects New Executive Director

The Board of Directors selected Linda V. Jackson as Executive Director of East of the River CDC (ERCDC). Ms. Jackson's experience in project management, organizational development, leadership development, relationship building, and fundraising makes her uniquely suited to lead the organization into the future. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Jackson served the Ward 8 community as a project manager with the William C. Smith & Co. in the development and rehabilitation of multi-family housing throughout the ward. She also served as the Executive Director of the nonprofit, Building Bridges Across the River Inc., raising $26 million for the design and construction of the Town Hall Education, Arts & Recreation Campus (THEARC). Dr. Terry B. Thomas, Board Chair, stated, "In the brief history of ERCDC, we have accomplished a great deal in Ward 8. It is particularly gratifying that many of our accomplishments, such as various housing developments, are enduring. We are confident that Ms. Jackson will provide the caliber of leadership that will perpetuate and evolve the ERCDC tradition in communities and neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River." The former director, W. Retta Gilliam, died of injuries sustained when she was hit by a car while taking a morning walk on April 11, 2005.

Board of Trade Leaders Identify Housing Affordability as Critical to Region's Sustained Growth

Two million new people are expected to inhabit the DC region in the next 25 years. At the Winter Meeting of the Board of Trade's Potomac Conference, more than 200 business, nonprofit, and government leaders from the Metro DC region gathered to discuss the potential impact of such a large influx. One of the biggest challenges foreseen for the future is the need to provide sufficient affordable housing for both current and new residents.

Participants acknowledged the tremendous assets of the region including unprecedented job growth and a highly educated workforce. However, serious concerns were raised about issues related to future growth including increased traffic congestion and soaring housing costs. Many expressed frustration with the inabilities to address income, education, and racial disparities across regional lines. A decision was made to continue the conversation and to find new approaches for ensuring affordable housing in future development plans. The annual conference was partially funded by several local foundations including the Prince Charitable Trust, Meyer Foundation, Cafritz Foundation, and Fannie Mae Foundation.

Shaw Residents Complete Manna CDC Training For Hospitality Industry

Recognizing the increase in hospitality jobs in the Shaw neighborhood around the new Convention Center, Manna CDC's Shaw Education for Action (SEA) program successfully secured city funds and hotel commitments for a pilot project to train and place residents in industry jobs. For the last two years, the SEA program has been working to institute local training and hiring requirements for new living wage jobs being created in the District.

The new pilot program combines classroom job readiness training and on-the-job training in hotels that often lead to permanent placement in union jobs. In February, 17 Shaw residents graduated from the classroom-training portion, ten of whom will be placed in jobs with local hotels. Manna CDC is using the momentum from this workforce initiative to organize a similar project with the new Convention Center Headquarters Hotel, a project pending approval for public financing which would create over 1000 permanent jobs.

MHCDO Workshop Prepares Residents of Mayfair Mansions for Homeownership

On January 31st, the Marshall Heights Community Development Organization (MHCDO) held the first in a series of workshops for residents of Mayfair Mansions interested in becoming homeowners. The evening event, which attracted over 100 participants, opened with a presentation on the District's Section 8 Homeownership Program, followed by an overview of the home buying education and financial assistance programs offered by MHCDO and its partners. Those programs include the Stepping Stones Initiative on financial management and asset-building, Individual Development Account (IDA) Savings Program, Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP), American Dream Down Payment Initiative (ADDI), and the DC Bond Program.

Rita Cooper, of the DC Housing Authority, explains the city's Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Assistance Program to residents of Mayfair Mansions.

MHCDO has also started to provide residents of Mayfair Mansions with one-on-one counseling and will offer residents the opportunity to participate in their Homeowner's Club.

The Mayfair Mansions 2005 Tenant Association, Inc. recently selected Community Preservation and Development Corporation (CPDC) and MHCDO to purchase and redevelop the 569-unit Mayfair Mansions apartment complex in Ward 7. While most of the units are targeted for affordable rental preservation, MHCDO is preparing current residents to take advantage of the more than 150 homeownership opportunities that will be made available as part of the redevelopment of the property.

Manna's Annual Corporate Breakfast Focuses on Affordable Housing Crisis

Manna Inc.'s Third Annual Corporate Breakfast brought together leaders from the business community to network and discuss issues of affordable housing in the District. "This event not only gives Manna an opportunity to educate business leaders about Manna and its programs," says Manna President George Rothman, "but it also serves as an opportunity to discuss the obstacles facing affordable housing with decision makers from the financial, real estate, and legal industries." The Honorable John H. Dalton, President of the Housing Policy Council of the Financial Services Roundtable, was the keynote speaker at the February 28th event, held at the law offices of Morgan and Lewis. Mr. Dalton has a very distinguished career in both public service and the private sector, most notably having served as Secretary of the Navy (Ô93-'98) and as the Chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board (Ô79-'81). Manna Leadership Committee Co-Chair Rita Fair summarized the event by noting, "The Third Annual Corporate Breakfast successfully brought together a group of spiritual and business leaders with a mutual interest in providing affordable home ownership opportunities in the District of Columbia to low and moderate income residents."

© 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