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Planning Process Begins for New Training and Hiring Program
Last year, Organizing Neighborhood Equity DC (ONE DC) met with the developers of the
Convention Center Headquarters Hotel and the city government to discuss a benefits agreement
for DC residents. The outcome of these negotiations was a promise that of the $180 million
subsidy provided by the city to the hotel, $2 million would be set aside for a training and
hiring program at the hotel. ONE DC was named in the legislation as one of the groups that
would help to shape this new program. To coincide with the development timing of the
hotel,
ONE DC recently initiated its community process for developing the parameters of the
program. David Haiman, Associate Director of ONE DC, said ÒWe wanted this to be a
resident-led process.Ó Meetings have already begun to plan a larger process of research,
mobilization, and organizing to make sure that the Convention Center Hotel program
accomplishes its goal of providing living wage employment to hundreds of District residents.
Preserving Affordable Housing in
Ward 4
On March 23, 2007, the residents of 1333 Peabody St. NW successfully purchased their 15-unit
building in the rapidly gentrifying Brightwood neighborhood. The process began in February
of 2006, when the tenants received notice that a third party offer had been made on their
building. They quickly organized themselves into an association to exercise their First
Right of Refusal. With Mi Casa, Inc. helping them through the development process,
they explored several options. In the end, they decided to form the Peabody Cooperative to
purchase and develop
their building as a limited equity cooperative. The Co-op has hired a management company
and is in the process of selecting an architect and preparing for the upcoming renovation of
their building. While many of the tenants of 1333 Peabody St. NW are long-time residents of
the building, others are recent immigrants from Latin America and Africa (mainly Nigeria).
Most fall within the low- to very low-income categories, and would have been at risk of
displacement had they not purchased the property.
Residents of Copeland Manor Purchase Property
Last year, the residents of Copeland Manor, a 61-unit property located on 4710-4760 C St.
SE, decided it was time to become homeowners. The residents formed a tenant association and,
with the help of Housing Counseling Services (HCS), purchased property in February of
2007. "It's time to get out of the mindset of being tenants and start thinking like
homeowners," said Mr. Walker, President of the Tenants Association. As part of the
conversion to a limited-equity cooperative, the residents are completing HCS's Cooperative
Living Training Course. Members will learn the basics of living in a cooperative, holding
effective meetings, reading and understanding cooperative financial reports, and how to be a
member of the Board of Directors. "This is a big deal," said Ms. Arnitta Delaney, secretary
of the Board of Directors. "We have a big responsibility." Renovation of the property is
expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Local Rent Supplement Program Awards Announced
On April 23rd, the DC Housing Authority announced the successful applicants of its February
RFP for projects that will be funded by the project-based and sponsor-based portions of the
City's new Local Rent Supplement Program in 2007. SOME, Inc. (So Others Might Eat)
submitted six proposals for this funding stream that were approved. Community
Connections also had successful applications. SOME, along with several other
non-profits, played an active role in the promotion and creation of the Local Rent
Supplement Program and will now use the funds to develop 221 new affordable rental units.
Ken Ellison, SOME's Senior Housing Advisor, said, "We are very pleased to receive these
awards, which will be used to make these projects economically sustainable for the long-term
benefit of extremely low-income persons." Of the six SOME projects, two will be single-room
occupancy buildings, one will house the elderly, and three will be for families.
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Tenant Purchase in Manor Park
In early 2006, the residents of 21-25 Kennedy Street contacted Mi Casa to help them
through the process of acquiring and developing their property, which had been put up for
sale by the owner. The property is composed of two adjacent buildings that together house 54
units in the heart of Ward 4. The tenants of 21-25 Kennedy St are long-time residents of
Manor Park. Many of the tenants are African-American, and a few are more recent immigrants
form the Caribbean, Africa, and Latin America. The relatively low acquisition cost, the
high number of vacant units, and the side-by-side design of the two buildings provided a
number of options for development. After exploring different options, the residents decided
on a hybrid development plan that will combine limited-equity cooperative units and
affordable condominium units, for both existing and future residents. Thus, residents
formed the Unity Cooperative and purchased their building in November of 2006. They are
currently working with their architect to renovate the buildings and create larger units
that will accommodate the growing families in the building. They expect to start
construction by fall of this year.
New House for Women in Employment Training
Program
SOME, Inc. (So Others Might Eat) recently purchased a new house on O St. SE.
Located a few short blocks from SOME's Center for Employment Training (CET), the O Street
property will house six women enrolled at CET, enabling them to pursue training in customer
relations, medical administration, and maintenance while living in a convenient, supportive
location. Residents will be women who are now in recovery, having finished SOME's addiction
treatment program, and are ready for job training and employment. Women will live at the
self-governing house for twelve months before transitioning to independent housing
arrangements. The house is scheduled to welcome its first residents on May l, 2007.
Upcoming Events - Mark Your Calendar!
May 31 - CDSC's Neighborhood Tour
The Community Development Support Collaborative (CDSC) has scheduled its second
neighborhood tour of 2007 for funders and investors interested in learning about the
opportunities and challenges entailed in revitalizing Ward 8. The tour will be hosted by
East of the River Community Development Corporation (ERCDC), one of our premier
non-profit partners.
ERCDC's purpose is to serve as a change agent and leader in the revitalization and
transformation of Ward 8 and its surrounding neighborhoods. It fulfills this mission by
developing programs that target the ward's residents and businesses through the
implementation of a strong grassroots strategy. This strategy focuses on increasing
affordable housing, attracting new business development opportunities, developing
education/training programs, and creating and retaining jobs in the community.
The tour will take place on May 31st from 9-1:30pm. Participants will be picked up and
dropped 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.
June 16 - MANNARAMA
To celebrate 25 years of community development in Washington, DC, Manna and DC
LISC present MANNARAMA, the HOMEcoming dance. The festivities will take place on June
16, 2007 at the Lowell School, 1640 Kalmia Road, NW. Relive your high school and college
years with a homecoming dance, set in an old school gym. Dance your socks off to tunes spun
by Deejays Slow Roll and Scooter of Needle to the Groove Productions. Enjoy dance contests,
the crowning of the HOMEcoming king and queen, prizes, and surprises. Dress as you did back
then, and get ready to do the stroll, the bump, and even the Soul Train line! Tickets are
available online at www.mannadc.org for $45 or $55 at
the door. Proceeds will go to support Manna, Inc. and DC LISC.
NDC Training Comes to Washington
The Coalition for Non Profit Housing and Economic Development (CNHED), with the
generous support of BB&T, is bringing the National Development Council's (NDC's)
four-course Housing Development Finance Professional Certification Program to the
Washington, DC area. Participants will learn the steps of the housing development process,
the techniques used to analyze and structure financing for home ownership and rental housing
deals, and the problem solving and negotiating skills needed to make complicated projects
feasible. Enrollment is limited to 50 participants, and priority will be given to CNHED
members who register by April 25, 2007. For more information, please visit www.cnhed.org.
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© 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
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