New Community Space for
Children of Zagami House
Zagami House, SOME's (So Others Might Eat) newest affordable housing program, opened its doors to 12 formerly homeless and very poor families in January. In addition to providing safe and decent housing, the program includes support services designed to help families reach their full potential. The building includes community space for tutoring and after-school programming, offices for case management staff, and laundry machines for the residents.
On April 11th, with support from Giant and in partnership with KaBoom!,  Zagami House got a fantastic addition: a new playground. The playground was built in one day with the help of 200 volunteers and the 2008 SOME Junior Gala. Design of the playground is based on drawings created by the children at Zagami House and is complemented by an inspirational mural, handmade stepping stones, plants, and flowers.
Currently, Zagami House is home to 20 children. Families receive support from the Local Rent Supplement Program. The new playground will support SOME's mission of providing services that value the dignity of the people it serves by offering a safe community space.
Housing Counseling Services Helps
22 Atlantic Street Residents
When notice was given to the residents of 22 Atlantic Street, SE that their building was being offered for sale, the residents immediately investigated their options. Meeting with Housing Counseling Services (HCS) to discuss their rights as tenants in Washington, D.C., the residents decided to form a tenants association. The newly formed tenants association then acquired pro-bono legal representation and voted to purchase the property.
The 22 Atlantic Street Cooperative's primary objective was to avoid displacement of residents. As a result, the building will be converted into a limited-equity cooperative so residents, regardless of income, could remain part of the community. ÒBeing a homeowner I care more about the condition of my neighborhood,Ó states LaVerne Grant, President of the 22 Atlantic Street Cooperative.
Residents of the Cooperative look forward to contributing to their neighborhood as homeowners and working with their neighbors. ÒThere are many schools in the area, a Boys and Girls Club, Fort Grebel Recreation Center, and Oxon Run Recreation Center. The residents could not pass up this opportunity. I think homeownership affects our community, because once you are a homeowner the quality of your community goes up at 100%,Ó states LaVerne Grant.
The residents purchased the property in February of 2007 and have hired a local nonprofit developer to assist with the rehabilitation of their building. HCS will continue to provide cooperative training and technical assistance to ensure that members gain the necessary skills to run a successful cooperative.
LISC Hosts Joint Information Session on the Neighborhood Investment Fund (NIF)
Recently, LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation), TRF (The Reinvestment Fund), and the Washington, D.C. Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development held an information session on the NIF Land Acquisition and Predevelopment Loan Program and the Predevelopment Grant Program.
The grant program will be administered by LISC, with TRF managing the Loan program. Both programs were created to promote the creation of affordable housing, mixed-use developments, and community facilities in the 12 NIF target areas.
To learn more or to download an application for the NIF Predevelopment Grant Fund please visit
http://www.lisc.org/washingtondc/NIFPDG.htm.
The Future is Golden: ONE DC Celebrates One Year Anniversary
ONE DC members and friends recently celebrated the first full calendar year of the organization's existence in an event billed as "The Golden Ticket." Over 250 justice workers from every quadrant and ward in Washington, D.C. gathered in Anacostia at the historic Panorama Room of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. The event celebrated the spirit of a panoramic vision of equity for all city residents.
The event gave ONE DC an opportunity to take stock of last year's victories and gear up for another year of powerful community organizing. At the dinner, the staff and the Board of Directors introduced ONE DC's first formal membership structure. This new membership program, which requires dues, is the product of many meetings and is another step in ONE DC's goal of becoming more member-driven and resident-led.
Many residents of Barry Farm and Parkchester, led by Facilitating Leadership in Youth (FLY), came out to celebrate. FLY's youth leaders were honored at the event for their inspiring work to prevent the displacement of public housing residents in Southeast Washington, D.C.
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New Grocery Store Opens in Ward 8
At an awards ceremony held at the Ronald Reagan Center, The Shops at Park Village in Ward 8 received the Washington Business Journal's 2008 Community Impact Award, the winner of the Best Real Estate Deals. The event was attended by more than 500 people, with competition for the award coming from all over the Metropolitan D.C. area.
Located on the site of a former Army base, Giant grocery store at the Shops at Park Village opened last December on Alabama Ave., SE in Congress Heights. LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) in partnership with State Farm provided the early predevelopment grant money and an equity stake in the partnership for East of the River CDC. LISC also provided $18.6 million in New Market Tax Credits for the construction of the Shopping Center. This investment was made in partnership with Wachovia Bank. The shopping center was developed by the team of William C. Smith Company and East of the River CDC.
Currently, the Shops at Park Village employs over 350 area residents. As the only grocery store in Ward 8, the Giant Grocery Store represents the first time in over 10 years that Ward 8 residents will have easy access to quality food choices.
Mi Casa Teams Up to Beautify Cooperative
Despite rain showers, over 30 muddy volunteers gathered at Pleasant Park Cooperative on April 20th. Residents joined with Mi Casa, Inc. staff and Casey Trees Foundation staff and urban foresters to plant healthy saplings in an effort to make the newly formed cooperative a greener, healthier, and more pleasant place to reside.
 For residents of Pleasant Park Cooperative, the event was a chance to celebrate their new status as owners of five buildings, with a total of 60 two-story apartments, purchased after much organizing and training with nonprofit developer Mi Casa, Inc.
Mi Casa, Inc., which helped the Pleasant Park Cooperative purchase their building at an affordable price, provided volunteers to work with tenants and Casey Trees Citizen Foresters.
Thanks to the donation of a dozen saplings and materials from the Casey Trees Foundation, many residents were able to experience planting their first tree, and afterwards several commented on the pride they felt after making such a positive change to their homes and neighborhood. Not only did this planting shape up to be an eventful gathering of friends and neighbors, but it also served as a model of how low-income tenants can partner with local organizations to make their neighborhoods healthier and more attractive communities.
Latest Housing Monitor Report Released
On March 26th, NeighborhoodInfo DC released the District of Columbia Housing Monitor: a quarterly report that tracks residential sale prices, changes in the housing stock, and the supply of affordable housing. The latest edition features a special section characterizing the supply of subsidized, affordable housing in the city. The Report found that almost 35,000 units of subsidized, affordable housing exist or are in development in the District of Columbia.
According to the report, the D.C. housing market slowed through the first half of 2007, with condominium prices falling over the year. In addition, Ward 8 has the largest share of project-based affordable housing units, as well as the most households with housing vouchers.
At the Forum, Peter Tatian of the Urban Institute presented findings and a panel of respondents provided further insight. Respondents included Natalie Lebeau of the Tenant Anti-Displacement Program at Housing Counseling Services, Inc., Craig Pascal, of Community Development Banking at PNC, and Danilo Pelletiere of the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
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© 2008 NEWSBRIEFS is a bimonthly publication of the Community
Development Support Collaborative (CDSC), www.cdsc.org, a
project of Washington Grantmakers. The 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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