DC Investing $66M in Affordable Housing

“We were very focused on adding and preserving affordable housing before the pandemic hit, and we still are,” Mayor Bowser said in prepared remarks. “We know the important role safe and affordable housing plays in helping us build a healthier and more equitable D.C. These 10 projects—in addition to the many affordable housing projects we have in the works across the city—will help us keep hundreds of families and residents in D.C.” 

Last October, D.C. became the first city in the U.S. to set affordable housing goals by neighborhood due to a promise made by Mayor Bowser. The 10 selected projects encompass the development of 740 new, affordable housing units of in Wards 1, 4, 5, 6, and 8, representing five of the city’s 10 planning areas, per the mayor’s office statement.

“Our values and goals did not change when the public health emergency hit,” Polly Donaldson, Department of Housing and Community Development’s director, said in a prepared release. “With our continued historic investments in the Housing Production Trust Fund, these selected projects get us further towards our equitable distribution goals, ensuring residents can live anywhere in the city.” 

The projects focused on those units serving families who are currently at or below 50 percent of the Median Family Income, which represented approximately $61,000 for a family of four, as outlined in the statement.

Nonprofit So Others Might Eat (SOME) will receive the largest amount with $18.4 million earmarked for a 136-unit affordable project on North Capitol Street, while Banneker Ventures’ The Clara on MLL in Ward 8 will receive $13.5 million to build 81 new units.

Other new projects receiving help include $9.8 million for MDXXX Flats in Ward 6; Jefferson Street, NW in Ward 4 will receive $1.6 million; Cascade Park in Ward 8 will receive $12.7 million; United 2nd Street in Ward 8 will receive $900,000; Faircliff Plaza East in Ward 1 will receive $7.6 million; and The Hampshire in Ward 4 will receive $1.7 million. 

Additionally, two projects with market-rate and affordable components were selected for help as well.

A joint venture between Hoffman & Associates, CityPartners and Paramount Development will receive 9 percent low-income housing tax credits for Waterfront Station II, located at 1000 Fourth Street SW, which is comprised of 136 affordable units and 314 market-rate units; and MRP Realty will receive 4 percent low-income housing tax credits for its Northwest One project, which consists of 70 market-rate and 150 affordable units.

Update: This story originally misattributed source material. This has been corrected. We apologize for the error.