Washington, DC – Mayor Muriel Bowser today celebrated the conclusion of June Housing Bloom by breaking ground on 71 affordable housing units at Liberty Place Apartments in the growing and transit-centric Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood in Ward 6. The Bowser Administration also released four requests for proposals to redevelop properties in Wards 6, 7 and 8 focusing on expanding inclusive prosperity in underserved areas.
“As our city continues to grow and prosper, my Administration will remain laser-focused on ensuring residents of all backgrounds and income levels have access to safe and affordable places to live in all eight wards.” said Mayor Bowser. “Liberty Place is an example of how we are making good on our commitment to give more Washingtonians the opportunity to participate in the District’s prosperity.”
Located at 901 3rd Street NW, the $34.1 million new construction of Liberty Place Apartments will be comprised of 71 studio-, one-, and two-bedrooms units, with 80% serving households below 60% Area Median Income (AMI) ($70,320 in 2018) and 20 percent at or below 30% AMI ($35,160). Fourteen units of permanent supportive housing are designated for those experiencing homelessness and seven units for veterans, complementing Mayor Bowser’s goals to end homelessness and house our city’s veterans.
Liberty Place Apartments is located in a transit-oriented, growing neighborhood within walking distance of four metro stations and bus routes. It is close to a grocery store, multiple churches, a library, recreation and restaurants, as well as downtown, employment centers, and jobs.
At today’s groundbreaking, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) also issued Request for Proposals (RFPs) for the development of four sites – three of which are east of the Anacostia River. These projects were previewed at DMPED’s March Madness event earlier this year, an annual economic development showcase where the District announces upcoming community development projects. The RFPs include 2 Patterson Street, NE (Ward 6); 400-414 Eastern Avenue NE and 6100 block of Dix Street, NE – Eden Place Phase 2 (Ward 7); 1004-1018 Howard Road SE and Shannon Place SE (Ward 8); and St. Elizabeths - Parcel 15 (Ward 8). To view information on the projects and RFPs, visit this link.
“It is my job to create more quality affordable housing, support small and local businesses, and expand job opportunities for DC residents,” said Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Brian Kenner. “Development of these sites will help us do just that, and we invite you to invest in, and be part of, the continued growth of the District of Columbia.”
Today’s announcements are part of the closing out of June Housing Bloom, a month-long initiative launched by Mayor Bowser to showcase how the public and private sectors are partnering to produce and preserve affordable housing and revitalize neighborhoods across Washington, DC. Throughout June Housing Bloom, which is designed to complement National Homeownership Month, the Bowser Administration promoted and celebrated homeownership opportunities, the production and preservation of affordable housing units, and the transformation of vacant spaces.
The Liberty Place Apartments affordable housing development was made possible through the collaboration of District government agencies including: DMPED, the DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the DC Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) and DC Housing Authority (DCHA). DHCD provided $9.2 million in financing through the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF). DCHFA issued $16.8 million in tax-exempt construction loans and raised $12 million through the syndication of 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity from SunTrust Community Capital. In 2016, a joint venture comprised of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, Quadrangle Development Corporation and the Wilkes Company (collectively “MQW”), selected NHT-Enterprise and IBF Development to construct Liberty Place Apartments on the site, which was donated by MQW.
Since coming into office, the Bowser Administration has sparked the creation or preservation of more than 10,800 affordable units, with more than 5,100 in preconstruction. In the Fiscal Year 2019 budget, the Mayor invested more than $1 billion toward making Washington, DC more affordable for residents in all eight wards.