(Washington, DC) – Mayor Vincent C. Gray, DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Director John E. Hall and others recently celebrated the completion of 15 units of affordable housing in Ivy City.
These units, developed by Mi Casa, are part of the Ivy City Special Demonstration Project, which will bring a total of 58 new affordable homeownership opportunities to Ward 5. All units are affordable for persons making 80% or below of the area median income. This project has the potential to double the homeownership rate in Ivy City.
“This is the beginning of the fulfillment of a dream,” said Mayor Gray. “A priority of my administration is to continue to provide opportunities for people to be able to afford to live in the District of Columbia.”
Mi Casa’s units include eight green renovated condominiums and seven newly-constructed Energy-Star single family homes. Of the new homes, nine have been sold to buyers and six are available for purchase. Ms. Peta-Gay Lewis purchased one of the newly-constructed homes and hosted the celebration in her new home.
“This project is an example of how various programs can be used to help create affordable housing opportunities,” said DHCD Director Hall. “Ms. Lewis used the Home Purchase Assistance Program and housing counseling through Housing Counseling Services to make homeownership a reality for her family.”
In addition to Mi Casa, DHCD has partnered with Manna, Inc and Habitat for Humanity of Washington, DC to complete the project. Manna is nearing completion of 20 units, and Habitat is constructing 23 units.
DHCD will provide a total of $5.4 million in construction assistance toward the completion of the Ivy City Special Demonstration Project. Funding includes $368,130 in local funding, $586,031 from the HOME Investment Partnerships Fund (HOME), $2.6 million from the first round of Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funding, $463,172 from the second round of NSP funding, and $1.5 million from the third round of NSP funding. In addition, DHCD’s Property Acquisition and Disposition Initiative acquired land in Ivy City, resulting in a land investment of approximately $1 million.
About DHCD
The mission of the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is to create and preserve opportunities for affordable housing and economic development and to revitalize underserved communities in the District of Columbia. DHCD fulfills its mission by providing gap financing; increasing first-time homeownership opportunities; providing funding to rehabilitate single-family and multi-family homes; supporting communities through neighborhood based activities; providing funding for homelessness prevention; addressing vacant and abandoned properties; and overseeing the administration of rental housing laws.