Wouldn't it be nice to take a break from the daily demands of everyday life to pursue an idea that would further civic responsibility? At the mythic Halcyon House, that is a very real possibility. Within this $11 million historic mansion is a program to create a hub of social innovation.
Usually, a program for social entrepreneurship would often be located in a modern, industrial space. An environmental experiment, this Federalist home provides a warm counterpoint to allow its residents to bask in a respite that is removed from modern view.
The Halcyon House, a 1787 mansion, sold for $11 million in 2007, and received $3 million in renovation to ready it for the inaugural class of entrepreneurs. According to the Post, this property is a temporary home to a select group of social innovators that apply with business ideas that make a positive impact.
You won't find the program's multimillionaire founders, Sachiko Kuno and Ryuji Uenoo, there, however. They live next door in the Evermay mansion, built in 1801 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Evermay, by the way, was a steal--it was originally listed for $49 million before the wealthy Japanese duo swooped in.
Reinvented with a new purpose, the Halcyon House is properly known now as the Halcyon Incubator, which will house a group of seven highly motivated entrepreneurs that were handpicked for their potential to make a difference in the world of civic improvement.
Kuno and Ueno believe that, despite being the reason of locating to DC for many residents, much can happen without the government's input.
Learn more about the Halcyon Incubator program, and life as an entrepreneur in a reinvented mansion, at their website.
· In the fanciest dorm in Washington, designs on changing the world [Washington Post]
· Halcyon Incubator [Halcyon Incubator]