Affordable housing is being preserved in Brightwood Park, thanks to residents in the neighborhood. According to a press release, residents of the Homestead Apartments fought to prevent their rents from increasing since 2005. In 2014, the owner put the property up for sale, which caused the residents to form a tenant association in order to purchase it through D.C.’s Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Assistance (TOPA) program.
In order to redevelop the development, located at 812 Jefferson Street NW, the tenant association selected D.C.-based real estate and community development firm, UrbanMatters, in March 2015. According to a press release, the 1939-built property was in dire need of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing improvements at the time.
This Friday, groundbreaking began at the site with a delivery expected by June 2017. The $13 million rehabilitation will provide 45 residential units restricted to residents earning 60 percent of the area median income as well as 10 market-rate homes.
The rehabilitation will include new kitchen cabinetry and countertops, roofing and windows, and electrical and elevator upgrades. The developer will also improve the plumbing, bathrooms, and HVAC system. Once complete, the building will feature a parking garage, laundry room, secure building access, and a large patio and picnic area in the courtyard.
According to a press release, the preservation of affordability was made possible by equity generated by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and Federal Historic Rehabilitation Credits syndicated by R4 Capital. A developer of the project is The Hampstead Group, Inc.