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David Bowers, Enterprise Impact Market Leader |
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Earlier this year, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States. Bundled in nine layers of clothing, I stood near the reflecting pool and celebrated the historic January day with nearly two million people.
In the midst of the inaugural celebration, I felt a mix of excitement as well as urgency. On a day when the world paused to welcome the new residents of the White House, I realized that I could walk in any direction and see homelessness on the streets. Within blocks of the U.S. Capitol, I could encounter low- and moderate-income Americans struggling to make their rent payments. And if I expanded the radius within miles of the Capitol dome, I would find thousands of families in the D.C. metro area who have experienced the loss of their greatest physical asset: their homes.
Much work remains to be done to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to live with dignity and to realize their gifts and talents. This issue of the D.C. Metro Report shares some good news about our recent work with many partners and stakeholders. In the months ahead, you will hear more about Enterprise’s response to foreclosures in our metropolitan area. And we will continue to update you on local and national policy efforts to bring about systemic change.
Thank you for taking the time to keep up with Enterprise’s work. We look forward to partnering with you in the days ahead to do the noble, necessary work of strengthening communities.
David Bowers
Impact Market Leader
Washington, D.C.
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CNHED 2008 annual fundraiser, "Beyond Bricks and Mortar"; Photo: Ricky Wai Ki Leung |
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Enterprise’s David Bowers recently emceed the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development’s annual fundraiser, “Beyond Bricks and Mortar: How CNHED Members Change Lives.”
An Enterprise partner, CNHED is an umbrella organization for the nonprofit housing and economic development industry in Washington, D.C. Its membership represents a broad spectrum of non- and for-profit affordable housing developers, special needs housing service agencies, faith-based organizations, CDCs, funders, lenders and government agencies.
CNHED recognized Enterprise for its role as a Community Champion Sponsor of the event. “CNHED does a tremendous job, and Enterprise was honored to be part of its annual fundraising effort,” said Bowers.
Enterprise’s Faith-based Development Initiative recently hosted a luncheon and training session with co-conveners East of the River Clergy-Police-Community Partnership and Georgetown University. The event brought together clergy and other faith leaders to exchange information and share both progress and challenges on local affordable housing efforts.
Enterprise’s faith-based initiative engages and helps the faith community serve as agents of change through the development of affordable housing, special needs housing and community facilities. The recent event featured three faith-based leaders who discussed current development projects. In Southeast D.C., Pastor Collette Jones of Mt. Carmel Christian Faith Center is seeking new affordable housing development to prevent higher-priced housing from displacing low-income congregants. Pastor Jones explained the difficulty of finding a property whose purchase and renovation costs would not prohibit keeping it affordable.
“As a preacher I have a vision to help our congregants,” said Pastor Jones. “Enterprise is helping me realize that vision by offering resources and training that help us target our needs and manage the bumps in the road.”
Nkosi Ayize is executive director of the Emory Beacon of Light, which serves the District’s Brightwood community. He shared updates on Emory’s development project and its mission to promote local fellowship, while meeting the area’s need for affordable housing for seniors.
“Our biggest challenges have been designing a building to fit community needs,” said Mr. Ayize. “Enterprise has given us great advice on how to proceed and look for various sources of funding. As a result, we plan on breaking ground over the spring.”
The Reverend Dr. Morris Shearin of Israel Baptist Church in Northeast D.C. is working to develop 34 affordable homes for seniors. The development will be built alongside a health and community facility. “Through inspiration and scripture, we have an important vision in response to a great need,” said Rev. Shearin.
When Pastor Shearin arrived to lead the church, it owed more than $1 million. After raising the funds to settle the debt, the church purchased the adjacent property. An early obstacle arose when a commercial developer’s proposed shopping complex included property on which the church had hoped to develop affordable senior housing. Providence struck when the developers learned of Israel Baptist Church’s goals. By donating part of the land to the congregation, the developers were able to support the community and lessen their tax burden. Construction is slated to begin in September 2009.
From raising funds to meeting local zoning requirements to collaborating with a range of community stakeholders, the process has brought numerous challenges, said Pastor Shearin. He noted, however, that Enterprise provided significant support with financing predevelopment costs. “Enterprise really helped us to jump-start this project,” said Pastor Shearin.
Enterprise has provided the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington $11 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity to support the development of St. Martin’s Apartments in Northeast D.C. Catholic Charities also received a $10,000 grant through Enterprise’s Faith-based Development Initiative.
A groundbreaking ceremony last November drew D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and other local government officials, Catholic Charities President and CEO Edward Orzechowski and Archbishop Donald Wuerl.
The 178-unit building at 116 T Street NE will provide much-needed housing. A portion of the units will serve formally homeless individuals. Sixty units will be for families earning 30 percent or below the Area Median Income; 118 units will serve families earning 60 percent or below AMI.
The project has received $13 million from the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development, in addition to bonds underwritten by the D.C. Housing Finance Agency. The development is set on the grounds of St. Martin of Tours Parish, land given to Catholic Charities by the Archdiocese of Washington. Construction is expected to be complete in 2010.
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Rendering: Wiencek Architects |
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An abundance of media, including the Washington Post and Affordable Housing Finance, were on hand last fall to record the green groundbreaking at Wheeler Terrace in Southeast D.C. The renovations will help protect the environment, safeguard residents’ health and increase efficiency.
The developer, Community Preservation and Development Corporation, received a $4 million loan from Enterprise and a $50,000 Green Communities grant to support the redevelopment and green renovation. City First Bank also provided $2 million toward the project.
“CPDC is thrilled to be leading the redevelopment of Wheeler Terrace and helping advance green design initiatives in the Washington, D.C., area,” said CPDC President and CEO Mike Pitchford. “We believe that it will have a strong impact on the community and positively influence the lives of our residents.”
Wheeler Terrace is a 113-unit, seven building apartment community at 1217 Valley Avenue SE. The renovation will replace existing building systems and upgrade to a new pitched roof design as well as include extensive interior renovations. Ventilation modifications will enhance the air supply and distribution, while an improved building envelope sealing will control moisture and pest intrusion.
The National Center for Healthy Housing will enroll approximately 50 of the homes at Wheeler Terrace in a HUD-funded demonstration to measure health outcomes. The project will compare residents’ reported health status before, immediately after and one year following green rehabilitation. Enterprise and its local partner GreenHOME connected the center to CPDC and the Wheeler Terrace development.
Nearly 100 homes in eight apartment buildings will remain affordable in two Washington, D.C., neighborhoods. The preservation feat is thanks to The Community Builders (TCB), which has been building strong communities for more than 40 years.
The scattered-site project in the Marshall Heights and Pennsylvania Avenue/Fairlawn neighborhoods will ensure that all 98 units in eight apartment buildings remain affordable to residents at or below 50 percent of the Area Median Income upon completion. In 2008, Enterprise helped TCB acquire the properties with the support of a $5.5 million loan.
In addition to preserving affordability, the project will enhance resident services. Through a partnership with Ministerial Alliance for Community Economic Development, residents will have access to senior services, after-school programs and workforce development.
TCB develops, finances and manages affordable and mixed-income housing in urban neighborhoods. In addition, TCB provides supportive services and helps plan and implement critical community and economic initiatives. Its Mid-Atlantic office focuses on transformational projects of scale as well as vital preservation efforts.
Enterprise proudly highlights a key partner and advocate: Capital One.
Capital One is a long-time supporter of Enterprise's mission to provide quality affordable housing in Washington, D.C., and across the country. Since 1997, Capital One has committed more than $2 million in grants and pledges to support Enterprise's work.
Capital One has played a vital role in deepening Enterprise’s work in school-centered community revitalization. This important arena recognizes that quality schools can be a powerful catalyst for community and economic development. Capital One has sponsored three Enterprise research papers that explore the school-centered community development paradigm.
Enterprise values its longstanding partnership with Capital One and looks forward to continuing this important relationship moving forward.
Enterprise’s monthly Capitol Express enewsletter tracks major congressional and regulatory activities affecting affordable housing and community development. Read the latest issue.
A unique mix of social mission, green innovation and responsible business earned Enterprise the number one slot on Fast Company’s Social Enterprise honor roll. An article in the magazine’s December 2008/January 2009 issue said: “It's instructive to look at Enterprise to see what is possible when responsible business and a farsighted social mission dovetail in a search for creative solutions.”
Enterprise relies on the generous donations of foundations, corporations and individuals to create and preserve fit, affordable housing for low-income families in the District of Columbia and across the country. Amid today’s foreclosure crisis, your support is needed now more than ever as we seek to help families stay in their homes so they can continue to work toward the American dream. Together, we can strengthen and rebuild our communities. Please donate today.
CASA de Maryland, Inc. (CASA) is redeveloping the historic McCormick-Goodhart Mansion in Langley Park, Md., into the CASA Multicultural Center. Enterprise provided $7.9 million in New Markets Tax Credit equity to support the restoration of the 84-year-old mansion.
As one of the largest recipients in the NMTC program, Enterprise has used its five rounds of allocations totaling $515 million to catalyze more than $3 billion in commercial and mixed-use development in urban centers and rural communities in 18 states and Washington, D.C. That investment has created six million square feet of new or rehabilitated real estate, 10,000 permanent jobs and more than 3,500 affordable homes.
The NMTC investment in the 21,000-square-foot CASA Multicultural Center will help restore both the interior and exterior of the mansion to its original appearance, and create administrative offices and multipurpose space for CASA staff and clients. Meeting the U.S. Green Building Council LEED Gold standards, the completed facility will include such features as a sustainable green roof and a geo-thermal HVAC system.
Federal and state historic tax credits are also helping to support the mansion's transformation. The Bank of America Community Development Corporation, the NMTC and federal HTC equity investor, also has provided a bridge loan to support the center. Meanwhile, CASA has actively sought additional project funding from various sources, including a federal appropriation from U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (Md.) and support from Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties.
CASA, Maryland’s largest advocacy group for Latinos and immigrants, estimates that 75 percent of its beneficiaries earn less than $25,000 per year in one of the most expensive areas of the nation. The CASA Multicultural Center will provide an array of services to low-income families in the community, including educational, vocational and employment services; English as a Second Language (ESL), and school- and community-based training. Construction of the new center promises to create approximately 50 temporary jobs.
The Board of Trustees of Enterprise Community Partners recently elected David Bowers as an officer. David's new title is Vice President and Impact Market Leader. He will continue to lead Enterprise's program efforts in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
In addition, Senior Director of Lending Monica Warren-Jones will assume new duties in the office, leading business development and partner solutions efforts for the local market.
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