BEFORE
In 2001 Washington DC received a 34.9 million dollar Hope VI grant to re-develop a problem ridden, run-down housing development known as Capper/Carrollsburg (or The Capers). The objective of the Hope Grant is to tear down disintegrating properties which are to be replaced by mixed communities built with private partners.
The project is set to start in mid2008.
The largest obstacle is turn around time. Displaced residents have been given Section8 Vouchers and have been given priority for placement. A committee of residents,neighbors and officials are overseeing the process that insures that any returnees with a serious criminal conviction (within 3 yrs.)or seriously bad credit...will be excluded.
AFTER
The project is being spearheaded by Michael Kelly, the director of the city Housing Authority.. Mr. Kelly's main objective is to turn around this neighborhood and bring back the original residents to benefit along with additional "workforce housing" and higher income residents. This mixed income development is envisioned to include :
- The Original inhabitants
- An additional 700 market, workforce housing, senior rental and ownership units
- Retail and office space
THE VISION
Taking the lead is the new National Baseball Stadium and 
several new Municipal buildings.
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It strikes me that this ambitious undertaking address many of our Concerns as Realtors. And while suited primarily to an Urban setting ...could serve as a blueprint for future development on a similar scale.
This may be a model that would work well in areas such as New Orleans. Even though there are many who have permanently moved away this could enable those who want to stay or return a unique opportunity to re-establish neighborhoods and renew contacts with lifelong friends and memories!
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Note: If you wish to learn more about this and other DC area developments visit JDLand!The photos are also courtesy of JD.
*Note: This Hope VI program is in contention at the Federal level. The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would extend it but the Bush administration proposes to eliminate it.
Concord New Hampshire Realtor
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Joan Mirantz - Joni is a Realtor® with Keeler Family Realtors, a locally owned, Customer Service oriented Firm.
Joan Publishes a monthly Newsletter "Food For Thought" under the pen name Realtor Sherpa.
(Joan also answers to Miz Maven and Miss Joni.)
Joan works in Buyer and Seller Representation with concentrations in the Merrimack Valley Area and towns surrounding Concord NH - the Capital City.
"I love what I do, and it shows in how I do it"
I can't say I'm all that surprised that the Bush administration is not interested in seeing this program go forward. I don't see the president coming up with any productive alternatives. Apparently he prefers to do nothing.
Rich...I remember one when I was younger and living in the Boston area. I believe it was called Columbia Point. They dis place 100's and put in upscale development. There were other areas of Boston that did the same.
This undertaking sounds like it may actually have learned from those mistakes?
HI Joan - I think you are right that the builder's go where there is money. Many of the builder's I talk to truly have at heart affordable housing, they are just unsure how to achieve it. Many also want to show their creativity and incorporate "really cool" design, layouts, etc to show off what they can do.
Last fall some associates and I took a trip to Chicagoland and met with Bigelow Homes. No relation that I can identify (durn it) and no, I am not paid to endorse them. What we visited were well planned, affordable communities. The company is not doing things that much different...they have learned how to do what they do without the extras. Just above average craftsmanship in a "workforce" housing. I am working with builders who's company mission is to employ the same philosophy in creating great communities. Unfortunately, not all companies buy into it. I walked through some "workforce" housing in our area last week. I was not very impressed and the first home in the neighborhood (built within the last 2 or 3 years) had plastic on the windows to keep the drafts out.
The windows in the home I toured -- brand new and for sale -- had a .47 u-value. To me I find that unacceptable. Workforce housing should be affordable, but not cheap! If NH can't find the builders send some our way that are interested and we will help get them trained and ready for the task at hand!!!
What we have had in our city is the requirement that 6% of all new housing be "affordable." They are now raising that requirement to 10% - because the luxury high-rise thing has gotten so out of control here. But most builders want NOTHING to do with it so the pay the city a sum of money to be put TOWARDS affordable housing in the "murky future." But then find someone to build it etc....In the end not nearly the amount they are supposed to build actually gets built.
One major builder has been finding excuse after excuse. He built the White Plains, RITZ CARLTON, Trump Tower a very high end rental unit and a mall. There is another commercial building of all glass in progress - but he just can't seem to finish 64 affordable units. The dour-faced city council told him that the affordable units had to be open BEFORE would get the CO on the second Ritz Carlton Tower. The mayor would let it slide (they are friends) but the new council will probably not budge. One even suggested that 64 units in the second tower be set aside for affordable housing. You should have seen the look on the developers face!
I wrote two blogs on this issue. The first was about how the heating system was slowing things down. The second was about how work stopped because White Plains wouldn't change their fire codes to make it cheaper.
That is hysterical Ruthmarie....Keep me posted on how it is resolved! I'm also going to check back in occasionaly on JD's blog(the one who took the pictures) to see how that project progresses!
Now I'm off to read your two previous!