"There can never be enough": affordable housing for seniors coming to D.C.
by: Rebecca Burnett
Posted: Jan 7, 2021 / 07:03 PM EST / Updated: Jan 11, 2021 / 03:24 PM EST
WASHINGTON (WDVM) — A 129-unit affordable housing apartment building for seniors is coming to D.C.'s Takoma neighborhood. The D.C. Housing Finance Agency's Interim Executive Director Christopher Donald says the project was in the works for about three years.
The $41.7 million dollar development will be two blocks from the Takoma Metro station. It will also house a business center, fitness center, and on-site programming. D.C.'s Housing Up will provide "Tenant Education, Health and Wellness, Education and Employment, and Community Building."
Donald says most of the city's affordable housing is in Wards 7 and 8 with fewer amenities. "The wards that are west of the river have more amenities and more access to transportation and highly ranked schools," he said. "So it's important when we get the opportunity to build affordable housing in all communities, all wards, west of the city."
"Having access to ready transportation for seniors so they can be involved in social activities, so they can access their medical professionals, really is transformative for their lives," said Donald. "It reduces a large burden so they can afford to be without personal transportation like cars, it reduces any money that they may pay for Ubers and taxis and other things."
This is all part of Mayor Muriel Bowser's plan to increase affordable housing options in all of the District's wards. Donald says the city has been focused on using its CARES Act funding to "stabilize its portfolio of 30,000 units and almost 200 different properties." The DCHFA spent much of that funding during the last two weeks of December to provide rent relief for residents in need.
For Donald, this project is a little more personal than usual. He went to college with the project's sponsor, Jair Lynch, president and CEO of Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners.
"To see him be the 'hometown's developer': someone who is of color, someone who has been committed to the city for the last three decades, someone who is committed to doing beautiful things for the people of this city is really encouraging given the events of the last day or so," he said. "As we watch what's going on in the official D.C., I'm really proud of what's going on in the District of Columbia."
WVU's Pooler to use extra year of eligibility
Maryland / 1 hour ago
Supporting mental and behavioral health services in Maryland
Maryland / 4 hours ago
Montgomery County hosts socially-distant volunteer week in honor of MLK
Montgomery Co. Board of Education plans for superintendent search
The ongoing fight for racial justice
Washington-DC / 48 mins ago
Amtrak halting Virginia routes ahead of Inauguration Day
Transportation / 9 hours ago
National / 23 hours ago
National Cherry Blossom Festival searching for local artists
Washington-DC / 23 hours ago
Police arrest man trying to enter D.C. security checkpoint with loaded gun, fake inauguration credentials
Washington-DC / 2 days ago
Virginia / 2 hours ago
VDH partners with 15 Walgreens locations to provide free COVID-19 tests
Loudoun County students go "LoCo on Cancer" to raise $75,000
Fairfax County Park Authority releases plans for North Hill Park development
Virginia / 1 hour ago
Fairfax police investigate a serious crash on Leesburg Pike
Arlington Rotary Club donates 250 blankets to homeless & low-income youth, adults
WV National Guard troops deploy to Washington, D.C.
West Virginia / 7 hours ago
West Virginia woman charged in U.S. Capitol breach
It's official: Huff hired as Thundering Herd's new head coach
COVID-19 hospitalizations decrease, vaccinations pass milestone in WV
West Virginia / 23 hours ago
Lotteries reach more than $700 million for the first time
by WAVY Staff, Nexstar Media Wire / Jan 18, 2021
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Amtrak has issued a travel advisory in Washington D.C. ahead of Inauguration Day.
Amtrak will continue to operate service as scheduled, except for some services in Virginia.
There will be no Northeast Regional service south of Washington D.C., including all Virginia stations on Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 19 and 20. The Carolinian, which travels between Charlotte and New York City, will only operate between Raleigh and Charlotte.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. defense officials say they are worried about an insider attack or other threat from service members involved in securing President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration, prompting the FBI to vet all of the 25,000 National Guard troops coming into Washington for the event.
The massive undertaking reflects the extraordinary security concerns that have gripped Washington following the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol by pro-Trump rioters. And it underscores fears that some of the very people assigned to protect the city over the next several days could present a threat to the incoming president and other VIPs in attendance.
Tweets by NexstarDC
Anna Wiernicki
Alexandra Limon
Raquel Martin
WDVM on Facebook
WDVM on Twitter
LocalDVM iPhone App
LocalDVM Android App
A nice day with near-normal temps for Northern Virginia on Tuesday
Nova Forecast / 1 hour ago
A nice day with near-normal temps in Northern Virginia on Tuesday
Nova Forecast / 2 hours ago
Walter Johnson senior RB Aaron Jones was born deaf, will play college football at Penn
After she delivered stillbirth, DC Public Schools denies teacher maternity leave