History

The development previously known as Ellen Wilson was located on Capitol Hill between 6th and 7th and G and Virginia Avenue, on a 5.3 acre parcel in Southeast Washington. Built in 1941, the development consisted of 134 units situated in two- and three-story walkup apartment buildings in L and H shaped configurations.

The Department of Public and Assisted Housing, the predecessor agency to DCHA, relocated residents from the site in 1988, in anticipation of plans for comprehensive modernization. When the estimated cost for the completed design plans was found to be well in excess of available funding, the development remained vacant until it was demolished in 1996 as the part of the revitalization plan funded through the award of a $25 million HOPE VI grant in 1993.

Project Summary

The Plan for the newly renamed development, now called Townhomes on Capitol Hill, included the construction of 134 townhomes unit sold through a cooperative structure to families in the following income categories:

• 67 families at 50% to 115 % of median income
  
• 34 families at 25% to 50% of median income
  
• 33 families at 0% to 24% of median income

In addition, 13 lots are being developed as fee simple market rate town-homes.

All of the units were sold as of January 2000, with the elected cooperative board taking over the governance functions in January 2001. While the Co-op is self-governing, DCHA maintains responsibility for enforcement of the regulatory and operating agreement.

The Townhomes on Capitol Hill was developed by the Ellen Wilson Redevelopment Limited Liability Corp. A Community Advisory Committee (CAC), which included membership representing local churches, service providers, public housing residents from neighboring developments and residents of the surrounding community directed the planning for the Community and Supportive Services Program (CSSP).

Project Highlights

Integration of the Site with the Surrounding Community. The Townhomes on Capitol Hill is a now a mixed-income community that links the higher income community at its northern border with the lower-income community at its southern border, bringing stability to the entire neighborhood.

Homes Purchased by 24 Former Public Housing and Section 8 Residents

Through economic development plans created for individual families who were home ownership eligible, members of 24 families became eligible for membership in the Co-op and were able to make the successful transition to home ownership.

Success of the Co-Op Structure

The Townhomes on Capitol Hill receives no subsidy and has maintained a budget surplus each of the three years of its operation. The units sold very quickly, supporting the mixed-income concept shared by all DCHA HOPE VI sites, and the co-op continues to receive daily calls from people interested in purchasing a unit despite the absence of any advertising campaign.

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