Wesley Housing Breaks Ground on One Hawaii, Leveraging TOPA for Community Revitalization
Alexandria, VA – August 21, 2024: Wesley Housing, alongside development project partners, community advocates, the 1 Hawaii Ave NE Tenants Association and residents, gathered on Tuesday to celebrate the groundbreaking of One Hawaii, a highly-anticipated new affordable multifamily development located in the Fort Totten (Ward 5) neighborhood of Washington, DC. The 70-unit, multifamily community will replace the recently demolished 34-unit apartment building and offer a safe and affordable place to live for households earning between 30 and 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI).
Pictured Left: DC Councilmember Parker, Chief of Staff, Rachelle Roberts; Gordon-Andrew Fletcher, Chairman, ANC 5A; Kamilah McAfee, President & CEO, Wesley Housing; Christopher Donald, Executive Director & CEO, DC Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA); Steve Smith, Senior Vice President, Truist Community Capital. Pictured Right: Charles Patrick, Resident Member, 1 Hawaii Avenue NE Tenants Association. Photos provided by DAVIS Construction.
The One Hawaii redevelopment plan began in the summer of 2017 when the 1 Hawaii Ave NE Tenants Association exercised their Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) rights. Wesley Housing was selected as the Tenant Association’s partner to acquire the aging community in March 2018 and immediately started to address the resident safety and livability concerns left by the prior owner until the temporary relocation plan could be implemented. In accordance with the development agreement with the tenant association, all former residents in good standing will have the right to return to the new community with certain rent increase protections.
Designed to LEED Platinum standards, the new One Hawaii community will feature studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units as well as a variety of amenities, including a community room, outdoor terrace, play space, bicycle storage room, and below-grade parking for 14 vehicles. The design also incorporates active design elements such as stairwells visible from the outdoors to encourage daily physical activity. In addition, the community is uniquely served by bus stops on all three sides of the site. This site is also within a half mile of the Fort Totten Metro station, which is served by the Green and Red Metro lines, allowing broader access to employment areas.
“Not only will One Hawaii be a wonderful example of resident empowerment and ‘preservation plus production,’ it will also answer the call for greener, healthier buildings in the District,” said Wesley Housing President and CEO Kamilah McAfee. “Through its smart design and construction, we hope the new building represents to the former residents more than a modern replacement to their prior home but also the opportunity to live healthier, more fulfilling lives,” she added.
Pictured Left: Kamilah McAfee, President and CEO, Wesley Housing. Pictured Right: Christopher Donald, Executive Director & CEO, DCHFA. Photo provided by DAVIS Construction.
The $61.1M project is financed by federal and city Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs) purchased by Truist Bank to provide $28.9M in equity, $29.6M tax-exempt bonds issued by the DC Housing Finance Agency, a $22.4M loan from the DC Department Of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF), a Truist Bank construction loan, a Freddie Mac permanent loan via Grandbridge, and solar tax credits.
“One Hawaii shows the promise and potential of the District’s TOPA laws that empower residents to be in the driver’s seat of development projects. I’m thrilled to welcome more housing and affordable units to the Ward 5 portfolio as the District seeks to meet its affordable housing targets,” shared DC Councilmember Zachary Parker of Ward 5. “Furthermore, this project is unique both in its design and its commitment to advancing the District’s climate goals as it is a LEED Platinum certified property. I want to thank everyone who played a role in bringing One Hawaii online for our community,” he added.
Upon completion, projected in early 2026, the community will be managed by Wesley Property Management, and Wesley Housing’s CORES-certified Resident Services team will provide housing stability support services for residents. Eight units at 30% of AMI will be set aside for permanent supportive housing coupled with services. Those units will also be supported by rent subsidy provided through the District of Columbia Housing Authority Local Rent Supplement Program (LRSP).
Pictured Left: One Hawaii rendering of building. Pictured Right: Steve Smith, Senior Vice President, Truist Community Capital and groundbreaking attendees.
To learn more about the development or to sign up to receive future leasing information, please visit OneHawaiiDC.com.
About Wesley Housing: Wesley Housing, a leading nonprofit developer in Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia, has worked to provide affordable rental housing for individuals and families for 50 years. Since its founding, Wesley Housing has emerged as a premier developer of affordable housing. Wesley Housing has acquired or developed over 2,900 rental units, providing quality housing for thousands of low-income individuals and families each year. Wesley Housing supplements housing with supportive services to build up the lives of its residents, including low- and moderate-income families, older adults, and individuals with disabilities and/or chronic disease. For more information, please visit www.wesleyhousing.org and follow @WesleyHousing on social media.
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