CPDC | CPDC 25th Anniversary

A Look Back at 25 Years of Helping Communities Grow and Thrive

CPDC is proud to celebrate 25 years as a premier not-for-profit real estate developer dedicated to providing safe, high-quality, and affordable housing and residential services for low- and moderate-income individuals and families. Our organization recognizes that we could not have reached this milestone without the support of our staff, board, residents, partners, and members of the communities we serve.

View Gala Photos

We invite you to peruse the gallery of beautiful images from our Gala program and the fun-filled photo booth. You can download the images to your computer and even share them to social media in the click of a button!

VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE GALA

PASSWORD FOR PHOTO DOWNLOADS: CPDC25

Watch Tribute Videos

Developing Vibrant Communities

Impacting Residents’ Lives

Honoring Our Founder

Read Tribute Booklet

DOWNLOAD BOOKLET (PDF)

Explore Our Timeline

1989
Real estate pioneer Eugene Ford establishes CPDC after a 40-year history of developing more than 15,000 units of affordable housing.SEE MORE…

CPDC is a premier non-profit real estate developer in the mid-Atlantic region.

CPDC’s first President, Leslie Steen works with Ford to build a solid team of professionals to fill CPDC’s real estate pipeline and build our resident services program. Acting as the organization’s governing body and providing strategic oversight, CPDC’s original Board of Directors included: Eugene Ford Sr. (chairman), Allan Oakley Hunter, H. Ralph Taylor, and I. Margaret White.

Early 1990s
CPDC makes our first acquisitions — deteriorated properties in Annapolis, Capitol Heights, and Takoma Park, MD. CPDC also tackles two challenging developments in Washington, DC. The successful redevelopment of these properties establishes credibility for CPDC.READ MORE…

CPDC partners with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to develop Edgewood Terrace in Washington, DC. These facilities are large enough for CPDC to establish a core organization for operating community development programs.

Mid-to-Late 1990s
In 1995 CPDC launches the “electronic village,” wiring every apartment and numerous classrooms with high speed Internet access and low maintenance. CPDC launches our Community Development Programs the same year.

Edgewood Terrace becomes a national model, recognized by The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and Affordable Housing Finance Magazine.

CPDC partners with Microsoft, creating an “electronic village” at Edgewood Terrace.

CPDC grows our multifamily housing portfolio by participating aggressively in HUD’s preservation programs.SEE MORE…

Early 2000s
Wheeler Terrace Apartments, a 116-unit, garden-styled apartment community that becomes the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified affordable housing community in Washington, DC.

CPDC continues to expand our presence by acquiring and completing renovations of: Phase One, 410 units, of the historic 569 unit-Mayfair Mansions community located in northeast Washington, D.C.; The Overlook at Oxon Run Apartments, a 316-unit high-rise that houses families and seniors located in southeast Washington, DC.

Mid-to-Late 2000s
In 2005 CPDC appoints J. Michael Pitchford as President and CEO. Pitchford brings strong fiscal planning to the organization, identifying a $1 million gap in operating expenses and closing it.

In 2007 CPDC is awarded “Project of the Year” for Oxford Manor from Housing Association of Non-Profit Developers.
CPDC rebrands Programs as "Resident Services" after organizational re-crafting. "Real Estate" completes organizational re-crafting.

CPDC adds adaptive reuse as our new niche after being selected to convert of Wiley H. Bates Heritage Park into high-quality affordable housing for seniors in Annapolis, MD.READ MORE…

CPDC invests in the future of communities to grow and thrive.

Early 2010s
Over 25 communities and nearly 4,500 units later, CPDC continues to lead, establishing an unparalleled reputation for revitalizing communities across the Greater Washington, DC Metropolitan Region.

Through Resident Services, we develop communities that grow and thrive.

At CPDC’s communities, residents have access to a wider range of programs and services through quality partnerships and a strong evaluation model that measures the success of these efforts.

CPDC partners to create communities that grow and thrive.

Today
CPDC increases the number of residents, corporations, non profits, and other types of volunteers throughout our communities and develops a community building model with targeted focus on five areas that impact sustainability in all of our communities (environment, economic development, education, health and wellness, and resident engagement).