It has been two years since CPDC purchased Randle Hill Apartments and the 196-unit, garden-style complex is being rejuvenated through a $103 million investment from the city of Washington, D.C. This partnership will preserve much needed affordable homes in a rapidly growing neighborhood, with access to resources and services for all Randle Hill residents.

http://www.anacostiaparkcommunity.org/blog/2018/6/15/apacc-member-cpdc-preserves-ward-8-affordable-housing

Hollins House Recognized with National Honor for Excellence in Public Housing at the 24th Annual Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Awards

BALTIMORE, MD. (June 13, 2018) – Hollins House received honorable mention in the Public Housing category at the 24th Annual Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Awards (Edson Awards) by the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition today in Washintgon, D.C.

The Edson Awards take place each year on Capitol Hill, bringing together members of Congress, business and nonprofit leaders to honor Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (Housing Credit) developments that are strengthening communities, improving health and boosting the economy in urban, suburban and rural areas nationwide.

“We convene each year to shine a spotlight on excellence in the affordable housing industry,” said Michael Gaber, President of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition. “The Edson Awards honor the developments that take every opportunity to make innovative use of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit as a tool for public and private collaboration, investment and community revitalization.”

Located two blocks west of the main University of Maryland graduate campus, Hollins House is a high rise apartment building of 130 affordable homes for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Developed by the Community Preservation and Development Corporation (CPDC) and the Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC), Hollins House is CPDC’s first redevelopment project in Baltimore. The development provides access to meals, health and nutrition education, technology, as well as cultural engagement and volunteer opportunities for residents in an effort to create enduring community connections. Honored at the Edson Awards, Hollins House is recognized for its impactful use of the Housing Credit as a powerful resource for community building.

“We are honored to have Hollins House receive such a prestigious and nationally recognized award,” said J. Michael Pitchford, President and CEO of CPDC. “This development helps to answer our community’s need for convenient access to critical services and affordable homes. The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit was essential to its renovation.”

“Hollins House demonstrates how this vital credit helps ensure access to affordable homes for Americans who need it the most,” said U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, who presented the award. “Hollins House did a great job of leveraging federal resources to allow more Maryland families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities to have a roof over their heads. I’m pleased to congratulate all of those involved on this much-deserved recognition, and I’ll keep fighting for investments to help people in our state and across the country.”

The Housing Credit was created as part of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, and today is widely regarded as the nation’s most successful housing production tool. The Housing Credit has financed more than 3 million affordable apartments through public-private partnerships, and supports 96,000 jobs each year, mostly in the small-business sector. It has earned strong bipartisan support, and was recently preserved in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, and expanded and strengthened in the omnibus spending bill for fiscal year 2018. The broadly-supported Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act would further expand and strengthen the program.

Since it was signed into law by President Reagan, it has financed three million homes across the country, including 61,692 in Maryland, which have provided a stable foundation of opportunity to 143,742 families. Statewide, the Housing Credit has created 69,712 jobs, generated 6.64 billion in income, and $2.62 billion in tax revenues, which are reinvested across Maryland.

“The Edson Awards honor developments that harness the Housing Credit to strengthen America’s communities and provide homes that transform the lives of low-income families, veterans, seniors and people with special needs,” said Emily Cadik, Executive Director of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition. “The winners honored today exemplify why the Housing Credit is smart policy, and why Congress should expand and strengthen this proven tool.”

About the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition
Founded in 1988, AHTCC is a trade organization of housing professionals who advocate for affordable rental housing financed using the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (Housing Credit). Our for-profit and non-profit members—including syndicators, investors, lenders, developers, legal and accounting professionals and state allocating agencies—seek to preserve, expand and improve the Housing Credit and complementary programs through legislative outreach and education. The Coalition, a nonprofit corporation chartered under the laws of the District of Columbia, is governed by an elected Board of Directors. Please visit www.taxcreditcoailtion.org for more information about the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition.

About the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
The Housing Credit was created as part of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, and today is widely regarded as the nation’s most successful housing production program. The Housing Credit has financed more than 3 million affordable apartments through public-private partnerships, and supports 96,000 jobs each year, mostly in the small-business sector. It has earned strong bipartisan support, and was recently preserved in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, and expanded and strengthened in the omnibus spending bill for fiscal year 2018. The broadly-supported Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act would further expand and strengthen the program.

About the Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Awards
Given annually by the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition, The Edson Awards are named for Charles L. Edson, an affordable housing luminary who was Transition Director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on President Carter’s Transition Staff. Mr. Edson served in the Office of the General Counsel at HUD and served as Co-Editor-in-Chief of Housing and Development Reporter for nearly 40 years. He is a founding partner of the law firm Lane and Edson, and was later a partner of Nixon Peabody LLP.

###

Press Contact: 

Nick Berkowitz
Group Gordon
t: 212.784.5706
e: NBerkowitz@GroupGordon.com

Cora Clark was awarded the first-ever Partner of the Year award from the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) on May 31, 2018,for her exceptional performance and outstanding commitment to ending hunger in her community. She coordinates biweekly food pantries, a daily Kid’s Café during the after-school program, the Grocery Plus monthly program for seniors 60 years and older and a monthly brown bag program.

Cora is the Community Impact Strategies manager at Arbor View, a 154-home multifamily apartment community in Washington, D.C.’s Ward 8, where she first began the partnership with CAFB in 2009. Back then, Cora was running a food pantry in a one-bedroom apartment at Arbor View. Now, nine years later, CPDC has expanded to six locations in our Washington, D.C. properties.

We are excited to join the CAFB in celebrating Cora for this great accomplishment!

Washington, D.C. professional graduates from NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government

Washington, D.C. (May 3, 2018) – Today, Shelynda Burney Brown, vice president of Real Estate at the Community Preservation and Development Corporation (CPDC) in Washington, D.C., announced her graduation from the NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program in association with the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Burney Brown is one of forty-seven leaders to graduate with this Achieving Excellence class – a prestigious and highly selective training program offered by NeighborWorks America in collaboration with the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

“Participating in the NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program NeighborWorks was a tremendous aid in showing me the holistic perspectives that come with organizational community development,” said Burney Brown.
Achieving Excellence is a 16-month program for seasoned executive directors and senior-level staff to transform their social benefit organizations for greater impact in their communities. Through this program, Burney Brown specifically addressed one of the most critical challenges facing her organization, identifying and implementing solutions that not only dramatically changed how the organization does business, but also fostered lasting community change.

Since Burney Brown began the program in August 2016, she worked with the leadership team to pursue and secure commitments for $15M of new capital, created a mission/profitability matrix that was adopted as a tool to assess all future development opportunities, and established and defined financial metrics that CPDC will deploy when evaluating capital investments. Achieving these goals further cemented CPDC as a desirable and high-impact partner for its new affiliation with Enterprise Community Investment.

“Shelynda Burney Brown has shown her top-notch skills and long-term dedication to improving our nation’s neediest communities through successful completion of the Achieving Excellence program,” said Jeffrey Bryson, acting president and CEO of NeighborWorks America.

Achieving Excellence includes three formal sessions at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, as well as executive coaching to help the participant transform their organizations into higher performing nonprofits. Participants graduated in January 2018.

“One of the biggest things I focused on was being deliberate and thoughtful about how I could transfer the information I learned through the program to the organization’s best practices,” said Burney Brown. “The program helped me to be more intentional in how I lead my team, and in how I can engage them in the big picture—I built a concept around understanding where I am now and using that perspective as a framework to better understand the direction we’re moving toward.”
For more information about the NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence program, go to neighborworks.org/ae, or call Lindsay Moore at 202-760-4059.

###

About CPDC:

A premier provider of affordable housing in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, Community Preservation and Development Corporation (CPDC) develops vibrant communities through innovation and partnership, including its new combination with Enterprise Community Partners. Specializing in the acquisition, redevelopment and operation of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income individuals and families, CPDC owns 30 communities with more than 4,500 apartment homes, and many of its properties offer resident engagement programs that collectively serve more than 9,000 residents. Learn more at www.CPDC.org.

About NeighborWorks America:

For nearly 40 years, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp. (d/b/a NeighborWorks America), a national, nonpartisan nonprofit, has created opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $27.2 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation’s leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.

Press Contact:

Shelynda Burney Brown
CPDC, Vice President, Real Estate Development
sbbrown@cpdc.org
202.885.9552

    

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Marriott and KaBOOM! Put Kids First by Increasing Opportunities to Play in Silver Spring

200 Community Volunteers Unite to Build a New Playground at Park Montgomery

Volunteers from The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, Marriott International, and the Community Preservation and Development Corporation (CPDC) will join KaBOOM! on Wednesday, May 23 to transform an empty site into a kid-designed, state-of-the-art playground in just six hours at Park Montgomery. The new playground will help make play the easy choice for kids and families in Silver Spring. 

“Play is essential to young people’s development — physical, creative, cognitive, social and emotional,” said J. Michael Pitchford, president and CEO of CPDC. “This great project will provide the children at Park Montgomery much better access to a key factor for growing up healthy – a high-quality playground – and will boost our Community Impact Strategies (CIS), which provide our low- and moderate-income residents space and resources to create greater opportunities for their families.”

Through this project, CPDC will work with The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, Marriott International and KaBOOM! to make a difference in their community and address the urgent needs of kids.

In March, kids from the surrounding community came together to draw their dream playground. The playground is based off their drawings and will provide more than 100 kids in Silver Spring with a great, safe place to play.

This playground is part of a broader effort led by The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, Marriott International and KaBOOM! to ensure communities have great PLAYces for kids and families. It will be the 12th build by the partners. Through this partnership, The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, Marriott International and KaBOOM! are creating an oasis where kids feel valued and loved, and where their potential is supported, nurtured and celebrated.

WHEN:                            Wednesday, May 23

8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.      Kick-off ceremony

11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.    Best viewing of playground construction

1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.      Final construction phase

2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.      Ribbon-cutting ceremony 

(Times approximate)

WHERE:          Park Montgomery

                        8860 Piney Branch Road

                        Silver Spring, MD 20903

WHO:              Hundreds of community volunteers

###

About CPDC:

A premier provider of affordable housing in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, Community Preservation and Development Corporation (CPDC) develops vibrant communities through innovation and partnership, including its new combination with Enterprise Community Partners. Specializing in the acquisition, redevelopment and operation of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income individuals and families, CPDC owns 30 communities with more than 4,500 apartment homes, and many of its properties offer resident engagement programs that collectively serve more than 9,000 residents. Learn more at www.CPDC.org. 

About The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation

The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation was established in 1965 with the purpose of giving back to the community. The Foundation is dedicated to supporting exceptional nonprofit organizations that provide civic and human services, foster educational achievement, expand opportunities for youth and adults, develop the next generation of hospitality leaders and lead innovation in health and medicine.

About Marriott International, Inc.

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 6,500 properties in 30 leading hotel brands spanning 127 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company also operates award-winning loyalty programs: Marriott Rewards®, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest®. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.

About KaBOOM!

KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids – especially those living in poverty – the childhood they deserve through great, safe places to play. KaBOOM! inspires communities to make play the easy choice and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of PLAYces. KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build or improve more than 17,000 playspaces, engaged more than 1.5 million volunteers and served over 9 million kids. To learn why play matters for all kids, visit kaboom.org and join the conversation at twitter.com/kaboom, facebook.com/kaboom and instagram.com/kaboom. #playmatters #PLAYceforKids

CPDC’s Highland Park Apartments Named “Multifamily Renovation Project of the Year” at the 2018 Sustainable Leadership Awards

RICHMOND, VA — April 25, 2018 — On Thursday, April 19th, just three days before Earth Day, Community Preservation Development Corporation (CPDC) was honored at Viridiant’s Sustainable Leadership Awards, receiving the “Multifamily Renovation Project of the Year” award.

The annual awards recognize the region’s premier developers, builders, architects, government officials and other industry professionals for their work in advancing the benefits of sustainable building through the EarthCraft family of green building programs. The ceremony in downtown Richmond brought together close to 200 individuals representing home builders, non-profit and for-profit housing providers and developers, affordable housing advocates and those interested in creating green housing opportunities in Virginia. Awards were presented in a variety of categories to cover new construction, renovation, single-family homes, multifamily housing and more.

CPDC is a leading not-for-profit real estate developer dedicated to providing safe, high-quality affordable housing to low- and moderate-income individuals and families. Since 1989, CPDC has developed and maintained vibrant communities by adopting a model that includes comprehensive resident services aimed primarily at youth and seniors. This year’s combination with Enterprise Community Partners expanded CPDC’s ability to continue its work in communities like the Highland Park Apartments.

“All of us at CPDC are incredibly honored to receive this award,” said CPDC President Michael Pitchford. “Highland Park is not just a renovation project but a thriving part of the CPDC family of communities. We are truly grateful to be recognized for the hard work and dedication of our team and partners on the Highland Park Apartments renovation.”

“Each year, our nominees and winners amaze us with their cutting-edge projects that are transforming today’s housing market and serve as proof that the science of sustainability can deliver a housing future that is more affordable, more durable and more liveable. This year is no exception,” said KC Bleile, Executive Director of Viridiant. “It is truly our honor to recognize the work of these dedicated teams and their passion for high performance home building.”

For more information about the 9th Annual Sustainable Leadership Awards, visit http://www.viridiant.org/aboutus/events_annual/viridiant-sustainable-leadership-awards/.

About CPDC

A premier provider of affordable housing in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, Community Preservation and Development Corporation (CPDC) develops vibrant communities through innovation and partnership, including its new combination with Enterprise Community Partners. Specializing in the acquisition, redevelopment and operation of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income individuals and families, CPDC owns 30 communities with more than 4,500 apartment homes, and many of its properties offer resident engagement programs that collectively serve more than 9,000 residents. Learn more at www.CPDC.org. 

About Viridiant

Viridiant is a non-profit organization committed to supporting sustainable building processes through education, consultation and certification. Through these efforts, Viridiant helps to set a path for businesses and homeowners to create structures that are more affordable, more livable and more durable. Learn more at viridiant.org.

About EarthCraft

The EarthCraft program was created in 1999 by a partnership between Southface Energy Institute and the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and was brought to Virginia in 2006. Operated by Viridiant in Virginia, Washington DC and Maryland, EarthCraft is a family of green building certification programs designed to address climate, energy and water issues unique to the southeastern United States. The program serves as a blueprint for energy and resource-efficient single family homes, multifamily structures, renovation projects, community developments, light commercial buildings and  sustainable preservation projects.

###

DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS RELEASE HERE.

Since March is Women’s History Month, we want to pause celebrate the women and girls throughout the Mid-Atlantic who reside in our communities and work with our organization who leave a lasting impact.

In celebration of women’s history, we thought we would also highlight some of the legendary women from the District, Maryland and Virginia who inspire us to do and be more every day.

Victorine Q. Adams

Adams was the first black woman to be elected to Baltimore’s City Council. She paved the way for women — particularly women of color — to serve the city. Her tenure featured accomplishments in developing energy models that have been replicated through Maryland and the United States.

Her advocacy work for urban renewal and low-income housing in the city made history in the state, and she continued to develop programs to help communities thrive and stay warm.

Nikki Giovanni

Nikki Giovanni is one of our country’s most beloved poets. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as an activist, and later became a professor of poetry at many colleges and workshops. Today, she serves as a professor at Virginia Tech and inspires others with a lifelong commitment to social justice and civil rights.

Juanita Jackson Mitchell

Mitchell was a civil rights advocate and lawyer from Maryland. After being rejected by the City Bar Association on account of discrimination, she dedicated the rest of her life to combating unlawful discrimination and segregation. She went on to serve in presidential cabinets, as well as combating wrongful incarceration in Maryland’s prisons.

Katie Couric
A native from Arlington, Virginia, Couric is an icon in television journalism known for her interviews and rigorous research. She has served as a co-anchor of NBC’s Today Show, a journalist for The New York Times, host of her own podcast, and is now holds the title of Global Anchor for Yahoo! News.

Maggie Walker
Maggie Walker made history as the first woman bank president in the country (and a black woman, at that) in Richmond, Virginia. Her legacy shows how she overcame trials and tribulations to transform the face of finance.

These are only some of the outstanding women who inspire us to work together to ensure all citizens can grow and thrive. To learn more about women’s contributions to society and the significance of Women’s History Month, we recommend the following resources:

The Huffington Post – 14 Netflix Titles Celebrating Women

A Mighty Girl – Suggested Reading List for Girls 

Goodreads – Women’s History Nonprofit Reading List 

National Education Association – Women’s History Lesson Plans

D.C. Women Focused Activities

Spearheaded by the city’s Department of Human Services (DHS), the goal of this program was to secure permanent housing for 400 vulnerable families and individuals from November 2017 through the end of the holiday season. Partnering with landlords throughout the District, DHS approached trusted community partner CPDC to provide affordable housing and apartment units for the initiative.

CPDC was able to assist DHS and the District of Columbia Housing Authority by providing 20 families with lease agreements. The total number of homes surpassed the goals originally set, and at the end of the program, 422 homes were fulfilled as part of this campaign.

The success of this campaign speaks to the long-term reality for affordable housing in D.C. under Mayor Bowser’s ongoing Homeward DC plan and the great work our team at CPDC does every year to help families grow and thrive.

Learn more about the mayor’s programs.

CPDC has over 30 properties providing homes to more than 10,000 residents in the Mid-Atlantic, and will operate as an affiliate of Enterprise. In total, Enterprise has created 470,000 affordable homes, including 144,000 homes through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. By combining resources, CPDC and Enterprise will strengthen their collective ability to build and preserve affordable homes while developing and deploying the next generation of resident services.

Enterprise provides strong regional development and property management capabilities, national know-how and digital platforms for creating and preserving affordable housing. CPDC offers regional development expertise and extensive resident services through its innovative, award-winning Community Impact Strategies (CIS) program. The CIS model is built upon five areas of sustainable community development: economic development, education, environment, health and wellness and resident engagement.

The ultimate result of the combination will be greater opportunity for low-income families, thanks to the continued affordability of 12,000 homes in the Mid-Atlantic, and the provision of services that are even more responsive to the needs of residents.

“Meeting America’s deepening housing challenges demands preservation of existing affordable properties, and Enterprise and CPDC share a powerful commitment to, and deep expertise in, keeping homes affordable,” said Charlie Werhane, president & CEO of Enterprise Community Investment. “The opportunity to collaborate with CPDC will benefit both organizations and the residents we serve.”
“In Enterprise, CPDC found a great partner, one with a strong capital base and property management skills,” said J. Michael Pitchford, president and CEO of CPDC. “It enables us to ensure the continued affordability of thousands of homes we’ve developed over three decades and strengthens our ability to serve more residents and communities across the mid-Atlantic.”

Housing insecurity continues to grow in the U.S., with nearly 19 million low-income families either homeless or paying at least half of their monthly income on housing. Enterprise’s goal is to end housing insecurity in the U.S within a generation, and any serious solution must involve increasing the supply of affordable homes through both new construction and the preservation of existing properties.

“This combination offers a unique win/win – it provides a path for organizations looking for operational efficiency, while also delivering a platform that augments and enriches services to our residents,” said Brian McLaughlin, a former board member of CPDC and current member of the Enterprise Community Investment Board of Directors. “By bringing together two sets of complementary expertise, you end with a result that is greater than the sum of its parts and pulls achievement of our missions within even closer reach.”

###

About CPDC:

A premier developer of affordable housing in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, Community Preservation and Development Corporation (CPDC) works to develop vibrant communities through innovation and partnership.  Specializing in the acquisition, redevelopment, and operation of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income individuals and families, CPDC owns over 4,500 dedicated affordable apartments within more than 25 communities, with resident engagement programs at many of its properties serving more than 9,000 residents.

Press Contact:

John Keaten
Group Gordon
t: 212.784.5701
e: jkeaten@groupgordon.com

Fort Stevens Place Apartments was approaching the end of its compliance and useful life in Ward 4 and was at risk of loss in the rapidly gentrifying Brightwood neighborhood. CPDC is able to renovate the property and preserve affordable housing in the District of Columbia in partnership with Harkins Builders and Miner Feinstein Architects. The renovation is expected to significantly enhance the livability and efficiency of the 59 residential units.

“The preservation of afforadable housing in Washington has never been more important,” said CPDC President Michael Pitchford. “District neighborhoods flourish when safe, modern housing options are available for working families of all socio-economic backgrounds. We are proud to help keep the Brightwood neighborhood growing and thriving with the renovation of Fort Stevens.”

The renovation efforts to preserve Fort Stevens Place 1950s architecture are substantial, including full electrical, plumbing and mechanical upgrades for the entire building. Individual units will also receive new kitchens and baths, roof and window replacements. The building will also see an updated HVAC system, electric units, and landscaping. The construction scope ensures safety and energy efficiency throughout the building, and will surpass Green Communities 2015 standards with improvements to building wide energy use and tightening of the overall envelope.

Restoring the efficiency and affordability of 59 residential units of affordable housing in Washington, D.C. assures current residents that they are the priority of this community. The renovation will create an on-site management office and community center to improve the day-to-day lives of all residents who live at Fort Stevens Place. Current residents have expressed excitement towards this effort.

“The most gratifying part of this program will be the look on the faces of the residents as they walk through their new front door,” said Pitchford. “Our team cannot wait to get started on this project and create that moment for them.”

###

About CPDC:

A premier developer of affordable housing in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, Community Preservation and Development Corporation (CPDC) works to develop vibrant communities through innovation and partnership.  Specializing in the acquisition, redevelopment, and operation of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income individuals and families, CPDC owns over 4,500 dedicated affordable apartments within more than 25 communities, with resident engagement programs at many of its properties serving more than 9,000 residents.

Press Contact:

Jamie Rose, Momenta Creative

202.688.1448

jamie@momentacreative.com