CPDC is looking for onsite programming partners that are able to commit to providing programming in Southeast Washington, DC.For more information, please view the announcement, or contact Daynna Dixon Regional Resident Service Manager at 202-627-9954 or ddixon@cpdc.org.
Help DC LISC lift up the stories of those who helped transform the neighborhoods of Washington, DC. Your contribution will help them print another edition of Becoming What We Can Be: Stories of Community Development in Washington, DC!
To contribute, please go to: http://igg.me/at/DCLISC
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to congratulate Heather on the 2014 Affordable Housing Finance Young Leaders Award. This recognition highlights not only her accomplishments and leadership abilities as the executive director of HAND, it also attests to all of her hard work and dedication that provides the foundation for the great strides HAND has seen under her management.
We are extraordinarily proud of her and hope that you all enjoy the article!
– Michael J. Scheurer, President
HAND
HAND is looking to offer more activities to affordable housing and community development professionals 40 and under. If you want to learn more about the HAND Emerging Leaders program, please email communications@handhousing.org.
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Commons is the first multi-family building in the District seeking Passive House certification, and one of the first apartment Passive House retrofits in the country.
On Friday, October 10, 2014, DC Mayor Vincent Gray spoke at The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Commons ground breaking. The project, located at 5010 Southern Avenue SE, reflects Mayor Gray’s goals of creating more environmentally sustainable buildings in the District while delivering affordable housing more quickly. The Weinberg Commons involve reclaiming three blighted buildings using Passive House (PH) principles, and retrofitting them into affordable homes for 36 formerly homeless or low-income families.
Passive House is quickly becoming recognized as the most rigorous standard of sustainable building from a global perspective. Applying the Passive House design energy standard and its underlying design principles significantly decreases the energy demand of buildings. As a general guideline, PH buildings are 60% to 90% more energy efficient than buildings meeting current baseline energy codes. This equates to significant savings for year-round heating and cooling costs – energy savings that will serve a portion of the District’s population who have the most need for low-or-no-energy housing.
All this translates that, for this project, the transformation of these three 50+ year-old buildings, using the Passive House standards, will place these buildings amongst the most energy efficient buildings on the planet. The primary Passive House principles implemented in Weinberg Commons include:
•Ultra airtightness
•Superinsulated building enclosure
•Balanced ventilation with heat recovery
•Tuned solar shading & high performance window specifications
•Minimized thermal bridge construction details
•Ultra-efficient active space conditioning
Rendering ©Zavos Architecture+Design, LLC
More information on the project can be found at http://thcdc.org/weinbergcommonsgroundbreaking/.
“Fundamentally, we look at the buildings of our culture from over the past half century and conclude that in general, they fall short of providing truly affordable, healthy, and energy and resource efficient solutions for living. We simply believe that today’s architecture must perform better, and the first place to start is energy reduction.” – Matt Fine, CPHC, LEED® AP, Director ZA+Dpassiv
The development team includes Zavos Architecture+Design (ZA+D), Hamel Builders, JDC Construction, Passive to Positive, Entellis Collaborative, Advanced Consulting Engineers, AMT Consulting Engineers, and SK&A DC. Transitional Housing Corporation (THC) will be functioning as the co-developer, landlord, and service provider on this project.
ZA+D is a full-service architectural firm whose diversity and experience enables them to handle the most complex and challenging projects while meeting the needs of their clients. With most of the firm’s focus on agency-intensive and community-oriented projects, most of ZA+D’s clientele includes non-profit entities, schools, and local government authorities. ZA+D also works on retail / commercial and custom residential projects. ZA+D possesses expertise with new construction as well as the renovation, rehabilitation, and adaptive re-use of existing structures, including those of historical significance.
ZA+D creates positive change in the communities in which it works, through thoughtful and emotive design ideas. The firm works collaboratively with its clients to enhance the social and built fabric of these communities by providing appropriate and sustainable design solutions. ZA+D educates both clients and the community about the valuable and necessary role Architects play in society. More information is available at www.za-d.com.
Community Preservation and Development Corporation (CPDC) is a not-for-profit real estate developer focused on the acquisition, redevelopment, and operation of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income individuals and families. Since inception, CPDC has increased the stock of affordable housing in the mid-Atlantic region and has owned and/or redeveloped more than 25 affordable housing communities throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Today, the organization owns and operates over 4,500 residential apartments, serving more than 9,000 residents.
In the operation of its portfolio, CPDC makes ongoing investment in residents by ensuring they have a voice; by matching services to their needs; and by pairing their individual talents to their community interests. CPDC also provides high-quality, tailored, site-based resident solutions that help residents and communities grow and thrive.
There is no question that CPDC has had numerous successes in our region, however one of its biggest achievements to date is reaching the quarter century mark! CPDC is extremely proud of providing 25 years of service to the affordable housing community. By helping to transform the lives of countless residents who have lived in its communities and benefited from its programs and services, the organization is fully aligned with its mission and on a strong path to celebrating another 25 years.
While CPDC has experienced many accomplishments over the years, 2013 was a significant period of growth and innovation for the organization. Specifically, CPDC expanded its reach by acquiring two additional properties outside of the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. They were selected by two Public Housing Authorities—the first partnerships of their kind for CPDC—to redevelop properties in Baltimore and Richmond. CPDC completed a major renovation of The Larkspur in Arlington. And in 2013, the organization was selected by Fairfax County to complete its first new construction project in Reston.
CPDC also experienced growth and innovation within its resident services programs through the roll out of a new community building model that focuses on five impact areas: economic development, education, environment, health and wellness, and resident engagement. CPDC grew its fundraising model to include partner fundraising as a means of streamlining resources while increasing its reach. Likewise, CPDC ramped up volunteer engagement to encourage more residents, pro-bono consultants, corporations, and other groups of servant leaders to lend their time and talents in its communities. For more information on these great stories and more, read CPDC’s newly published 2013 annual report!
A strong organization needs strong partners, and membership in HAND has been vital to CPDC’s mission of developing vibrant communities through innovation and partnerships.
HAND also provides invaluable opportunities for CPDC’s leadership and staff to participate in trainings, networking events, and a range of other industry-related opportunities. All of these offerings provide the necessary capacity building to strengthen its team and continue to deliver on its mission.
Want to celebrate with CPDC? Check out their 25th Anniversary Fundraising Gala page and find out how you can be part of the festivities!
HAND is pleased to spotlight CPDC, which certainly contributes to our organization’s COLLABORATION, INNOVATION and TRANSFORMATION within the metropolitan area!
