Congress Heights

Home » Our Neighborhood Investments » Congress Heights

An asterisk * indicates a project that is in progress.
A camera indicates photos are available.

*The Shops at Park Village (Camp Simms)
William C. Smith and East of the River CDC, formed a joint partnership, (CHR LLC) to develop the long vacant Camp Simms Military site along Alabama Ave in Southeast Washington.   Anchored by a 65,000 square foot Giant grocery store that opened in December 2007, The Shops at Park Village  brings the only grocery store and sit-down restaurant to Ward 8. 

It also brings over 40,000 square ft of renovated and new retail. LISC, through its partnership with Wachovia provided $18.6 Million in New Markets Tax Credits. Additionally, LISC in partnership wtih State Farm provided grant funds to ERCDC for early predevelopment work and to enable them to become equity partners. (East of the River CDC)

* Garfield Hills Apartments
Acquisition and renovation of Garfield Hills Apartments, a 94 unit federally assisted apartment complex at 2301 Hartford St. SE. The property is a fully occupied, 100% Project-based Section 8 property where residents pay no more than 30% of their income towards rent.  The property will be preserved as long term affordable housing. LISC provided a $3.4 million acquisition loan. (Preservation of Affordable Housing, Inc (POAH))

Hope Apartments
Renovation of a 4-story, dilapidated and vacant property at 3715 2nd Street, SE into housing with supportive services for families whose heads of households are in recovery from drug and/or alcohol addiction. Opened in April 2006. LISC provided grant funds for Community of Hope to complete a strategic plan and a $20,000 predevelopment grant. (Community of Hope)

Town Hall Education, Arts and Recreation Campus (THE ARC)
New construction of a 110,000 sq. ft. education, arts, and recreation facility at the corner of Mississippi Ave., SE between Southern Ave. and Stanton Road. A variety of organizations will provide fine arts, educational and sports opportunities to the community. A pediatric health clinic is also on site. Opened October 2005. LISC provided $70,000 in operating support grants. (Building Bridges Across the River, Inc.)

Plaza 8
Construction of a 9,800 sq.ft. office building, at Martin Luther King Jr. Ave and Raleigh Place, owned and occupied by East of the River CDC. Children’s Hospital operates a Pediatric Center on the first and second floor. Construction is complete. LISC provided a $675,000 construction loan and an $18,000 grant. (East of the River CDC)

Metropolitan Police Boys and Girls Club Football Field
Substantial renovation and conversion (including scoreboard) of a vacant lot into a regulation football field adjacent to the Congress Heights Club House at Milwaukee Place and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. LISC provided a $100,000 grant through our NFL Football Fields Program. (Metropolitan Police Boys and Girls Club)

Youth Entrepreneurial Training and Skills Development
Beginning in 1995, East of the River CDC has sponsored a neighborhood youth development and entrepreneurial program. The program has achieved results such as:

• Dozens of youth participating in the Southeast Superleague
• Thirty-six young people introduced to potential careers in landscaping through a Corridor Beautification Program;
• Fourteen youth completed ERCDC’s BizCamp ™ and operated Triple Fresh (Produce, Pride, & Promise) at area farmers markets. Two Triple Fresh graduates awarded Youth Venture funds for their small businesses.
• Six Potomac Jobs Corps clerical students received on the job training.
• Twenty-six young adults received computer instruction through Youth Net computer program and 22 children completed a six-week, after-school class on basic computer skills. Supported by LISC grant funding. (East of the River CDC)