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Ruthie Foster Brings Down the House at LISC Sponsored Benefit Concert for THEARC

November 13 - It was the concert that everyone will be talking about for months to come. For the second year in a row Texas based singer, songwriter and guitarist Ruthie Foster gave an awe inspiring performance at THEARC.  With a full band behind her and a voice that booms from her small frame, the concert was a sure hit with the audience.

This is the second year that LISC sponsored the concert with all ticket proceeds going to benefit THEARC.

Soul, gospel, reggae, folk, blues, jazz – you name it, and she has a song that fits the genre.  Her down to earth spirit, stories of characters she has met on her travels and transparent love for music kept the audience riveted.  By the end, everyone was brought to their feet.

The concert helped give exposure to THE ARC, often referred to as the “hidden gem” of Ward 8. It also raised money for their One in a Million campaign, which aims to endow future operations. Click here to learn more about Ruthie Foster or hear samples of her music. (Pictured: Ruthie with a young fan)

LISC Lends Support to Bill that would Increase Funding for Affordable Housing

October 20 -LISC Executive Director Oramenta Newsome and Senior Program Officer Martin Mellett testified before the City Council in support of a proposed bill that would stabilize and increase funding for the Housing Production Trust Fund- the primary source of funding in the City that is used to create affordable housing. (Pictured: Martin Mellett far left, Oramenta Newsome far right)

LISC joined the over 200 residents, affordable housing developers, lenders, students, and advocates from across the city in voicing our support for this bill introduced by Councilmember Marion Barry of Ward 8.  The bill seeks to create a stable funding source for the Trust Fund with either an annual allocation of 15% of deed recordation and transfer taxes or $100 million, whichever is greater.

If passed, this would radically alter the landscape for affordable housing developers and ultimately benefit many lower income people who are the most affected during this economic downturn.   In her testimony, Ms. Newsome stated that “the passage of the Act is absolutely vital for the continued creation of affordable housing for the city’s most at risk populations.”  

Despite the tough economic climate in the City, we are hopeful that the Bill will pass and will continue advocating for increased resources for affordable housing.

LISC Financed Dunbar Apartments Break Ground
Will Provide Permanent Supportive Housing for Women

September 17 - As construction workers watched from the second floor, Open Arms Housing, Inc. welcomed supporters, community members, and city officials to the official groundbreaking of The Dunbar - a 17 unit building that will bring, permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless adult women.

LISC is a longtime supporter of projects like The Dunbar - projects that provide support services along with quality affordable housing. Believing in Open Arms vision for this property, we provided grant support early on for ongoing project management ($75,000) and an $800,000 construction loan.

This groundbreaking was a long time coming.  Open Arms Housing was founded in 1997 by a group of social workers who wanted to create "low barrier" housing for homeless, struggling women. In 1998 they purchased The Dunbar, located at 57 O Street, NW, in order to create the city's first ever “Housing First” model, which insists that stable housing must come first for the chronically homeless, even before treatment.  (Pictured to the left: City officials from DHCD, DCHA, DMH, the Mayor, funders/supporters and members of Open Arms Housing Board)

With construction now underway, The Dunbar will allow 17 women the opportunity to have a safe home where they will be able to access supportive services in a nurturing environment.  Each resident will have her own fully equipped apartment.   

The apartments will remain affordable for at least the next 40 years, thanks in large part to operating subsidies by DCHA’s Local Rent Supplement program, funding from the City's Housing Production Trust Fund and from the Department of Mental Health.

Look for a follow up celebration in spring 2009 when The Dunbar will officially open its doors and become home for 17 women in need. 

Community Celebrates IHOP Grand Opening
Only Sit Down Restaurant in Ward 8

September 11, 2008 - Residents of Ward 8, city officials, and business leaders gathered on the site of the old Camp Simms National Guard Training Facility at 1523 Alabama Avenue, SE, to celebrate the opening of the city's first International House of Pancakes (IHOP) franchise by Jackson Investments, LLC.

The event marked the final addition to the Shops at Park Village, developed by the William C. Smith Company and East of the River CDC, and financed by $18.5 million in New Market Tax Credits from LISC. This IHOP will be the first and only major sit-down restaurant in the entire Ward 8 community.

Attendees were treated to music by the Ballou High School Marching Band and listened to remarks by various city officials, including Mayor Adrian Fenty, City Council Chair Vincent Gray, and At-Large City Council member Kwame Brown. In addition, those who attended had the opportunity to sample the featured item at the restaurant: pancakes. (pictured above)
Residents of Ward 8 who came out for the celebration were happy about the addition of a new restaurant to the community and for the jobs that the development brought with it. People cheered when Tyoka Jackson of Jackson Investments, LLC, and a native of Ward 8, talked about the importance of the restaurant as a symbol of progress in the community, particularly with respect to jobs for community residents. Over 90% of the employees who will work at this IHOP, including the entire management team, are residents of Ward 8.

Manna Celebrates Completion of 3125 Mt. Pleasant St., a LISC Funded Green Property
July 10, 2008 - Longtime LISC partner Manna held a grand opening ceremony to celebrate the completion of 3125 Mt. Pleasant St., newly named the Atonatl Condominiums.

This 12 unit property located in the heart of Mt. Pleasant, is not only deeply affordable but was built using LISC- funded green techniques and materials, keeping utility costs low and improving indoor air quality. (Pictured right : Alfredo Herrera explains the significance of "Atonatl", the condominiums' chosen name)

LISC provided grant funds through our partnership with the Home Depot Foundation. Green features include:

• High efficiency heat pumps and water heaters
• Blown cellulose insulation
• LowE windows
• No VOC paints
• Low VOC recycled carpet
• Energy star lighting
• Low-flow plumbing fixtures
• High efficiency exhaust fans
• Linoleum Flooring

These green features combine to lessen the environmental impact and to greatly reduce the utility bills for the residents who live there. This is the third Manna property that LISC and Home Depot have helped go green.

LISC Financed Shops at Park Village Wins Washington Business Journal's Community Impact Award as part of the Best Real Estate Deals of 2007

April 24, 2008 - Each year the Washington Business Journal honors the Best Real Estate Deals in a number of categories. Eligible deals include development projects completed in 2007 throughout the entire DC metropolitan region.

Judged by a panel of industry experts, in recognition of the tremendous effect the new Giant and other retail options are having in the Congress Heights neighborhood, The Shops at Park Village received the Community Impact award for 2007.

Fellow finalists included two projects in Maryland - the Hyattsville Arts District and Rockville Town Square, and another in Southeast DC - the Southeast Academy of Scholastic Excellence.

We congratulate the development team at William C. Smith and East of the River CDC on this honor! LISC is proud to have been a part of this deal.

LISC Hosts Joint Information Session on the Neighborhood Investment Fund (NIF) Predevelopment Grant Fund

April 3, 2008 - LISC, TRF and the DC Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development held an information session on the NIF Land Acquisition and Predevelopment Loan Program and the Predevelopment Grant Program.

The grant program will be administered by LISC, with TRF managing the Loan program. Both programs were created to promote the development of affordable housing, mixed-use and community facilities in the 12 NIF target areas.

To learn more or to download an application for the NIF Predevelopment Grant Fund please click HERE.

Neighborhood Info DC Releases Latest Housing Monitor Report - Finds almost 35,000 units of subsidized, affordable housing exist, or are in development, in the District of Columbia

March 26, 2008 - Neighborhood Info DC released the District of Columbia Housing Monitor- a quarterly report that tracks residential sale prices, changes in the housing stock, and the supply of affordable housing. The latest edition features a special section characterizing the supply of subsidized, affordable housing in the city.

Key findings included:

---- The D.C. housing market has continued to slow through the first half of 2007, with condominium prices falling over the year.
----- Ward 8 has the largest share of project-based affordable housing units, as well as the most households with housing vouchers.
----- Over 10,000 housing units in D.C. are set to have their affordability restrictions expire by 2010.

At the Forum, Peter Tatian of the Urban Institute presented findings and a panel of respondents provided further insight. Respondents included Natalie Lebeau, Program Director, Tenant Anti-Displacement Program, Housing Counseling Services, M. Craig Pascal, Vice President/Territory Manager, Community Development Banking, PNC, and Danilo Pelletiere, Research Director, National Low Income Housing Coalition

Issues of the District of Columbia Housing Monitor can be read or downloaded at http://www.NeighborhoodInfoDC.org/housing

Shops at Park Village a Finalist for Washington Business Journal's Best Real Estate Deals of 2007

March 5, 2008 - The LISC financed Shops at Park Village, located along the 1500 block of Alabama Ave SE in Congress Heights, was selected as a finalist for the Washington Business Journal’s Best Real Estate Deals 2007 program. Winners will be announced April 24th at an event to be held at the Ronald Reagan Building.

Developed by WC Smith and East of the River CDC, The Shops at Park Village brings the only grocery store, a full service Giant, and sit down restaurant, to the Ward 8 community. Other retailers include a woman's clothing store, Wachovia and SunTrust Banks, Quiznos, locally owned H&M Hardware, Sprint, Edy's Ice Cream, Nationwide Insurance, Park Village Cleaners, Instant Tax, and a barbershop.

To see a complete listing of the finalists in each category please click HERE.

LISC Sponsors Black History Month at THE ARC

February 2008 - THE ARC will host a week-long series of events celebrating Black History Month starting February 3, 2008. LISC will help kick off the celebration by sponsoring a performance by Ward 8’s Ballou High School Choir and Marching Band. They are considered one of the top high school choirs and marching bands and were recently chosen to play in the 2009 Rose Bowl. The choir and marching band will both perform some of their most popular selections

All programs will take place in the THEARC Theater, 1901 Mississippi Avenue SE, Washington, DC   20020.  The events are open to the public unless otherwise noted. For additional information about any of these events, please visit www.thearcdc.org.

Click HERE For 2006 News and Events Archived

Archived News and Events from 2007
December 12, 2007	Capital Area Food Bank Announces Plans to go Green at their New LISC Financed Headquarters
December 7, 2007	LISC Financing Brings the Only Grocery Store to Ward 8
October 29, 2007	New Affordable Housing for Seniors Opens in the Heart of Columbia Heights
October 17, 2007	LISC Sponsored Concert a Hit! Ruthie Foster Performs at THE ARC
September 2007	DC LISC Supports Buff and Scrub Efforts at Ballou High School
June 26, 2007	Neighborhood Info DC Housing Monitor Report Highlights Mortgage Lending Trends
June 16, 2007	DC LISC and Manna Co-Host MANNARAMA, a Homecoming Dance Celebrating LISC and Manna's 25th Anniversary
February 5, 2007	Manna Closes on $1.5 Million LISC Loan to Preserve 25 Affordable Units in Southeast Washington DC.
February 1, 2007	Brandywine Community Empowerment Center Breaks Ground
January 3, 2007	Oramenta Newsome Featured on Kojo Nnamdi Show
January, 2007	LISC Invests $2M in Three New Affordable Rental Housing Projects