On July 25th, ground was broken at 1474 Columbia Rd, NW for the renovation of the Maycroft Apartments, a historic apartment building located in a prime location where Columbia Heights and Adams Morgan meet at 16th Street. A project of Jubilee Housing – the main service-enriched affordable housing organization in the area – the revitalized Maycroft will be home to 64 families, including 15 families leaving chronic homelessness. These families will not only live in affordable homes in a thriving neighborhood, but will also have access to an abundance of resources and supports.
The Maycroft will house Jubilee’s Teen Renaissance Program, which helps enhance academic achievement, develop character, build leadership skills, and facilitate entry into college or the workplace. Jubilee will also open a Family Resource Center in the building, where parents and youth can find support to achieve their goals. In addition, individuals leaving chronic homelessness will have support from staff in a dedicated program space at the Maycroft.
Martha’s Table, another LISC partner, will open three of its community service programs at the Maycroft: Healthy Start, an early childhood education program that prepares young children for kindergarten; McKenna’s Wagon, a mobile food truck that feeds homeless and hungry individuals; and a Lobby Market Place, where families can pick up healthy food on a walk-in basis.
Some years ago, Jubilee Housing purchased the Maycroft to preserve it as affordable housing. LISC provided a $1 million predevelopment loan and a $100,000 recoverable grant to Jubilee which ensured that they remained stable while navigating a key project through the final predevelopment and preconstruction stages.The housing finance will utilize 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), bonds, Housing Production Trust Funds, and historic credits, while the facility space will utilize New Market Tax Credits. A core group of common funders of LISC and Jubilee contributed to LISC’s credit enhancement fund for the Maycroft project. They include:
- Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation – $100,000
- Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation – $100,000
- United Way of the National Capital Area – $50,000
Last week’s groundbreaking ceremony was a celebration of the tenacity, patience, and perseverance of the many organizations and individuals that saw the project through and thus are contributing to a more equitable and vibrant city for all DC residents.