Bates Area Civic Association

This development project is located directly south of the Bates/Truxton/Hanvor area in Ward 6.

Mayor Gray Breaks Ground on The SeVerna on K
District Partners with Local Developers to Build Affordable Housing in Ward 6

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, Mayor Vincent C. Gray, other government officials and representatives of the development and financing teams celebrated the groundbreaking of The SeVerna on K – a residential housing development that will provide affordable rental housing as part of the Northwest One New Communities Initiative. The development will further the District’s economic-development efforts in Ward 6, and it follows other recent improvements to the neighborhood – such as the development of The SeVerna (Phase I) and the ongoing construction of 2M Street.

“As I said earlier this month in my State of the District Address, one of my top priorities is providing affordable housing to ensure that every resident in the District of Columbia has a safe, clean and reasonably priced place to live,” said Mayor Gray. “This latest part of the Northwest One New Communities Initiative underscores the District government’s commitment to improving the quality of life, the availability of housing and the convenience of amenities here in Ward 6 and across all eight of our wards.”

Mayor Gray was joined for the groundbreaking by District agency leaders, including Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) Victor Hoskins, D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Director Michael Kelly, and D.C. Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) Director Harry Sewell. Other participants included members of The Severna on K development team (Golden Rule Apartments, Inc.; Mission First Housing Development Corporation; and The Henson Development Company) and financing partners (Bank of America Merrill Lynch and PNC Bank, including PNC Regional President and D.C. Workforce Investment Council Chair Michael Harreld).

“The New Communities Initiative is seeking to provide some of the District’s most viable affordable housing solutions while knitting together the fabric of community,” said Deputy Mayor Hoskins. “The SeVerna on K will provide more than 130 new homes here in the Northwest One New Community, and its unit count is one we hope to match in many more housing developments to come thanks to the Mayor’s newest financial commitment to affordable housing. A 10,000 unit commitment is one we are capable of accomplishing thanks to the Mayor’s $100 million budget allocation, in addition to the collaborative spirit among District agencies and found throughout the private sector.”

The SeVerna on K construction is Phase II of The SeVerna development project. Sustained by $35 million in bond, grant and tax-credit financing through DCHFA, DHCD and DMPED, and private financing, the SeVerna on K represents a significant District investment in affordable housing and its commitment to the Northwest One New Communities Initiative. This second phase of the project will feature a total of 133 housing units. The project is part of the over $2.4 billion worth of District-affiliated projects currently under construction across the city, creating thousands of construction jobs and permanent jobs.

The Northwest One New Communities project currently consists of The SeVerna (Phase I), The SeVerna on K (Phase II) and 2M Street as well as the Walker-Jones Education Campus. Additional information on The SeVerna can be found via the website of the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development here.

The New Communities Initiative is a comprehensive public-private partnership designed to improve the quality of life for families and individuals living in four District neighborhoods: Northwest One (Ward 6), Barry Farm (Ward 8), Lincoln Heights/Richardson Dwellings (Ward 7), and Park Morton (Ward 1). Goals of the program include protecting and expanding affordable housing, promoting mixed-income communities and engaging residents in the decision-making process and design of their communities. For more information on the New Communities Initiative, please click here.

And here is info on the project from the DMPED website:

The SeVerna

The SeVerna is a vital housing development opportunity and an important part of the New Communities Initiative’s goal of providing high quality housing options for District residents. The District, along with its development partners, will deliver a total of approximately 190 new affordable and market-rate housing units at the SeVerna.

The project will be developed in 2 phases: Phase 1 – Multifamily Rental and Townhomes (60 Rental Units) and Phase 2 – Multifamily Rental and ground floor retail (approximately 130 Rental Units). In Phase 1, thirty (30) units of replacement housing for former Golden Rule Center and Temple Courts Apartments residents will be provided.

Development Partners
Bible Way Church, MissionFirst Development and Henson Development Company

Next Steps
• The District aims to break ground on Phase 1 in Summer 2010
• Construction of Phase 1 is expected to be completed in December 2011
• Building stabilization anticipated for June 2012
Development Program

• Land area: 1.63 acres
• Phase 1: Multi-family and Townhome Rental (60 units)
• Phase 2: Multi-family (approximately 130 units)

Community Benefits and Civic Investments
• Much-needed housing units and replacement at affordable and market rate price ranges
• Close proximity to the new Walker Jones school, library and recreation center
• Improved connections between Mt. Vernon Square, NoMa and other surrounding communities

Project at a Glance

Project Title: The SeVerna
Providing Agency: Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
Status: COMPLETED
Type: New Construction
Location: Located between K and L Streets, 1st Street and 1st Terrace
Phone: (202) 688-2185

Milestones and Deliverables

The SeVerna :
Summer 2010: The District aims to break ground on Phase 1
December 2011: Construction of Phase 1 is expected to be completed
June 2012 : Building stabilization anticipated

Partners

MissionFirst Development
The Henson Development Company