(Washington, DC) – Mayor Adrian M. Fenty today joined executives from the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) to begin demolition of the former Capitol View Plaza towers as a part of the Capitol Gateway HOPE VI new community.

“Across the District we are committed to building stronger, healthier, safer communities,” Mayor Fenty said. “Today, we are doing away with a pair of long-vacant towers so that we can bring even more investment to this part of the city.”

The DCHA is leading the 700-plus unit redevelopment effort, which was spurred by a $30.8 million HOPE VI grant from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. Along with Low Income Housing Tax Credits, tax exempt bonds, District of Columbia Community Development Block Grants, District of Columbia Capital Improvement Program funds and construction loans from CitiBank, the Housing Authority has completed a 151-unit senior housing project; 142 townhomes and single-family detached homes; and 86 family rental units. The District Department of Housing and Community Development contributed more than $3 million toward the project.

The Housing Authority will make the Capitol View tower sites available for future development in the coming years.

Later today, Mayor Fenty will join Blue Skye Development in breaking ground on a 26-unit housing project at 4427 Hayes Street. The $5 million project, which will include nine replacement housing units for the families currently living in the nearby Lincoln Heights/Richardson Dwellings New Community, will be complete next summer.

The Last month, the District broke ground on the first phase of construction for the $8 million Marvin Gaye Park, which runs through the Lincoln Heights/Deanwood neighborhoods. The District is also working to select developers for other nearby sites at 5201 Hayes Street and Dix Street and Eastern Avenue. The District’s $33 million Deanwood recreation center and is under construction and expected to be complete by May. The nearby new HD Woodson Senior High School is also under construction and will be ready for the 2011 school year.

Media Contacts

• Sean Madigan, (202) 615-2029