(Washington, DC) – Mayor Adrian M. Fenty today broke ground on a $5 million, 26-unit mixed-use housing development at 4427 Hayes Street, NE in the Lincoln Heights/Richardson Dwellings neighborhood in Ward 7. The project is formerly a District-owned site and key to the city’s efforts to revitalize the Lincoln Heights/Richardson Dwellings and surrounding Deanwood community.

“This is a great example of the kind of high quality housing residents of Lincoln Heights and Richardson Dwellings deserve,” said Mayor Fenty. “It’s also a great example of how we’ve been able to leverage investment in our Center City to make meaningful improvements in our neighborhoods.”

Last year, the District selected Blue Skye Development after a competitive solicitation process to redevelop its 29,000 square foot Hayes Street site into 26 units of housing, including nine units that will reserved for residents currently living in the Lincoln Heights/Richardson Dwellings New Community. The PNC Financial Services Group, working with Vornado/Charles E. Smith, contributed $700,000 toward the $5 million project. The developer and the bank are building 800 17th Street/PNC Place, a 365,000 square foot office building downtown that will house PNC’s regional headquarters. The contribution was made as part of a community benefits package tied to the building’s zoning approvals.

"All of us at PNC want to continue to help make it possible for everyone, especially the underserved, to thrive in a safe, economically strong and affordable community,” said Michael N. Harreld, regional president of PNC Bank. “We are delighted to be part of this project.”

“We are committed to enhancing the quality of life in our city—not just through development downtown, but through transformational projects like this that help make our DC neighborhoods great places to live.”, said Mitchell N. Schear, President of Vornado/Charles E. Smith.

The Hayes Street project is expected to be complete by summer 2010. During the next several years, the Lincoln Heights New Community will be gradually rebuilt into nearly 1,500 new units of mixed-income housing. Lincoln Heights is one of four New Communities in the District. The program’s goal is to build stronger, healthier, safer communities and it is focused not just on the buildings, but providing meaningful social, health and educational services to help residents improve their lives.

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