(Washington, DC) – Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Councilmember Jim Graham (Ward 1) joined city officials, representatives of Somerset Development Company, and community members for a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the recently completed renovation of the Hubbard Place Apartments, a mixed-use facility that includes 230 units of affordable housing, two businesses, and a job readiness program for out-of-school youth ages 16 to 24 operated by the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC). The Mayor highlighted the District’s contribution to the preservation of the affordable units and highlighted the importance of maintaining outreach to youth at Hubbard Place and in the surrounding neighborhood.

“The revitalization of Hubbard Place is a great example of how the District can retain and preserve a building’s historic features, while at the same time making affordable housing safer and more accessible in a neighborhood where it is desperately needed,” said Mayor Fenty. “We are pleased that youth residents of Hubbard Place will look forward to brighter futures as they find substantive services of the Latin American Youth Center readily accessible.”

The Somerset Development Company and the 3500 14th Street, NW Tenant Association led the renovation process, including the design, temporary relocation plan, and the development of a program of services targeting the needs of residents. Hubbard Place is Somerset’s fourth redevelopment of affordable housing in Columbia Heights.

The project’s total development cost was $52 million. The District Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD committed $8.5 million for the acquisition of the property and the District of Columbia Housing Authority provided $4.6 million toward the preservation of Hubbard Place.
The Authority also secured eight new housing UFAS (Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards) units for handicapped residents on DCHA’s waiting list in exchange for eight housing vouchers awarded to very large families living at Hubbard Place in crowded conditions, enabling them to find more suitable housing off site.

The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency, which works to stimulate and expand rental housing and homeownership opportunities, issued more than $26 million in tax exempt bonds for various building upgrades.

Hubbard Place Apartments
At 230 affordable units, the building was constructed in 1927 and is designated as Section 8 housing for residents with extremely low income levels. Renovations included new elevators, the creation of new community spaces and a computer lab, secure access, new kitchen and baths, windows, roof, and all new common areas. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Two retail spaces, Black Lion Deli and George’s Shoe Repair, are located on the ground floor of the apartment complex. In addition, the Latin American Youth Center’s Workforce Investment and Social Enterprise (WISE) program offers job readiness, life skills, career exploration, GED preparation, computer training, and support services for out-of-school youth ages 16 to 24 who live in Hubbard Place. The goal of the program is to provide youth with the necessary skills to earn an academic degree (GED, high school, or college), and obtain and retain meaningful employment.

Dedication to Leroy Hubbard (1930-2007)
The Mayor dedicated the renovated building to the late Leroy Hubbard, a community leader who dedicated his career to expanding affordable housing and reviving 14th Street. His last wishes were to see a successful redevelopment of the Cavalier Apartments. Mr. Hubbard dedicated his life to revitalizing the 14th Street corridor following the assassination of Martin Luther King and the riots of 1968. He was a founding member, the first executive director, and a board member for 22 years of the Development Corporation of Columbia Heights. As a leader of the 14th Street Project Area Committee, he was instrumental in laying out the vision of the Columbia Heights neighborhood as we see it today. He served as a pro bono advocate for numerous tenant associations, among them Urban Village and the Cavalier Apartments.

Media Contacts

• Sean Madigan, (202) 615-2029

• Feras Sleiman, (202) 251-8829