Developer Plans 65-Unit Affordable Building On Church Land Near U Street
An all-affordable development is being pitched a block away from D.C.’s historic U Street corridor.
Boston-based Beacon Communities filed plans for a 65-unit apartment building next to a church at the corner of 10th and V Streets NW with the Historic Preservation Review Board Friday.
The development site at 2033 11th St. NW is a single-story daycare building owned by Christian Tabernacle Church, which has been next door since 1986.
The land sits on the border of D.C.’s historic U Street District, and thus changes must be approved by the historic regulatory agency.
In addition to the 65 units, the proposed seven-story development is set to include a two-story daycare and an outdoor playground, together totaling 8,200 SF. D.C.-based Soto Architecture is the architect on the application.
"The church understood Beacon’s background in terms of having a history of doing joint ventures with church-based organizations and our interest in helping the church finance affordable housing," Beacon Communities Senior Vice President Michael Polite told Bisnow in an interview Monday.
He said Beacon is looking to secure tax-exempt bonds and a 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to finance construction, and it plans to apply for the District's Housing Production Trust Fund.
The site is a block away from the vibrant retail district of U Street — an area once known as Black Broadway for the cultural institutions that called it home. Restaurants like Lulu’s Wine Garden, Ben’s Chili Bowl and Oohh’s and Aahh’s are nearby, and it is a three-minute walk from U Street Metro station.
Christian Tabernacle isn't the only church in this portion of Northwest D.C. looking at adding affordable housing to its property.
New Community Church and nonprofit developer Manna received approval from the Zoning Commission in 2022 to rezone land at the 600 block of S St. NW to build 80 units for residents making up to 30% and 60% of the area median income as well as a new, three-story office space for Manna.
In January, a 110-unit, 98% affordable development opened half a mile away from Beacon’s proposed project. Dantes Partners’ Station U & O had been planned on city-owned land for nearly a decade.
