The Asberry welcomes new residents, construction begins on the Edmonson
WASHINGTON, D.C. [Nov. 21, 2024] – Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), with the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) and nonprofit developer Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) today celebrated the grand opening of The Asberry, a mixed-use building with 108 units of affordable rental housing with a preference for those aged 55+.
Along with the ribbon cutting ceremony, the celebration also marked the groundbreaking of neighboring Edmonson, an affordable 139-unit mixed-use property and the second new construction building in the New Communities Initiative (NCI) at Barry Farm in Southeast Washington, DC.
“The Asberry and Edmonson are important steps in the revitalization of Barry Farm-Hillsdale,” said Shawntaye Vines, who grew up at Barry Farm. “I am looking forward to replanting my roots here and continuing the cultural heritage of my community.”
“As a city, we made Barry Farm residents a promise under our New Communities Initiative – that we would welcome residents back into fantastic, safe, and affordable housing that honors and preserves the rich legacy of the community,” said Mayor Bowser. “Today, we take another step forward in delivering on our promise in a way that respects and celebrates the history – and future – of Barry Farm-Hillsdale.”
Located at 1200 Sumner Road SE adjacent to the Barry Farm Recreation Center, The Asberry is the first building to be delivered in the redevelopment of the historically significant Barry Farm-Hillsdale community, which was established in 1867 for formerly enslaved African Americans to own land and create a self-sustaining community after the Civil War.
“This is a watershed moment for our DCHA families who had made Barry Farm Dwellings such a special place to live,” said Keith Pettigrew, DCHA Executive Director. “The opening of The Asberry gives our returning residents an opportunity to live in new, modern homes and creates a foundation for reestablishing the vibrant, spirited Barry Farm community for generations to come. Thank you to our partners in this project for bringing quality affordable housing options to Anacostia while honoring the Barry Farm-Hillsdale legacy.”
The Asberry, which has 77 replacement units for former Barry Farm residents, is a 100 percent affordable residential property with 33 units at 30% of Median Family Income (MFI), 44 units at 50% MFI, 21 units at 60% MFI, and 10 Units at 80% MFI. It also includes 5,096 square feet of commercial space, and amenities include a sundeck, courtyard, fitness center, recreation room and wellness room. Construction was completed in October 2024.
“We are excited to celebrate the progress of the Barry Farm Redevelopment Project with the grand opening of The Asberry and the groundbreaking of the forthcoming Edmonson,” said Maia Shanklin-Roberts, Vice President of Real Estate Development, POAH. “These milestones represent not just buildings, but a vibrant future for this community—one rooted in opportunity, equity, and connection. It’s an honor to be part of a development that prioritizes quality, affordability, and the preservation of the rich history of Barry Farm, while paving the way for generations to thrive.”
The Edmonson will be the second newly constructed building in the redevelopment project, which is being led by co-developers DCHA and POAH. It will include 139 affordable units – including 50 replacement units for former Barry Farm Dwellings residents, 20,000 square feet of ground floor retail space, shared community spaces and outdoor amenities.
Barry Farm Dwellings was one of four public housing communities being revitalized through NCI. Run through a partnership with DMPED and the DCHA, NCI is a District government program that was created to redevelop distressed public housing communities into vibrant mixed-income neighborhoods.
DMPED invested approximately $43 million in phase 1, including roughly $14.5 million towards construction of The Asberry. The 5-story Asberry was also funded by $33.7 million in tax-exempt bonds issued by the DC Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) for its construction.
For the Edmonson, DCHFA issued $61.1 million in tax exempt bonds and underwrote $52 million in federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity for its construction, and DMPED provided a $21 million NCI loan. A $2.5 million grant from the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia and $3 million in financing from DC Green Bank is supporting the incorporation of a community geothermal system, which provides energy efficiencies, cost savings, sustainability, and operational efficiencies.
By using an innovative Faircloth-to-RAD conversion approach, the Barry Farm redevelopment will increase the number of affordable housing units available at the site. Once complete, the project will create 990 residential units across several buildings – including at least 380 affordable replacement units onsite for former Barry Farm residents, an additional 320 other affordable units and 200 homeownership units; community-serving retail spaces; and a large central park with community facilities for on-site services and programs.
NCI also included Northwest One, which officially opened in Ward 6 in late 2022; Lincoln Heights - Richardson Dwelling in Ward 7, where hundreds of replacement units have been delivered; and Park Morton in Ward 1, where construction is underway.
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Photo Credit: The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA)
About DC Housing Authority
The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) is committed to providing safe, affordable, and quality housing to the residents of the District of Columbia. The agency emphasizes fostering a collaborative work environment to meet the highest expectations of the affordable housing industry. With a focus on innovation and community development, DCHA strives to improve the lives of individuals and families by creating sustainable and thriving communities. Learn more at our website about DCHA and the work that the agency is doing to impact the residents of Washington, D.C.
About Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) assists the Mayor in the coordination, planning, supervision, and execution of economic development efforts in the District of Columbia with the goal of creating and preserving affordable housing, creating jobs, and increasing tax revenue. DMPED pursues policies and programs that create strong neighborhoods, expand and diversify the local economy, and provide residents with pathways to the middle class.
About Preservation of Affordable Housing
Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) is a nonprofit developer, owner and operator of 13,000 affordable rental apartments in 12 states and the District of Columbia. POAH’s primary mission is to preserve and steward sustainable affordable renting housing for low-to-moderate income individuals and families. POAH specializes in the preservation of existing affordable housing that is at risk of being lost due to market pressures or physical deterioration. POAH has expertise in new construction and neighborhood-scale mixed-income development and mixed-use redevelopments.