A local nonprofit finishes renovations of homes in historic Anacostia

After nearly two years of design and construction, local historic preservation nonprofit the L’Enfant Trust (the Trust) has restored three historic homes in Anacostia that are now ready for new owners.

The DC Council granted the Trust four distressed homes after a tug of war with the mayor over their fate. The properties sat vacant for decades before the Trust started work. Now, with one house on the market and two close behind, L’Enfant president Lauren McHale is eager to see the dwellings returned to use.

Built in the late-19th and early-20th century, all three houses represent the development of Anacostia as a working-class suburb of DC — a feeling that persists today in a neighborhood still dominated by single family homes.

But little else has stayed the same, with prices rising as the population in DC outpaces the construction of new homes. The neighborhood’s commercial corridor is also being redeveloped. Since L’Enfant began work, Busboys and Poets and Starbucks have opened their doors in Anacostia, with more development in the pipeline.

Nonprofit developer Manna DC is managing the sales as workforce housing. They are seeking middle-income earners who make between 80% and 120% of the city’s area median income (as of April 2019, the AMI for DC was $121,300 for a household of four people; 80% to 120% translates to earnings between $97,050 and $145,550). Each home also carries household size requirements based on the number of bedrooms.

1518 W Street SE, built 1890

Now available to purchase, this restored home has two beds and 1.5 baths, designated for a household of two to four people.

The Trust worked with Cunningham Quill Architects and Thomas Archer Contracting, who also restored two Anacostia homes in 2014 when L’Enfant began their historic property redevelopment program. Proceeds from those sales were invested in the current projects.

Restoring select windows, siding, and other salvageable architectural elements doesn’t come cheap. Even after material donations from Community Forklift, Architectural Ceramics and M & M Appliances, renovation cost around $500,000 per house, largely funded with a loan from the 1772 Foundation in Rhode Island. “We’ve taken no city funds for these properties other than the donated homes themselves,” says Trust president McHale. “But in the condition they were in and being historic, it’s almost a negative equity gift.”

She hopes that the completed homes will raise L’Enfant’s profile and foster partnerships with individuals and organizations committed to affordable housing and historic preservation. “We’re really proud of these projects, but we need our revolving fund program to be sustainable. If we had more subsidy, we could offer these houses at a more affordable rate, and we’d love to do that,” says McHale.

1326 Valley Place SE, built in 1885

This restored home has four bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Its original developer, Henry A. Griswold, also brought the streetcar to Anacostia. It hits the market this month.

According to the Office of Planning, the city had to remove the rear of the home to stabilize the remaining structure when acquired by DHCD in 2011.

1648 U Street SE, built 1908

This property was restored with four bedrooms and 2.5 baths and will be listed this month.

What’s next?

The Trust hopes to use a small profit from the sale of 1326 Valley Place and 1518 W St to begin work on the fourth home granted by the DC Council, 1220 Maple View, also known as “big Green.” It will be restored to the original design as a duplex and sold as workforce housing. Follow L’Enfant on their blog or on Twitter for updates!