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Considered a "walker's paradise" by Walkscore.com for its convenience to public transportation, jobs, and shopping, R Street Apartments in Washington, D.C. could have easily been converted to high price rental housing or condos. Instead, residents banded together to save their homes. On April 17th, residents joined D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty to celebrate the grand re-opening of their newly improved and energy efficient homes.

Constructed in 1912, the five historic buildings have provided affordable housing for 40 plus years. When former owners put the apartment buildings up for sale, the residents reached out to the National Housing Trust-Enterprise Preservation Corporation (NHT/Enterprise) and Hampstead Development Group for help in purchasing the buildings.

The development team recognized the chance to both improve the physical needs of the property and the health of residents. R Street Apartments received a $50,000 grant from Enterprise's Green Communities Initiative to support the planning and installation of energy efficient, sustainable and healthy features in this renovation. The long-term outcomes will be lower utilities, less maintenance on systems, lower operating costs, and a healthier environment for residents. The improvements includes new windows, new roofs, a new heating and air condition­ing system, renovated kitchens and bathrooms, painting, improved site lighting, and a renovated commu­nity room. All upgrades were undertaken with an eye towards increasing energy efficiency, minimizing resource consumption, and maintaining the historic character of the buildings.

Preserving R Street Apartments maintains a vibrant mixed-income neighborhood, and provides families with healthy housing that safeguards their access to amenities, transportation, and employment opportunities in the downtown D.C. business district.

View a news clip from the grand re-opening below...