Washington, DC — Mi Casa, Inc. is excited to announce the completed renovation of two very affordable Ward 4 rental buildings at 4040 8th St NW and 301 Delafield PL NW. These renovations mark the second phase of Mi Casa’s Small Rental Preservation Project–an initiative launched in 2016 to address the drastic loss of affordable rental units in DC over the past two decades. The first phase of renovations were completed in 2022 with the completion of 30 units of affordable rental housing in SE and NW DC.
Now complete, the two rental buildings offer 43 permanently affordable, fully electrified homes that meet Enterprise Green Communities and Energy Start certifications including community solar, high-efficiency HVAC systems and appliances–all new finishes, full accessibility, enhanced stormwater management, on-site laundry, and resident outdoor space. New two- and three-bedroom units were also created to accommodate larger households. Returning residents have moved back into newly renovated units that significantly improve quality of life.
Preservation of buildings like 4040 8th St NW and 301 Delafield PL NW protect the District’s rapidly dwindling stock of naturally occurring affordable housing. By preserving and upgrading these buildings, long-time Washingtonians are able to stay rooted in their communities rather than being priced out. The completion of this Small Rental Preservation Project was made possible by DC’s Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) that enabled the residents of both buildings to select Mi Casa to purchase their buildings when they went up for sale. In exchange, Mi Casa community to a substantial renovation of their buildings, with improved energy efficiency and usability, as well as right-sizing rents to 30% of actual incomes, ensuring they are affordable to the people already living in the building. Mi Casa secured Housing Production Trust Fund financing for acquisition (through the First Right to Purchase Program), accompanied by a long-term affordability covenant (40 years) to keep the buildings affordable to current and future low-income residents.
Co-Executive Directors Elin Zurbrigg and Juan Pablo Vacatello reflected on reaching this milestone. “The completion of Mi Casa’s Rental Preservation project fulfills a promise made to very low income residents to secure long-term, truly affordable, newly renovated, energy efficient rental housing. This project shows that quality affordable housing can come as a result of utilizing TOPA and partnering with the residents to right-size rents, prevent the displacement of low-income, Ward 4 residents, and provide an affordable housing resource for many generations. We are grateful for the enduring support of our funders and partners who have make it possible for us to deliver high-quality, climate-resilient, permanently affordable housing.”
Funding for the project was provided by the DC Department of Housing and Community Development, DC Green Bank, Enterprise Housing Credit Investments, JPMorgan Chase, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the National Housing Trust, City First Enterprises, ,and RiseImpact Capital’s investment in the DC LIHTC credits.
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About Mi Casa
Founded in 1992, the mission of Mi Casa, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Washington, DC, is to provide quality affordable housing to low- and moderate-income households in the Washington, DC area to foster healthy, thriving, and diverse neighborhoods. Mi Casa envisions a world where housing is a human right and all have access to quality affordable housing. Learn more at micasa-inc.org.