Grand slam at Atlantic Apartment Homes: Income restrictions protected for 40 years; new apartments and new services for 750 residents; and, DC's largest community solar installation 

WASHINGTON, DC (May 3, 2018)  WinnCompanies, an award-winning national property development and management company, today joined with District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser to mark the completion of work that dramatically improved the quality of life for 750 low-income residents and installed the District's largest community solar project to reduce energy bills for struggling residents throughout the nation's capital.

The two-year, $69 million effort at Atlantic Gardens and Atlantic Terrace apartments, which have been renamed as Atlantic Apartment Homes, completely modernized the community's homes and common areas, introduced new and enhanced social services for residents, and concluded with the installation of a 651 KW community renewable energy facility on the roofs of Atlantic Terrace.

The affordable nature of the community as critically needed Project-Based Section 8 housing has been guaranteed for at least until the year 2055, thanks to an extension of its Housing Assistance Payment contract and the use of Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits and monies from the DC Housing Production Trust Fund.

This project not only dramatically improves the quality of life for more than 300 low-income families but also brings the promise of reduced electricity bills to hundreds more. It simply would not have happened without Mayor Bowser's innovative housing and energy programs, said WinnCompanies CEO Gilbert Winn. The revitalized Atlantic Apartment Homes stand as a powerful symbol of our 35-year commitment to high quality multifamily development and management in Washington, DC.

Through this project we are making good on our commitment to give more Washingtonians the opportunity to participate in the District's prosperity, said Mayor Bowser. Just as the creation of affordable housing is critical to the future of our city, so is the preservation of existing units. Today, we're celebrating that nearly 300 families will be able to stay and grow in the community they call home.

The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, the DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the DC Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA), Citi Community Capital, DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) and Boston Financial Investment Management provide financing for the rehab.

The DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) awarded a $1.3 million grant from its Solar for All program for the solar installation. The DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU), tasked by DOEE to reduce the District's energy consumption, provided technical and financial assistance to enhance the property's energy efficiency, increasing comfort for residents and reducing the community's carbon footprint.

The rehabilitation modernized resident apartments, including kitchens, bathrooms, appliances, flooring, doors, lighting, plumbing, wiring, HVAC systems, smoke detectors and paint. Curbs, sidewalks, parking lots, gutters, fencing, lighting and landscaping also were repaired or improved. New learning centers were constructed at both properties; a new community room was created at Atlantic Gardens; and, the community room at Atlantic Terrace was expanded. Two new playgrounds were constructed at Atlantic Gardens and a third was upgraded at Atlantic Terrace. Security systems have been enhanced and laundry facilities expanded at both communities.

The renovations that WinnCompanies completed have not only improved the lives of Atlantic Apartments residents, but also have improved and enriched the community itself, said Derrick Langley, President of Atlantic Gardens Tenant Association.

In addition to the renovations, WinnResidential, the company's property management arm, is collaborating with more than 30 high-impact local and regional non-profits in Washington D.C.'s Ward 8 to bring new and enhanced services to residents of Atlantic Apartment Homes, including an on-site Community Impact Center, providing financial and employment coaching, job placement coordination, family support and parenting education.

Resident service partners include United Planning Organization, City Gate, Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative, Jewel's New Beginning Learning Center, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Mayor's Office, Councilmember Trayon White, TraRon Center, the Capital Area Food Bank and others.

""Atlantic Apartment Homes is evidence of our commitment to preserve affordable housing for those with deep roots in our city, by using tools like the Housing Production Trust Fund,"" said DHCD Director Polly Donaldson. ""I'm pleased that these mostly family-sized units will provide, modern amenities, community services and energy savings to Ward 8 residents.""

The clean energy from rooftop solar panels installed at property will be fed into the District's utility grid through an arrangement known as net metering. The savings will then be passed back to qualified low-income residents through credits reflected on their utility bills. In addition, Atlantic Apartment Homes now qualify as an Enterprise Green Community, thanks to energy efficiency improvements made during the rehab work.

Under the Bowser Administration, we've shown that solar power is a viable and cost-saving energy option for District residents and businesses, and through our Solar for All Program, we're continuing to expand access to solar for low and moderate income families across the District, said DOEE Director Tommy Wells. The community solar array at Atlantic Terrace is now the largest in the District and is the result of our work to fold innovation into how we expand solar access.

Overseen by WinnDevelopment Senior Vice President Brett Meringoff, the construction generated 648 jobs with significant benefits for District residents, as well as minorities and women. More than 80 percent of those hired for the work were minorities; 9 percent were women; 23 percent were District residents and 84 percent were residents of the DC metropolitan area.

The rehabilitation and preservation of more than 300 affordably priced units at the Atlantic Apartment Homes is a major accomplishment for the current and future residents, as well as the Washington Highlands neighborhood. The DC Housing Finance Agency takes great pride in being one of the investors in this impactful redevelopment project, said Todd A. Lee, Executive Director and CEO of DCHFA.

Keith Construction was the general contractor for the project with The Architectural Team as the architect.

WinnCompanies acquired the two properties in 1982, occupying eight acres along 3rd and 4th streets in Southeast. Atlantic Gardens, built in 1948 and last renovated in 1982, features 105 apartments within five three-story garden-style buildings. Atlantic Terrace, built in 1964 and last renovated in 1988, is comprised of 195 units in six three- to four-story garden-style buildings.

WinnCompanies owns or manages 11 communities in Washington, D.C., totaling 1,826 units and featuring low-income, affordable and market rate apartments. The company owns five of the properties, totaling 814 units.

Pictured: Tommy Wells, Director of DC DOEE, Betty Ann Kane, Chairman of PSCDC, Todd Lee, Executive Director and CEO of DCHFA, Polly Donaldson, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Brett Meringoff, Senior Vice President of WinnDevelopment, Gilbert Winn, CEO of WinnCompanies, Derrick Langley, President of the Atlantic Gardens Tenant Association, Nikki Dickerson, Property Manager of Atlantic Apartment Homes and Darien Crimmin, Vice President of Energy and Sustainability of WinnCompanies