For decades, Park Morton stood as a symbol of disinvestment in Washington, D.C.'s Park View neighborhood. Today, the site has been reimagined as a modern, 142-unit affordable housing community, delivering long-awaited homes for residents while setting the stage for the next chapter of a broader neighborhood revitalization effort.
“The neighborhood has been anticipating the Park Morton public housing redevelopment since its inception in 2015,” says Madison Neimer, development project manager at The Community Builders (TCB), a co-developer of Park Morton with Dantes Partners and District of Columbia Housing Authority.
Future phases will add another 300-plus housing units to the Park View neighborhood. Already, though, the project is making a difference for residents who live there.
Park Morton has been named the best project in the urban category in this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards.
“The Park Morton complex was severely dilapidated, characterized by neglected maintenance and safety concerns,” says Kim Murphy, business development project manager at TCB. “The residents were dealing with outdated appliances, inconsistent maintenance, pests, mold, and leaks.”
Others were living in units too small for their family size. With Park Morton’s opening, residents get the opportunity to relocate to more “rightsized,” units, which go up to four bedrooms.
The $105 million development also brings with it significant infrastructure changes. A new street was even created during the project’s development, removing former dead ends and cul-de-sacs, and creating a more walkable community on the whole.
“As the largest multifamily building within the neighborhood, the density creates foot traffic to nearby businesses,” Neimer says.
On-site features include a package and mail room, a community kitchen, a play space, a kids’ room, coworking space, a fitness center, and covered bike storage. There’s even a transit screen in the lobby, which displays local bus and metro times.
“Park Morton Apartments represents more than new housing,” Murphy says. “It’s a meaningful investment in neighborhood revitalization. We’re creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and laying the foundation for long-term prosperity in the Park View community.”
DEVELOPERS: The Community Builders, Dantes Partners, and District of Columbia Housing Authority
ARCHITECT: Soto Architecture and Urban Design
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Hamel Builders
MAJOR FUNDERS: District of Columbia/Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development; District of Columbia Housing Authority; District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency; Stratford Capital Group; Sugar Creek Capital; M&T Realty Capital Corp.; EagleBank; Freddie Mac