Who:
The Honorable Kenyan McDuffie, Councilmember for Ward 5, District of Columbia; The Honorable Anita Bonds, Councilmember-at-Large for District of Columbia; Reverend. Donald Isaac, Director, Office of Religious Affairs of Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser; Polly Donaldson, Director of DC Department of Housing and Community Development; Derrick Perkins, Senior Vice President for Bank of America Merrill Lynch; Sean Jones, Director of Acquisitions for Raymond James Tax Credit Funds; Edmund Delany, Senior Vice President for Capital One Bank; Reverend David Bowers, Vice President and Mid-Atlantic Market Leader for Enterprise Community Partners; Reverend Dr. Morris L. Shearin, Pastor for Israel Baptist Church; Sarah Constant, Managing Director of Mission First Housing Group and Tondalaya G. Reed, Chair for Israel Manor, Inc. along with community supporters, residents and friends.

What:
Grand Opening Ceremony and Ribbon Cutting of a newly constructed 4-story senior affordable housing development in the Brentwood neighborhood of NE Washington, DC.

When:
Thursday, May 12, 2016 from 11 am -1:00 pm

Where:
Visionary Square, 2401 Washington Place, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20018

Why:
Also known as the Israel Senior Residences project, Visionary Square is the realization of the vision of Israel Baptist Church’s Pastor Morris L. Shearin. In 2012, the church’s non-profit entity, Israel Manor, Inc., forged a partnership with Mission First Housing Group and The Henson Development Company. This collaboration established and maintained a common goal – to provide affordable housing to one of our most precious, yet underserved populations – the seniors of our community.
Located off of Rhode Island Avenue in the Brentwood neighborhood of NE Washington, DC, Visionary Square provides comfort, convenience, and affordable contemporary apartment homes just one block from the Rhode Island Avenue / Brentwood Metro Station, and steps away from numerous retail shops, restaurants and businesses. Adjacent to the acclaimed Rhode Island Row mixed-use development, Visionary Square offers 47 units of modern, secure, and convenient living for residents 60 and older. The four-story building provides a variety of homes ranging from studios to one- and two-bedroom floor plans.

Development and construction of Visionary Square was made possible using equity raised from the syndication of 9% low income housing tax credits by Raymond James and Capital One; HOME funding through the District of Columbia Department of Housing and Community Development; conventional loan proceeds from Bank of America; and support from Enterprise Community Partner’s Faith-Based Development Initiative including grant funding and technical assistance, as well as acquisition and predevelopment financing from Enterprise Community Loan Fund.

Press Opp:
Photos and video of Grand Opening Ceremony and Ribbon-Cutting
Interviews with speakers and residents of Visionary Square

Contact:
Becky Lang Staffieri, Communications Manager, Mission First Housing Group
Cell: (215) 651-4858, rstaffieri@missionfirsthousing.org

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