The old Sheridan Terrace complex was in deplorable condition when the city decided to relocate tenants and bulldoze it in the late 90s. Now, officials say they expect to break ground by fall 2009 on the new project, which will be built by a partnership between lead developer William C. Smith & Co., Union Temple Community Development Corporation, and the Jackson Investment Company. The Public Sector Partners are the District of Columbia Housing Authority and the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. The site contains 11 acres of vacant land located directly East of Sheridan Road, bound by Howard Road, Sayles Place, Bowen Place, Stanton Road, and Pomeroy Road. It will include 180 townhouses, 56 manor houses and 100 apartments for seniors and families. Residents who had been kicked out of Sheridan Terrace will have priority in moving back in, said Dena Michaelson, a spokeswoman for the housing authority who added that 77 families are interested in returning. The project could be completed by fall 2011.
The Sheridan public housing site (pictured above), which was demolished in 1997, received a $20 million HOPE VI grant in 2008. Built on a hilly site, poor site design and construction contributed significantly to building settlement issues leading to unstable foundations, failure of site drainage, soil erosion and frequent flooding of ground level apartments. The site lacked defensible space and was inaccessible to individuals with mobility impairments. While occupied, Sheridan was a major source of violence and drug-related criminal activity with former residents of the site having limited education, extreme poverty and high unemployment. In 2005 DCHA selected William C. Smith & Co. as the lead developer for Sheridan Terrace.The current development plan consists of seven different unit types - a mid-rise building; manor flats (four story building with four apartments); cottage units (small townhouse); stacked townhouse units; and 3 varieties of rowhouse units. The site has several mews (u shaped courts) with manor flats, townhouses, and cottage units. Public housing and affordable units will be available in each unit type. There are 344 units of which there are 110 public housing rental units; 73 Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) units; and 161 for sale units (44 affordable and 117 market rate). Because of the steepness and narrowness of the site a great deal of site improvements must occur prior to vertical construction. Grading the site, constructing retaining walls and providing infrastructure will cost $15.3 million. The total development cost of the project is . . . (drum roll please) $107.3 million, which $87.3 million is to be leveraged by the HOPE VI investment of $20 million. The project will seek the LEED for Homes certification (think sustainable building practices) and will provide accessible units and an accessible path along the site. The site will also have 3 "tot-lots" and will provide community space in the multi-family building.
Sheridan Terrace will also play a significant role in helping the city move forward with the Barry Farm/Park Chester/Wade Road New Community. The $20 million HOPE VI grant is in fact meant primarily as a relocation space for current residents of the Barry Farm housing projects, that are to be demolished and rebuilt as a "new community." The District's plan for Barry Farm includes more than 1,100 units of new housing, both workforce and market-rate, as well as a school, community center and plenty of urban space.
