Page 63 - Summer_2019

ArchDC Summer 2019.qxp_Spring 2019 5/22/19 3:02 PM Page 61

Kitchen Terrace at night.

This survey identified childcare, education, nutrition, and infrastructure needs, and eventually operate
homelessness prevention, and behavioral and family community-serving programs at the Commons.
support services as the community’s top needs. While “It wasn’t just co-location, it was about collaboration,”
there are several public and charter schools nearby, area said David Roodberg, CEO and president of Horning
residents did not have sufficient access to affordable, high- Brothers. The two organizations that call the Commons
quality daycare for infants and toddlers. To supplement home have different missions but a shared vision of
daycare for children of working parents, after-school care supporting the health and well-being of underserved
for school-age children was also critical. Food security families and children in the District. Community of Hope,
and quality were identified as other issues in Wards 7 which combats homelessness by offering counseling and
and 8, which have historically been underserved by mental health and family support services, joined the
grocery stores and farmers’ markets. project in 2012. Martha’s Table, which focuses on food
With these community needs in mind, a new con- access and early childhood education, cemented the project
cept for the site began to emerge. A central “Commons” in 2014 with its agreement to relocate its administrative
to provide Ward 8 residents with wrap-around support headquarters from 14th Street, NW, to the new site.
services—shelter, food, education, health, and family— HB donated the land and development capital; HFF
would be constructed first, with market-rate and affordable provided $10 million in seed funding. Perkins Eastman
housing to follow. The development team sought Architects created the site master plan, assisted with
strategic partners to join the project, advise on space gaining zoning approval for the project, and developed

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