Townhomes on Capitol Hill 25th Anniversary Recognition Resolution of 2025

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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION

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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

October 7, 2025

To recognize and honor the Townhomes on Capitol Hill on the occasion of its 25th anniversary.

WHEREAS, the Townhomes on Capitol Hill is 5.6- acre mixed -income, limited equity
cooperative community with 134 units located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Ward 6;

WHEREAS, the Townhomes on Capitol Hill replaced the former Ellen Wilson Dwellings,
a public housing development built in 1941;

WHEREAS, the Ellen Wilson Dwellings fell into neglect and disrepair and w ere later
closed in 1988;

WHEREAS, a group of neighbors, chaired by David Perry and Frances Taylor, then formed
a community development corporation, and in partnership with the District of Columbia Housing
Authority, engaged Marilyn Melkonian at Telesis Corporation to develop a master plan for new
housing on the site;

WHEREAS, in 1993, the project received a $25 million Housing Opportunities for People
Everywhere (HOPE) VI grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
which is a federal grant program designed to revitalize public housing communities and give
families access to safer, higher-quality homes by providing financial resources to transform vacant
lots and outdated structures into a new kind of neighborhood, built on cooperation, affordability,
and shared responsibility;

WHEREAS, these efforts led to the creation of the Townhomes on Capitol Hill
Cooperative Housing Association, which is the official entity formed to govern and sustain the
community, and is led by a volunteer, resident -led board of directors that oversees the
cooperative’s financial and policy decisions;

WHEREAS, architect Amy Weinstein designed the new townhomes to blend with the
surrounding Capitol Hill neighborhood, offering rich architectural diversity while drawing
inspiration from the neighborhood’s Victorian buildings;

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WHEREAS, construction of the Townhomes on Capitol Hill was completed in 1998, with
Joe Corcoran of the Boston-based firm Corcoran Jennison Management later being procured and
assisted the first residents moving in in 1999;

WHEREAS, on September 16, 2007, the community’s gathering space for educational and
social activities was completed and formally dedicated as the Frances Taylor Center for
Community Life;

WHEREAS, as of today, 29 residents of the Townhomes on Capitol Hill, including Juanita
Jones and Sallie Dancy, also celebrate their 25th anniversary of becoming residents of the
community;

WHEREAS, three original families who moved into the Townhomes on Capitol Hill
community in 2000 now have adult children who have become homeowners themselves in the
community, demonstrating that the Townhomes on Capitol Hill is more than a place to live, it is a
place to stay;

WHEREAS, in 2022, the Townhomes on Capitol Hill community began efforts and was
instrumental in the passage of the Navy Place Redesignation Act of 2022, which was introduced
by Councilmember Charles Allen in Council Period 24 and formally redesignated the name of one
of the streets in the community to better reflect the community’s legacy and spirit;

WHEREAS, the Townhomes on Capitol Hill celebrated its 25th anniversary on September
6, 2025, with a legacy brunch, and on September 13, 2025, with a community day devoted to food,
games, prizes, and fun; and

WHEREAS, as the Townhomes on Capitol Hill celebrates its 25th Anniversary, the
Council recognizes and honors those individuals whose dedication, planning, and persistence make
the Townhomes on Capitol Hill a thriving community.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, T hat this
resolution may be cited as the “ Townhomes on Capitol Hill 25th Anniversary Recognition
Resolution of 2025”.

Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and honors the Townhomes on
Capitol Hill on the occasion of its 25th anniversary.

Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.