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WASHINGTON - A grand reopening of affordable housing units in D.C. was held along R Street NW, after the apartments recently got a green makeover.

Location makes the unites, just around the corner from Logan Circle, very popular. But the location also makes them more environmentally friendly because residents have access to public transportation and they live within walking distance of grocery stores and other amenities.

Frances Johnson has lived on R Street for more than 50 years. She is still getting used to her upgraded apartment which features new energy star appliances, a programmable thermostat and low-flow fixtures in the kitchen and bathroom.

"I love it. I love the whole thing," said Johnson. "What's my favorite? Everything! Everything! There's not one particular thing."

At the grand re-opening, residents were thanks for their patience. "The folks who lived here in harder times, well guess what, you get to live here in greater times," said Michael Kelly, D.C. Housing Authority.

The resident owned, affordable housing is located in D.C.'s Logan Circle neighborhood. "In the middle of a gentrifying area, not often associated with affordable housing," said Harry Sewell, D.C. Housing Finance Agency.

The five buildings, first constructed in 1912, now have free high-speed wireless Internet access for all residents, rain barrels to harvest water and a new roof.

After two years of construction, residents say the renovations give them peace of mind. "Yes it's a beautiful place to live and I'm gonna die here too," Johnson said laughing. "I've been here all my life and I ain't going no where."

The buildings are full, except for a few of the market value apartments running between $1,700 and $2,500 a month. But the vast majority of the units are affordable housing, running at 60, 50, and 30-percent of the market rate.

The National Housing Trust and the developer Hampstead financed the $24.5 million acquisition and renovation with a combination of historic rehabilitation tax credits, federal low income tax credit equity and tax-exempt bonds. The funding was rounded out by a Department of Housing loan, a $50,000 grant from Enterprise Community Partners and other sources.

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