First New Senior Affordable Housing in Ward 3 supported by DC's Housing Production Trust Fund
Ribbon cutting celebrates 93 affordable apartments for seniors, completing
a one-of-a-kind continuum of care campus in Northwest D.C.
Washington, D.C., October 29, 2025 — D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser today joined Ward 3 Councilmember Matthew Frumin, Urban Atlantic Development, the Lisner-Louise-Dickson-Hurt (LLDH) Home , and community partners to celebrate the ribbon cutting for The Louise on Western, a new 93-unit affordable independent senior apartment community at 5455 Western Avenue and the re-opening of 45 units of assisted living in the Lisner-Louise Dickson-Hurt Home. Eighty two of the 93 apartments are leased, and the remaining units expected to be filled by year’s end. More than 50 residents have already moved in. A set of photos of Louise on Western can be found here.
“This is the first affordable housing project of its kind west of Rock Creek Park, and we’re proud to have made it happen at a site that helps so many of our seniors age in place in the city they know and love,” said Mayor Bowser. “This project demonstrates what’s possible when we stay committed to building affordable housing in every part of our city, and it will carry forward the Lisner-Louise-Dickson-Hurt Home’s long legacy of service and community.”
The milestone marks the delivery of the first new affordable housing in Ward 3 and the Rock Creek West planning area in years—and the realization of a vision for a single-campus model for senior living. The Louise joins the recently renovated assisted living building on the LLDH Home campus, creating the District’s only continuum of care campus for seniors of low and modest income.
“We are thrilled to open The Louise on Western and to see our vision realized—a place where seniors can thrive, access care as their needs evolve, and live with joy and purpose,” said L. Ward Orem, CEO of the Lisner-Louise-Dickson-Hurt Home. “This project fulfills our long-held dream to transform the lives of the seniors we serve and their families.”
The completion of The Louise also represents a remarkable comeback story. After a 2020 flood rendered the LLDH Home’s assisted living building uninhabitable, LLDHH transformed the setback into an opportunity—launching an ambitious plan to rebuild, expand, and create a campus that supports seniors through every stage of aging.
Designed by Wiencek and Associates Architects, the 93 one-bedroom units include 41 units at 50% of MFI, or residents with an income of $54,150 for a one-person household, and 52 units at 0-30% MFI, or residents with a maximum annual income of $32,500.
“The Louise reflects how strong partnerships can deliver meaningful results,” said Vicki Davis, Managing Partner of Urban Atlantic Development. “It’s an example of neighbors, government, and the private sector coming together to ensure affordability, inclusion, and opportunity in one of the city’s most prosperous areas.”
Residents enjoy bright, fully accessible apartments—100% of units are ANSI Type A, designed for universal access. Apartments feature granite countertops, center islands in every kitchen, large walk-in closet with a washer and dryer, high efficiency HVAC, appliances, and LED lighting. Extensive on-site amenities include a computer center, salon, hobby room, fitness center, outdoor patios, and landscaped gardens. The Louise’s location offers convenient access to Metro, restaurants, and shopping
The project is financed through D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development’s Housing Production Trust Fund, federal and state Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, and D.C. Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) bonds. Boston Financial Investment Management and Rise Impact Capital provided equity investment. Capital One Community Finance, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust, and D.C. Green Bank provided debt financing. National Housing Trust (NHT) provided predevelopment Financing. A grant from Amazon Housing Fund supported renovation of the existing building.
“Today is a great day for DC seniors and Ward 3. Lisner has long provided excellent care in a loving environment for low-income seniors, and its expansion should be enthusiastically celebrated—especially the collaborative effort with the city and community to achieve it. Personally, having worked with Lisner before joining the Council, this is a particularly proud day for me,” said Ward 3 Councilmember Matthew Frumin.
Consistently recognized among the “Best Nursing Homes'' by U.S. News and World Report and carrying the highest rating from the Federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare, the LLDH Home has provided housing options for low- and modest-income seniors in the District for more than 80 years. LLDH Home is known for excellent resident care and strong bonds with neighbors and volunteers who provide financial support and a caring and stable workforce.
About the Lisner-Louise-Dickson-Hurt Home
The mission of the Lisner-Louise-Dickson-Hurt Home is to provide extraordinary health and life care services to low- and modest-income seniors of the District of Columbia, empowering them to live their lives to the fullest. The Home is one of the oldest, continuous-serving long term care facilities in Washington, D.C., and has been in operation for more than 80 years. Our commitment to providing superior care for some of the most at-risk individuals of the nation’s capital and our delivery of such care every single day marks us as an institution which brings a legacy of service to at-risk senior citizens of DC which is perhaps unparalleled. The Home is licensed by the District of Columbia as an assisted living residence (ALR) and a skilled nursing facility (SNF) and is recognized as a 501(c)(3) public charity by the Internal Revenue Service. Visit www.lldhhome.org for more information.
About Urban Atlantic
Since its founding in 1998, Urban Atlantic has established a strong track record of successfully investing and developing in inclusive, large-scale, mixed-income TOD communities exceeding 10,000 residential units and three million square-feet of commercial. Headquartered in the Washington metro area, the firm’s portfolio includes over $3 billion in completed real estate developments. Additionally, Urban Atlantic’s third-party investments have leveraged over $2 billion in real estate developments and operating businesses in emerging markets. Visit www.urban-atlantic.com for more information.
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Media Contact:
Liz Wainger, Wainger Group
liz@waingergroup.com
301-461-3780