From concept to community: Advancing affordable housing at Hillsdale Flats
By Brett Macleod – Executive Director for Community Development Banking, Washington, D.C., JPMorganChase
Finding an affordable place to live continues to be a challenge for many as widespread housing shortages persist across the U.S. Rising home prices and high interest rates have made homeownership inaccessible for too many people. Meanwhile, as rental demand increases, the number of renters facing affordability challenges is also on the rise.
The State of the Nation’s Housing 2025 by Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies reveals that cost burdens for renters reached another record high in 2023. Similarly, the JPMorganChase Institute reports that renter affordability is declining and forcing people to devote more of their take-home pay to housing costs. There is a growing need for affordable housing across the U.S. and that rings true here in the D.C. region.
To close the gap, it’s essential that everyone share in the region’s growth with housing options that accommodate a range of needs and budgets. For Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH), this meant delivering a concrete solution to the local community, resulting in housing for individuals and families who otherwise might not have been able to live in the area.
Rebuilding Barry Farm in D.C
In Southeast D.C. sits one of the most historically significant neighborhoods in the country.
According to the Anacostia Community Museum, Barry Farm-Hillsdale served as a home for refugees who fled slavery during the Civil War. Community members went on to play pivotal roles in the struggles for women’s suffrage, civil rights, welfare rights and other movements that have helped shape our society today.
It’s for these reasons that community has been at the core of Barry Farm’s current redevelopment. The effort isn’t only about adding homes – it’s about laying the foundation for the neighborhood’s future while honoring the progress and resilience of its past.
Developed by POAH and constructed with support from J.P. Morgan, Hillsdale Flats is one of three residences within Barry Farm, a new community planned for nearly 1,000 units of housing. As part of the broader redevelopment, residents can expect more than just a place to live: the plan includes all new public utility systems, green eco-friendly landscaping, community-serving retail and a large central park with facilities that can host on-site services and programs. By pairing housing with upgraded public infrastructure and community space, Hillsdale Flats is positioned to help residents stay connected to opportunity – supporting a neighborhood where people can live, gather, access services and build long-term stability as the community evolves.
“Rebuilding Barry Farm is about more than housing, it’s about restoring opportunity and strengthening a community with deep roots in D.C.,” said Maia Shanklin-Roberts, the Vice President of Real Estate Development at POAH. “Through our partnership with JPMorganChase, we’re investing in homes, infrastructure, and spaces that support long-term stability and ensure residents can grow with their neighborhood.”