Press Release: DC Green Bank Announces First Navigator Pre-Development Financing Deal in Support of Planned Affordable Housing Construction Project

News Release — DC Green Bank

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

February 28, 2022 

CONTACT:  

Gary Decker 

External Relations Partner 

DC Green Bank 

(Washington, D.C.) – DC Green Bank today announced the closing of its first Navigator pre development loan, with local nonprofit affordable housing developer Mi Casa, Inc. The  $255,728, 1.99% interest rate Navigator loan will support the financing of pre-development  costs for a mixed-use and mixed-income construction project in Ward 5. The completed building  is expected to deliver 27 units of affordable housing in addition to 3,000 square feet of new  office space on the ground floor for Mi Casa’s headquarters as well as additional space for  community use. The envisioned building will meet a critical need by constructing units that are  available to District residents in the range of 30% – 80% of area median income (AMI) as well as  providing rental housing across the spectrum of needs – for singles, seniors, larger families, and  more. In addition, the building design aims to achieve “near net zero” energy efficiency  standards, prioritize the placement of solar on the roof of the structure, and deliver designated  green spaces around the building for residents. As currently envisioned, the final construction  costs for the new building are likely to be around $13 million.  

Navigator, a pre-development loan offered by DC Green Bank in partnership with Inclusive  Prosperity Capital, is aimed at filling a crucial gap at this stage in the evolution of projects that  often goes unfilled by private capital providers. Navigator is unique in the way that it meets this  need, in particular by delivering a 1.99% interest rate for affordable multifamily and nonprofit  properties and a 3.99% interest rate for market rate and commercial properties. Furthermore,  given the gap in private financing at the pre-development stage and the frequent hesitance on  the part of private capital providers to deliver smaller loans, Navigator loans can range  anywhere from as low as $10,000 and reach up to $250,000, or more on a case-by-case basis. These loans can cover costs related to energy efficiency improvement projects, energy audits  and benchmarking, design and engineering work, green charrettes, and similar costs to ensure 

that efficiency and sustainability elements are incorporated at the very earliest stages of project  development.  

This partnership and investment are in line with Mayor Bowser’s affordable housing and climate goals: at least 12,000 units of affordable housing by 2025 and reducing greenhouse gas  emissions in the District 50% below 2006 levels by 2032, respectively. DC Green Bank CEO Eli  Hopson said of the project, “We are excited to be working with Mi Casa as the first recipient of  our Navigator loan product. Since we are aligned in mission, together we can showcase the  incredible intersection of affordable housing, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and  sustainable design in a way that is replicable across the District. We are eager to continue to fill  financing gaps for similar projects in the months ahead and show that we can meet rising  affordable housing needs and achieve our climate and energy goals simultaneously.” 

One of the bank’s core values is Inclusive Prosperity, meaning that investments made in the  District must deliver an inclusive and affordable DC, across all eight Wards and for all residents and community institutions. In line with this value, the DC Green Bank Board of Directors has  made it a priority to support investments at the nexus of affordable housing and sustainability.  Priya Jayachandran, member of the Board of Directors said of this investment, “In order to  provide the variety of housing required to meet residents’ needs, investments in organizations  like Mi Casa are critical. Our mission requires that we fill these critical financing gaps to deliver  on behalf of our communities, and the Board will continue to support more projects like this.” 

By pairing affordable housing developments with sustainable design, Mi Casa continues to demonstrate a commitment to delivering healthier, more affordable, and more inclusive spaces  for District residents that are all too often overlooked. Elin Zurbrigg, Deputy Director of Mi Casa,  said of the upcoming project, “We have a key role to play to meet the rapidly increasing  affordable housing needs of our city’s residents. This project will show that we can create  affordable, livable, and sustainable housing and do so in a way that continues to deliver savings and public health benefits for years to come. We are excited to work with DC Green Bank to  show that we have all of the tools necessary to transform the District into a place that meets  residents’ needs.” 

The total pre-development budget for the project is just over $500,000, with the majority of the  remaining funding coming from Mi Casa’s own resources, as well as support from the DC  Department of Housing and Community Development and the Local Initiatives Support  Corporation (LISC). Mi Casa expects to have the pre-development stage completed by the end  of 2022 and aims to begin construction shortly thereafter. Both DC Green Bank and Mi Casa are  excited by the potential of a continued financial relationship through the life of this project and to  replicate this model with additional projects.