Affordable Housing Promise in DC Gives Way to Squalid Truth

A decade after officials celebrated Fort Chaplin Park Apartments as a model for preserving affordable housing, residents say the Washington, D.C. complex has fallen into severe disrepair, sporting hundreds of unresolved building violations and mounting complaints about unsafe living conditions.

Tenants at the 549-unit property have documented mold, rodent infestations, flooding, broken smoke detectors and electrical issues, NBC Washington’s News4 I-Team reported. District records show roughly 650 open housing code violations across the complex.

The violations range from missing life-safety equipment and plumbing deficiencies to unsecured doors, pest infestations and hazardous electrical systems.

The deterioration marks a sharp reversal for a property that was once touted as one of the city’s most significant affordable housing preservation efforts. Roughly a decade ago, residents exercised rights under D.C.’s tenant purchase laws (TOPA) to help select Standard Communities as the buyer and redevelopment partner.

The nearly $94 million transaction relied heavily on public financing, including $61 million in tax-exempt debt backed by the District and more than $30 million in low-income housing tax credits.

When renovations wrapped up in 2019, Mayor Muriel Bowser called Fort Chaplin “the largest tax-exempt affordable deal” in city history and held it up as a blueprint for preserving workforce housing.

Today, residents paint a different picture.

Tenants interviewed by News4 described persistent leaks, mold growth and delayed maintenance responses.

One resident said flooding from a nearby laundry room left her apartment uninhabitable, damaging furniture and clothing. Another reported relying on extension cords to power a CPAP machine after electrical failures in her unit. Housing inspections cited water damage, standing water and rodent activity in some apartments.

The Department of Buildings increased inspections at the property and is considering additional enforcement measures. Keith Parsons, who oversees enforcement for the agency, told News4 he would not be satisfied until all violations are corrected. District officials have also communicated with the attorney general’s office about the property’s conditions.

Standard Communities acknowledged management shortcomings and said it is replacing property manager Franklin Group, partnering with local nonprofits and working with regulators to address outstanding violations. The owner maintained that preserving Fort Chaplin’s long-term affordability remains a priority.

— Holden Walter-Warner