Mafara Spurlock

Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development

East of the River

 Headline: Randle Highlands Assisted Living

  Subtitle: Anacostia Economic Development Corp. offers residents a solution to assisted living costs

For 10 years the building at 2700 R St., S.E. sat vacant and dilapidated. Many Randle Highlands residents considered it an eyesore. The Anacostia Economic Development Corp. (AEDC), a member of the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development (CNHED), has torn the old building down, and plans to construct an assisted living facility where the dilapidated structure once stood.

AEDC VP and Chief Operating Officer Michael Wallach believes assisted living facilities should be affordable to the people who need them the most. He maintains that the Randle Highlands Manor Assisted Living Facility will be the first of its kind for the District.

“This will be the only affordable assisted living facility in Washington, D.C., and the only assisted living facility East of the river,” said Wallach.

Randle Highlands Manor will offer residents private suites and several community rooms for group activities. Each suite will be about 300 square feet, and will include a bedroom, living area, private bath and kitchenette. The facility’s other amenities and public living areas will consist of an outdoor garden and patio, a hair and barber salon, dining rooms and a multi-purpose room for games and other social activities.

Randle Highlands Manor will provide a residential alternative for elderly people who are independent and can live on their own, but still may require assistance and supervision from time to time. The Daily Living Assistance Program will enable residents to receive help with laundry, housekeeping, medication and grooming. There is also a dining program to provide residents with three hot meals a day, including snacks and additional assistance for those with special dietary needs.

Wallach said health care will be a top priority, with onsite physician and physical therapy services, and a shuttle service provided for residents who have offsite doctors’ appointments.

Randle Highlands Manor is expected to accommodate about 52 residents and will cost between $1,900 and $2,200 per month. “This is very cheap compared to what other District facilities charge. Many charge as much as $2,500 and $3,500 per month,” said Wallach.

Rosemary Jackson, an Anacostia resident, said the facility is just what the Southeast community needs. “This is an older community, and there is definitely a great demand in this area for this type of service.”

Jackson’s mother is 74-years-old and doesn’t require the medical assistance of a nursing home provides. “But she does need the social enrichment and day to day care the facility will provide,” said Jackson. Both Jackson and her mother are eagerly awaiting the construction of the facility.

AEDC will go before the D.C. Zoning Board in January. If all goes accordingly, the Randle Highlands Assisted Living Facility will be completed in 24 months.

According to AEDC President and CEO Albert "Butch" Hopkins, Jr., “Randle Highlands Manor is intended to address the problems the District has with affordable housing for seniors. It will be a distinctive facility that will provide its residents with excellent amenities, care and service. It is my hope that other community development groups will follow this path and branch out to look for other ways to provide affordable housing for the elderly.”

Randle Highlands residents are looking forward to affordable assisted living thanks to this AEDC project. This is another example of a Coalition member working with the community to build strong neighborhoods together.  

Mafara Spurlock is the communications officer for the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic development. You can visit the Coalition online at www.cnhed.org.