Urban League Celebrates Groundbreaking for New Headquarters

New Building Signals Columbia Heights Revitalization


The Greater Washington Urban League (GWUL) today broke ground for a new headquarters building at 2901 14th Street (the old Hines Funeral Home) in the Columbia Heights section of the city. The new facility will have more than 29,000 square feet of space, nearly triple the amount of the League’s current headquarters in the 3500 block of 14th Street. It will house League program offices for education, housing and community development, employment training and aging services and health. In addition, the building will feature computer labs, community service kiosks, a special purpose library, meeting rooms, special events space and a notary public. The League’s move-in date is 2004, with the project to begin on Monday, May 12, 2003.

GWUL President Maudine R. Cooper said, "We are delighted that we have found a new home in the Columbia Heights community, just a few blocks from our current headquarters. This facility will be a resource center for not only Columbia Heights community but the city as well."
The League has launched a $10 million Capital Campaign to renovate the landmark Hines Funeral Home as part of the Columbia Heights Revitalization plan under the National Capital Revitalization Corporation. The League’s groundbreaking was the first of more than a dozen development projects planned for Columbia Heights.

Said National Capital Revitalization Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Theodore N. Carter, "This is a tremendous milestone for the District of Columbia and Columbia Heights. We are encouraged by the benefit which a new Urban League headquarters will have on the Columbia Heights community. It represents enhanced career opportunities, education and training facilities, and at least 50 new permanent jobs and 260 construction jobs. We are delivering on two legs of our value proposition: job creation and enhanced services to the community. This groundbreaking is evidence that the National Capital Revitalization Corporation is making a difference as we spur the economic growth and vitality of District neighborhoods - one-by-one, at the neighborhood level."

Participants in the groundbreaking ceremony included Jerry A. Moore III, Chair of the League’s Board of Directors and Partner, Venable LLP; NCRC Board Chair Roderick Heller; City Councilmember Harold Brazil, Chair of the Council’s Economic Development Committee; Ward One Councilmember Jim Graham, Stanley Jackson, Director of the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development; Johnny Furr, Vice President of Sales Development and Community Affairs for Anheuser-Busch, Inc., a major contributor to the Capital Campaign; and community representatives: The Rev. Sammie Glass, Pastor of Greater Tried Stone Baptist Church and Jacqueline Arguelles, Vice Chair of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1A. Festivities for the event included food, music and souvenirs.

ABOUT THE LEAGUE:	Founded in 1938, the Greater Washington Urban League is a nonprofit social services and civil rights organization - one of more than 100 affiliates of the National Urban League. In 2002, the Greater Washington Urban League provided services to more than 60,000 persons in the Washington metropolitan area. A member agency of the United Way of the National Capital Area, the League has a staff of 100 with several offices in the District and one in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
ABOUT NCRC:	The National Capital Revitalization Corporation is a publicly chartered, entrepreneurial real estate development corporation in the District. It began business operations in January 2001.
ABOUT THE HINES SITE:	Vacant for more than 20 years, the Hines Funeral Home site was originally built as four dwellings around 1910. About 15 years later, the S.H. Hines Funeral Company moved into the building. Various other entities have occupied the building over the years. The project will bring 50 new permanent jobs and 260 construction jobs into the Columbia Heights community of Ward One. The project is being financed by Allfirst Bank. Development Team Members: DRI, Inc., Eichberg Construction, Russell Sears Architects and L.S. Caldwell & Associates.