On November 2, 2022, Khulud Khudur, CEO of Dr. Khulud Khudur LLC, had the honor of introducing Mayor Muriel Bowser at a significant event marking the groundbreaking of a new affordable housing project and the expansion of the Sitar Arts Center in Washington, DC. The event, held at 1700 Kalorama Road NW, celebrated a major step towards addressing the urgent need for affordable housing and enhancing community services in the district.
Mayor Bowser's Vision for Affordable Housing
Mayor Muriel Bowser, alongside other distinguished officials, broke ground on the 1724 Kalorama Road NW site, a 22,000-square-foot vacant commercial building set to be transformed into a five-story mixed-use development. This project, known as EucKal, will feature 25 affordable housing units, with another 25 units being developed concurrently at 1460 Euclid St NW. These developments are crucial in meeting the citywide demand for family-size apartments, with two-thirds of the units being two- and three-bedroom homes dedicated to families earning at or below 30% of the area median income.
Enhancing Community Services
In addition to providing much-needed housing, the development will allocate approximately 6,000 square feet on the ground floor to the Sitar Arts Center. This expansion will enable the center to enhance its summer youth arts program and digital media program for young adults, further enriching the community's cultural and educational landscape.
A Collaborative Effort
The journey to this groundbreaking event began in 2018 when Jubilee Housing and the Sitar Arts Center acquired the site. Over the years, several DC agencies under Mayor Bowser’s administration, alongside private partners, have collaborated to bring this project to fruition. The DC Government has significantly supported the initiative, contributing over $16 million from the Housing Production Trust Fund and other sources.
Khulud Khudur's Role and Remarks
Dr. Khulud Khudur understands the deep connection between housing and public health. She brings in a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the conversation, holding four college degrees, including two master's degrees and a doctorate in public health. As CEO of Dr. Khulud Khudur LLC and a Jubilee Housing board member, she played a pivotal role in this event. Her introduction of Mayor Muriel Bowser highlighted her deep commitment to the cause of affordable housing and community development. Khulud's leadership and advocacy are instrumental in pushing forward projects that aim to create 12,000 net new units of affordable housing by 2025.
Event Details
The groundbreaking event featured prominent speakers, including:
Mayor Muriel Bowser
Councilmember Brianne Nadeau, Ward 1
John Falcicchio, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
Drew Hubbard, Interim Director, Department of Housing and Community Development
Christopher Donald, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, DC Housing Finance Agency
Reggie Van Lee, Chairperson, Commission on the Arts and Humanities
Jim Knight, President & CEO, Jubilee Housing
Maureen Dwyer, Executive Director, Sitar Arts Center
Khulud Khudur, CEO of Dr. Khulud Khudur LLC and Board Member
The event was broadcast live by the DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment and could be viewed on various platforms including Channel 16 (DCN), Mayor Bowser’s Facebook, and Twitter.
Additional Information
For more information about this event, please visit the Mayor's website here.
A Step Towards a Brighter Future
This groundbreaking ceremony not only signifies the start of construction but also represents a significant stride towards a more inclusive and supportive community. Under the leadership of individuals like Khulud Khudur, Washington, DC continues to move closer to its goal of providing affordable housing and essential community services to its residents.
For more information and to stay updated on future developments, please visit the official Jubilee Housing website.
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