Local Business Efforts Applauded on 4427 Hayes Street NE Development Project - Releases - Department of Small and Local Business Development

(Washington, DC) — Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and DSLBD Director Lee Smith joined Blue Skye Development, a Certified Business Enterprise (CBE), in breaking ground on a 26-unit housing project at 4427 Hayes Street. The $5 million project, which will include nine replacement housing units for the families currently living in the nearby Lincoln Heights/Richardson Dwellings New Community, is expected to be completed by next summer.

Both Mr. Fenty and Mr. Smith applauded local business efforts in the project and the city’s commitment to strengthening the local economy through DSLBD’s CBE program.

The 4427 Hayes Street NE project is exemplary of how the CBE program provides business opportunities to District-based businesses and how these businesses can help one another grow while also working to boost the local economy and provide jobs to city residents.

Last year, the District selected Blue Skye Development after a competitive solicitation process to redevelop its 29,000 square foot Hayes Street site into 26 units of housing.

Blue Skye Development, which has been a CBE since 2008, grew out of Blue Skye Construction, which became a CBE in 2006. The Blue Skye companies are striving to do more than is required in terms of bringing other CBEs on board to city development projects. At 4427 Hayes St., although Blue Skye is required to subcontract 35 percent of the project to CBEs, it is on track to have 90 percent CBE participation.

So far, of the 70 percent of the project that has been “bought down,” half of the dollars spent have been with CBEs from Wards 7 & 8. The CBEs who are already on tap to help turn this 29,000 square foot, long-vacant apartment building into high quality, mixed income housing units include:

Environmental Design & Construction (Ward 8)
Mogoo Corporation (Ward 5)
Nelson’s Welding (Ward 8)
Sun Development Corporation (Ward 5)
ARC Builders (Ward 7)
Housing Evacuations Plus (Ward 8)
NAHR Mechanical (Ward 8)
DC Fire Protection (Ward 5)
N&M Construction (Ward 4)
AWASH Associates (Ward 7)
Blue Skye Construction (Ward 2)

These companies are providing services to this project that include: waterproofing and caulking; doors, frames and hardware; plumbing; fire protection; HVAC and mechanical systems; electrical systems; asphalt paving and concrete; fencing; and carpentry.

Select this link to view photos of the press conference.