Langston Additions

Project Overview

Langston Terrace is a historic seven-acre property built in 1937 in Northeast Washington, D.C. It was the first federally funded housing project in Washington and the second in the United States. Developed as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Public Works Administration program, the community was named in honor of John Mercer Langston, a 19th-century abolitionist, attorney, educator, and U.S. congressman.

Langston Terrace is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the DC Inventory of Historic Sites. Langston Additions was later constructed in 1954 directly adjacent to the original development as a 34-unit townhouse community, extending the site's long-standing role within the surrounding neighborhood.

This DCHA capital project carries significant importance for both the local community and the broader history of public housing in the United States. A careful, resident-focused approach is guiding the modernization of the buildings and landscape while respecting the cultural and historic character of the site.

The design focuses on reclaiming and strengthening shared open space for residents. Improvements respond directly to community needs while creating welcoming outdoor environments that reinforce connection, identity, and a sense of unity throughout Langston Additions.