Barry Farm-Hillsdale Comm...

Barry Farm-Hillsdale Community Gathers for End-of-Summer Block Party

Residents of the DC Housing Authority's (DCHA) Barry Farm-Hillsdale community came together Aug. 30 for a festive block party to mark the close of summer. The event brought together returning residents from the Barry Farm Dwellings - which is currently undergoing a major transformation through the New Communities Initiative - along with neighbors and friends from across the area.

Attendees enjoyed a variety of food, games, and family-friendly activities that created a lively and welcoming atmosphere.

The block party also offered an opportunity for residents to reconnect with one another, strengthen neighborhood bonds, and engage directly with DCHA staff. The gathering fostered a sense of unity and highlighted the importance of building strong, supportive communities during this exciting period of redevelopment.

The celebration was part of DCHA's Rebuilding Our Communities Block Party series, which takes place on Saturdays from May through October. Each event provides residents, staff, volunteers, neighbors, and local service providers with a chance to come together, enjoy time as a community, and connect with available resources and support services.

Last November, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), DCHA, and nonprofit developer Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) opened The Asberry at Barry Farm as part of NCI with a celebratory ribbon cutting.

The mixed-use building includes 108 units. It has 77 replacement units for former Barry Farm residents, and is a 100% affordable, 55+ senior preference property. During that same day of The Asberry opening, DCHA also began the construction of The Edmonson, a 139-unit affordable mixed-use property and the second new construction building on site. This property will also have 50 replacement units for returning Barry Farm Dwellings residents.

Numerous service providers set up tables at the Barry Farm-Hillsdale block party to support DCHA residents and offer services ranging from health and education resources to workforce development and employment opportunities. Service providers included nonprofits, academic institutions, private employers, and DC government agencies, all striving to make a positive impact on the DC community.

DCHA is grateful to the following service providers who helped make this event possible.

The Love More Movement | 211 Warmline | The Excel Academy | Wellpoint | Family First | DC College Savings Plan | The Linner Foundation | DC Chess Federation | Capital Bikeshare | Covenant House Washington | Community College Preparatory Academy | A Wider Circle | The Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement | Changing Perceptions| Academy of Hope | United Healthcare | Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless | GoDCGo.

Last Updated on September 3, 2025