Clark Realty Manager Receives Award for Contributions to the Columbia Heights Community

Washington, D.C. — Clark Realty Senior Property Manager Tim Hursen recently received a recognition award from the Executive Office of Weed and Seed for the U.S. Department of Justice. Mr. Hursen was commended for his "outstanding support to the community's effort to bring a higher quality of life to the residents and citizens of Columbia Heights" and was acknowledged as a "champion in the fight against drug abuse and gang violence." Mr. Hursen serves as senior property manager for Columbia Heights Village Apartments, a 406-unit, 31-building affordable housing community located at 2900 14th Street in Northwest D.C.

With funds from a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 2001 grant, Mr. Hursen secured additional police to patrol the neighborhood. In a community meeting about violence in the neighborhood in July, community leaders and residents alike singled out Mr. Hursen for his efforts. The increased police presence in the community has made a difference in the incidence of crime.

Columbia Heights Village recently underwent a substantial renovation. Clark Realty, Change All Souls Housing Corporation, CHV Tenants Association, D.C. Housing Finance Agency (HFA), and Fannie Mae successfully rehabilitated the large apartment community and preserved the 406 low-income housing units. The rehabilitation was completed this past summer. Working in collaboration with the HUD D.C. Field Office, the public and private sector partners were able to renew the Section 8 contract, ensuring the apartments will remain affordable for the next 20 years.

The Executive Office of Weed and Seed helps communities with a high incidence of crime to bring together people and resources to prevent and control crime and improve the quality of life. The Weed and Seed strategy aims to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in designated high-crime neighborhoods across the country. It is a community-based, innovative, and comprehensive multi-agency approach to law enforcement, crime prevention, and neighborhood restoration.

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