910-916 Barnaby Street, SE (Ashford Manor) was comprised of four garden-style apartment buildings in a U-shape with a center court. The complex contained twenty-eight apartments, many of which were abandoned and boarded. The remaining tenants lived in deplorable housing conditions. These buildings were plagued by drug trafficking, prostitution and violent crime. Drug addicts often used the vacant apartments to smoke their drugs and conduct sexual acts in exchange for more drugs or money.

The problem was brought to the attention of the United States Attorney’s Office in the fall of 2004. Members of the Metropolitan Police Department, Office of the Attorney General, Neighborhood Services Core Team and the Washington Highlands Alliance had been meeting with apartment owners on Brandywine Street since June 2004 in an attempt to clean up the block. 910-916 Barnaby Street (Ashford Manor) was located just around the corner from the 700 block of Brandywine Street, SE and shared the same owner. The Barnaby Street complex was considered to be a large part of the drug problem plaguing the neighborhood. The group invited the United States Attorney’s Office to the meeting when they became frustrated with the lack of cooperation from the property owner to clean up the properties or abate the drug nuisance.

The USAO met with the owners of the property and discussed the need for the property owner to fix the numerous housing code violations, hire security and abate the drug nuisance. As a result, the properties were sold to a new owner. The new owner plans on renovating the properties into affordable housing condominiums (with a rent to own option). The new owners are working closely with members of the Neighborhood Services Core Team and neighbors to develop a stronger and safer sense of community.