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Councilmember Janeese Lewis George Councilmember Zachary Parker 2
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Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie Councilmember Matt Frumin 6
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Councilmember Christina Henderson Councilmember Brooke Pinto 11
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Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. Councilmember Anita Bonds 15
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Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau Councilmember Vincent Gray 19
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A CEREMONAL RESOLUTION 24
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 27
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To recognize and celebrate the Langston Terrace Dwellings for its 85
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year anniversary. 31
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WHEREAS, built from 1935 to 1938 exclusively for African American residents, the Langston 33
Terrace Dwellings opened in 1938; 34
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WHEREAS, Langston Terrace Dwellings were the first affordable housing complex in the 36
District and second of its kind in the nation; 37
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WHEREAS, at the time African Americans were denied equal opportunities such as housing, 39
banks, and the court system to name a few; 40
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WHEREAS, Langston Terrace Dwellings was funded by the Public Works Administration 42
Housing Program; 43
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WHEREAS, 274-unit Langston Terrace Dwellings were mostly built by African Americans and 45
designed by native Washingtonian and architect African American Hilyard Robinson and named after 46
John Mercer Langston, Howard University Law School founder and US congressman from Virginia; 47
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WHEREAS, Langston Terrace Dwellings was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 49
1987; 50
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WHEREAS, Hilyard Robinson was born in Capitol Hill in 1899, graduated from M Street High 52
School, studied architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, and received a graduate degree from 53
Columbia University; 54
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WHEREAS, Hilyard Robinson studied architecture in Europe, taught at Howard University, and 56
worked at the Department of the Interior as an architect designing public housing for African Americans; 57
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WHEREAS, Langston Terrace Dwellings houses a terra cotta frieze by Daniel Olney called “The 59
Progress of the Negro Race” in the central courtyard and chronicles African American history from 60
enslavement through World War I migration; 61
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WHEREAS, Langston Terrace Dwellings was a catalyst for the passage of the national Housing 63
Act; 64
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WHEREAS, Langston Terrace Dwellings are within walking distance of the Langston Golf 66
Course and Driving Range, named after John Mercer Langston, the first African American elected into 67
public office; 68
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WHEREAS, Langston Terrace Dwellings became a hub for the community and hosted a library, 70
nursery school and recreation center; and 71
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WHEREAS, the historic 11-acre site is undergoing a revitalization and modernization of the 73
historic property. 74
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RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this resolution 76
may be cited as the “Langston Terrace Dwellings Ceremonial Resolution of 2023”. 77
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Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia honors recognizes and celebrates the Langston 79
Terrace Dwellings for its 85
th
year anniversary. 80
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Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the 82
District of Columbia Register. 83