Abandoned Apartments in Gritty D.C. Neighborhood Become a New Community Center

By Candie Jones

When neighbors of Potomac Gardens, a public-housing complex in Washington's Capitol Hill neighborhood, grew upset about growing crime rates, the leader of a charity that serves the project's children had an idea: Why not turn some of Potomac Gardens' abandoned apartments over to community organizations for use as program space?

The story of how that leader, Steve Park, helped his charity, Little Lights Urban Ministries, acquire two apartments donated by the city holds some lessons for