Jair Lynch, Olympian developer - USA TODAY
3Tree Flats, a relatively recent addition to Washington, D. C. 's Petworth neighborhood, definitely has the hallmarks of renter utopia. Real estate in the nation's capital is booming, and the units at 3Tree could easily command a premium — but almost none do. In fact, 119 of the 130 units actually qualify as affordable housing by federal standards, which made it possible for... "There's no way I would have been able to stay in this neighborhood any other way," says Paynell, who's on disability. And she has 3Tree developer Jair Lynch to thank. Meanwhile, the developers who helped light the blaze may put up some nice buildings, but those often don't hold onto urban-pioneering hipsters once they couple up and have kids. Lynch, a two-time Olympic gymnast, thinks he's mastered a new balancing act by developing not just buildings, but also their surrounding neighborhoods. The goal: diverse areas with accessible transportation , good schools and other conveniences that are "sticky" enough to keep both new and old residents in place. It's a challenge — and we're trying not to overstate this — that requires the dexterity and sheer strength you'd expect from a silver medalist on the parallel bars (Atlanta, 1996). After a few subsequent years in Silicon Valley real estate, the... Source: www.usatoday.com
