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Black News, Commentary and Culture | The Washington Informer

One of the District’s Freemasonry organizations has won the right to retain ownership of its historic location in the heart of the District’s U Street corridor — a bustling neighborhood that has been in a development boom since the turn of the century.

The Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons and Eastern Stars of the District of Columbia— through its charity arm, the Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons and Order of the Eastern Stars Educational Charitable Foundation— received approval from the D.C. Council earlier this year to retain its tax-exempt status, primarily as a real property entity, at its building located at the corner of 10th and U Streets N.W.

Glenn Ruffin, who serves as the most worshipful grand master of the Prince Hall Masons in the District, said the U Street building has a special meaning for African Americans in the city.

“The story of our building at 1000 U Street is not just about bricks and mortar, it is a testament to the unwavering commitment, resilience of D.C. men of vision,” Ruffin told the Informer.

The retention of the tax-exempt status comes at a time when the U Street corridor is sustaining a growth spurt that began with the opening of the Metro’s Green Line that took place in 1991 and accelerated during the 2000s. During this change the demographics shifted, with neighborhoods becoming gentrified and changing from being predominantly Black to many white residents.

Despite the change in neighbors, U Street has long been a business haven for African American owners and consumers, due to its pre-civil rights era reputation of being the “Black Broadway.”

Ruffin emphasized the importance of preserving U Street’s African American history.

“The U Street Building has a historic value to Black people,” he said.