On January 31, 2012, the Kelsey Gardens Tenants Association had their first general tenants' meeting of the year with Jefferson Apartment Group (JAG) to continue exercising their right to return to the place they call home. One by one, members of this tenants association, led by African American women, gathered to hear the developer's plan and timeline in the construction of the new 281-unit building. JAG has promised a one-for-one replacement of the 54 Kelsey Gardens units that are being torn down. Developers fielded questions from the tenants about the entire process, from ground breaking to the expected completion of the building in 2014.

The representatives of JAG presented the drawings of the new building,which includes a swimming pool, computer rooms, a fitness area, and green areas for all the tenants. However, the most important issuesfor the Kelsey Gardens tenants are concerns about the cost of rent, utility bills, and conditions for returning, all of which could become barriers preventing many tenants fromreturning to Kelsey Gardens. Tenants questioned the use of JAG's preference for the term "affordable housing," rather than the term "low-income housing."Affordable housing in DC is based on 60 to 80 percent of the area median income. In practical and economical terms, this definition may not include many low-income residents. JAG restated their commitment to the settlement agreement signed by the former developer and the tenants association; they also expressed their willingness to evaluate every case individually.

After five years of legal disputes and eight years of organizing with Manna CDC and now ONE DC, the tenants association continues to be engaged in the process that will ultimately return them to Shaw.