 Constructed by the Richmond Housing Authority in 1941 as Richmond's first public defense housing project, it is the only project funded by the Lanham Community Facilities Act that still exists in Richmond and one of the few in the nation not destroyed after the war.It is one of 20 public housing projects built in Richmond before and during World War II.The village was sold by the government to its residents for $1,512,00.00 February 28, 1957, (Quit Claim Deed CCC Recorder; liber 2939 page 339) remaining mutual housing to this day under the name of the Atchison Village Mutual Homes Corporation.