Content categorized as Development

Nonprofit explores what it will take to provide immediate housing for returning citizens

Nonprofit land developer Jubilee Housing has projects underway to provide affordable housing for returning citizens.

Budget for public housing repairs is not enough to address ‘extremely urgent’ conditions

Mayor Bowser’s budget has allocated funding to public housing repairs in response to a decade-long federal disinvestment. However, advocates argue that more money needs to be shifted to establish a recurring amount of funding for these repairs.

Franklin Park renovations begin, leaving some homeless residents unsure where to go

The redevelopment of Franklin Park has been planned for years. Due to past starts and stops, some residents thought it was only a rumor. But people were forced to leave on June 30 and a fence is being erected on July 1.

Bowser’s budget cuts funding for affordable housing. Advocates say DC’s Black residents will be left behind

The new proposed budget would not do enough to alter chronic homelessness and would disportionately hurt communities of color, housing providers said. They urged D.C. to restore funding by looking at other areas of the budget and increasing taxes on the wealthy.

Franklin Park to close next Wednesday

Franklin Square Park will close on July 1 for a 12-month renovation project organized by the National Park Service and the Mayor’s office. Homeless residents will lose access to the park after a clean-up conducted by the National Park Service on June 30. 

Insiders and elites can’t guide DC to an equitable reopening

Parisa Norouzi, executive director of Empower DC, takes a closer look at the ReOpenDC Advisory Group.

801 East redevelopment on track to finish in September 2021, but stakeholders say there isn’t enough transparency

The state-of-the-art men’s shelter is set to replace a 380-bed facility in Southeast DC by September 2021. But construction atop a former landfill and a Metrorail tunnel have raised environmental and structural concerns. 

The Aya in Ward 6 is the latest DC General replacement shelter to open

As part of the District of Columbia’s strategic plan to reduce homelessness, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for The Aya in Ward 6 on Feb. 21. It is the fifth of seven short-term family housing facilities.

Board votes to approve portion of Barry Farm Dwellings as a historic landmark

Months of deliberations of the future of Barry Farm Dwellings came to an end on Jan. 30 after the Historic Preservation Review Board unanimously voted to protect a section of the neighborhood from redevelopment.

Discussions on historic designation of Barry Farm continue into next year

The hearings to determine how much of Barry Farm will be designated as a historic landmark continued Dec. 5 as progress reports were provided.

Eleanor Holmes Norton hosts discussion on local housing issues

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton hosted an event on November 19th on housing in the District.

Brookland Manor residents keep battling possible displacement

Brookland Manor residents keep on fighting the possible displacement they face with upcoming redevelopment.

Housing Authority and former Barry Farm tenants receive second chance to resolve historic preservation debate

The challenging balance to designate parts of Barry Farm and to provide affordable housing compelled the Historic Preservation Review Board to defer until Dec. 5th

D.C. Council passed new framework for the Comp Plan with focus on equity

The D.C. council met to vote on amendments that change the framework for the comprehensive plan to focus on equity and the affordable housing crisis affecting the city.

Downtown Displaced: Gentrifying Mount Vernon Square, 1840-Present

An American University history professor documented planned gentrification in the Mount Vernon Square neighborhood of Washington, D.C., as early as 1850.

Barry Farm historic landmark application put on hold

The Historic Preservation Office challenged the District of Columbia Housing Authority to conclude discussion with the Barry Farm Tenants and Allies Association before Oct. 31.

Setting new standards for homeless families

There is a new housing complex situated just on the border between D.C. and Maryland at 4300 12th Street SE. It has 3 floors of single-family units, a public computer lab, free tenant WiFi, and a communal lounge, brightly colored and spacious. It is all brand new, with friendly staff and modern furniture. The most distinguishing feature of this new complex? Residents can live here rent-free.

DC residents launch a city-wide tenant union in hopes to foster solidarity across the District

Hundreds of D.C. tenants gathered on July 20 to elect a board for the first city-wide tenant union in years and share organizing strategies to preserve affordable housing.

15 feet and a wall: Why some homeowners feel marginalized by the city’s plan to help families without homes

Some Ward 1 residents say they have legitimate concerns about the construction of a new homeless shelter in their neighborhood.

What does affordable housing have to do with climate change?

A panel hosted by GGWash and Metro DC DSA discussed the role of housing in decarbonization, and why it’s not on the agenda in the Green New Deal.