Content categorized as Development

Activists call for a strong focus on racial equity in DC’s comprehensive plan

Empower DC held a meeting regarding DC’s comprehensive plan. With the final vote on the Framework Element coming in September, the group urged the DC Council to use the plan to fight racialized gentrification.

The Douglass Community Land Trust is making its first investment to support community control among new housing development in Ward 8

The Douglass Community Land Trust announced its first project in Ward 8, facilitating permanent affordability to 65-unit apartment complex in Anacostia.

This map shows even more starkly how inequitably distributed DC’s affordable housing is

A 2018 map of DC illustrates the major inequities of available affordable housing in high-income areas of DC and concentration in a few lower-income areas.

The region has built a lot of housing – but not enough, and not in the right places

The authors of a new Brookings Institute report break down their findings about where housing has been constructed in the D.C. metro area and how that affects affordability.

Congress Heights landlord tries to avoid blame for apartment disrepair in effort to redevelop land  

CityPartners and the DC Superior Court continue to wrestle over the question of housing repairs for a property in Congress Heights.

Apartment development proceeds behind the Masonic Temple despite pushback from new Dupont civic group

Plans for a new 150-unit apartment building in Ward 2 ignited frustration among members of the Dupont East Civic Action Association – a group that opposes the project.

Tensions at this Cleveland Park apartment complex reveal a lack of coordination among District agencies that support low-income residents

One Connecticut Avenue apartment building has become a focal point for criticism of the District’s subsidized housing programs in recent months.

Nadeau proposes affordable housing requirements for development on former “quasi-government” property

Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau proposed an amendment would include those properties under a law that adds affordable housing set-aside requirements to the sale of government land.

Mayor asks how to add 12,000 affordable housing units throughout DC by 2025

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser solicits community input though multiple summer meetings for the plan to build 12,000 new affordable housing units in DC by 2025.

Still Boarded Up: A long con in Congress Heights?

Geoffrey Griffis says it’s cheaper to replace Congress Heights properties than repair them. Attorney General Karl Racine says replacement has been the developer’s goal for years and low-income tenants have suffered.

Barry Farm residents seek historic status to preserve community and character

A group of displaced public housing residents have nominated their community for landmark status to preserve and honor its long history as it undergoes controversial redevelopment.

801 East Shelter redevelopment to begin May 2019

The long-awaited 801 East Single Men’s Shelter redevelopment is starting construction next month.

Capital Region Housing Challenge looks to raise $1 billion for affordable housing by 2020

The Capital Region Housing Challenge was announced by the Housing Leaders Group of Greater Washington March 20. The challenge aims to encourage $1 billion in commitments to fund affordable housing projects in the D.C. metro area.

DC should double investment in affordable housing fund, think tank says

Mayor Muriel Bowser announces plan to fund more affordable housing units throughout the District.

A Ward 4 church made it possible to build 99 new units of affordable housing

City officials and church members gathered for a March 13 ribbon cutting at The Beacon Center, where all 99 of the new housing units have been set aside as affordable housing. A renovated Emory United Methodist Church sits at the center of the complex, which also houses community spaces and the church’s outreach programs.

Tweaks to Crummell School redevelopment plan trade 32 apartments for 0.16 acres of green space

Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffier answered questions from the community.

Affordable Housing Advocates prepare for more competitive housing market

The report says there has been an increasingly expensive and competitive housing market in northern Virginia.

Interim agency head aims to focus on affordable housing

Acting director of the District’s Office of Planning, Andrew Trueblood, emphasized his focus on affordable housing as the city develops its new comprehensive plan at a meeting with community activists.

Activists visit DC Council to reiterate their Comprehensive Plan priorities

Members of the D.C. Grassroots Planning Coalition visited D.C. councilmembers on Nov. 30 to talk about the need for tougher protections against displacement and gentrification in the overhaul of the city’s comprehensive plan that began in 2016.  

This court-appointed receiver filed eviction suits in bulk against tenants of two properties it intends to sell

Residents of once-Sanford Capital owned properties are being sued for back pay following divestment of the low-income real estate firm’s assets to a receivership group.