Posts about HousingRSS
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Our 2018 endorsements for Advisory Neighborhood Commissions in Ward 3
Separated from most of the city by Rock Creek Park, Ward 3 is the western corner of the District. Known for both its beautiful neighborhoods and wealthy enclaves, the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions here have seen lots of bitter arguments over new development and change. Keep reading…
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Tenants in Brightwood Park are refusing to pay rent in their decrepit building
Residents at a Brightwood Park building say their apartments are infested with bugs and rodents and badly needs maintenance, but instead of making fixes, the landlord is trying to raise rent. Now some tenants are refusing to pay until conditions are better. Keep reading…
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Newly proposed DC Comprehensive Plan language prioritizes affordable housing and preventing displacement
It’s been almost seven months since the epic spring hearing on the DC Comprehensive Plan, a planning and land use document that guides how the city will grow for years to come. Yesterday, the DC Office of Planning (OP) released an “additional assessment” of the bill under consideration and offers new suggested language to the DC Council. Keep reading…
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Our 2018 endorsements for Advisory Neighborhood Commissions in Ward 5
Bloomingdale, Trinidad, Brookland, Fort Totten — these are a few of the neighborhoods included in Ward 5, which covers much of Northeast DC. There are 16 contested races for the ward's Advisory Neighborhood Commissions this year, some with four different candidates running! Out of these, we found seven who deserve your vote. Keep reading…
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Our 2018 endorsements for Advisory Neighborhood Commissions in Ward 8
East of the Anacostia River, the southern half of the area is Ward 8, which contains neighborhoods such as Historic Anacostia, Barry Farm, Congress Heights, and Shipley Terrace. Neighborhood leaders here have an eye on what the future holds for the ward, as the cranes that have long been visible across the banks in Southwest DC are starting to make their way into Ward 8. Keep reading…
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Our 2018 endorsements for Advisory Neighborhood Commissions in Ward 2
When tourists visit DC, they spend most of their time in Ward 2 — it’s home to Georgetown, Dupont and Logan Circles, downtown, and the Mall. But for those of you who call these places home, this November you have a number of candidates to choose between for local office. Keep reading…
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DC’s new Airbnb bill will prohibit far more rentals than its proponents thought
You may have heard that the DC Council preliminarily passed a bill to limit Airbnb and similar rentals. You may have heard that people will still be able to rent out rooms or parts of their houses while they are there. Or the bill will let them rent the whole place while out of town, but only for 90 days a year. Here's what's really in that bill. Keep reading…
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TOPA doesn’t always work for small buildings, a housing fight with the National Shrine shows
DC's Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) is designed to help tenants in multi-family apartment building stay put if their landlord decides to sell the property. Why is TOPA not working for tenants at four buildings by the Basilica of the National Shrine in Northeast DC? Keep reading…
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Here are three things you need to know to get land-use woke
Increasingly our national dialogue about housing affordability is looking at land use as both the problem and the place for solutions. America’s history of land use is fundamentally racist, exclusionary, and exploitative, and if we’re going to have conversations about where to go in this policy space, we need to discuss what got us here. Keep reading…
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Legislation intended to end sharp rent increases lands in the DC Council
Tenants could be spared from larger-than-expected rent increases under new legislation the DC Council is considering. Councilmember Anita Bonds (D-At Large) introduced a pair of bills that would update how rent increases are determined under the city’s rent control law. Keep reading…
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We need to battle “cultural” obstacles to accessory apartments, say Hans Riemer and Tracy Loh
The Kojo Nnamdi Show recently discussed accessory apartments, where homeowners turn basements or garages into separate rental units to get income. It's been a topic of public policy debate in many regional jurisdictions, including DC, Arlington, and Montgomery County. Keep reading…
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(Not) long ago and (not) far away, jobs boomed but housing prices didn’t
The buzz around the region about the prospect of a colossal corporate relocation has many local residents worried about the "prosperity bomb” that could result if the corporation brings 50,000 jobs over ten years. In particular, many are concerned about even-higher housing costs. Keep reading…
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Reston has two golf courses. Why not use that space for parks and homes?
Reston is home to not one, but two privately-owned golf courses. Both own property close to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro stop, making the sites lucrative spots for redevelopment. However, some residents have already organized against any changes. Keep reading…
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Millennials starting families will likely struggle to find affordable housing near schools, transit, and jobs in DC
If children continue to enroll in public schools by kindergarten and transition between grade bands at the same rates as they do today, DC could have about 104,600 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 by 2026-27. That's an estimated 21,100 more students based on current conditions in addition to the 83,491 enrolled in 2016-17. Where is this growth likely to occur? Keep reading…
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Liberty at Lorton: How a notorious old Virginia prison got a new life as housing
In my previous post about the Lorton Reformatory in Lorton, Virginia, I went over the history of the prison complex from its beginnings in the 1910s to its closure in 1999. In this article, I turn my focus to the long road to redeveloping the prison site and its grounds into a place that the Lorton community could be proud of and see as useful. Keep reading…
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The old Lorton, Virginia prison is being turned into homes. Here’s its fascinating story.
The Lorton Reformatory is a prison in Lorton, Virginia that closed in the late 1990s. This May, it officially reopened as a sprawling complex of apartments called Liberty at Lorton about 19 miles outside of DC. The development is a great example of how a historical site can supply housing in a region that badly needs it, while still preserving a historical landmark with a storied history. Keep reading…
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See plans for these historic Anacostia homes slated for restoration
After years of neglect, four historic homes in Anacostia are about to see new life as a local historic preservation nonprofit finalizes plans for their restoration. The L'Enfant Trust acquired the homes this spring, after months of back and forth between Mayor Muriel Bowser and DC Council over their fate. Keep reading…
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No, Reston is not going to be denser than Manhattan
Reston is set to grow a lot over the next couple of decades as Metro's Silver Line is completed, transforming parts of the area from quiet, isolated office parks to denser office and apartment buildings. However, it's important to remember that density is just one measure of what a community feels like, and there are many ways to arrive at the same numbers of people per square mile. Keep reading…
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DC designated 3,000 properties as historic in the last 5 years, and more are coming
With 11 new historic districts in the last five years, the percentage of the city’s buildings designated historic is growing rapidly. Based on targeted and interested new neighborhoods, that growth doesn’t look to be slowing down any time soon. Keep reading…
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The Adams Morgan ANC moves to block new apartments, while styling itself as “an inclusive community”
Plans for a surprisingly contentious mid-rise apartment building near Meridian Hill Park on 16th Street NW hit yet another snag last week, as local Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners voted unanimously in support of downzoning the site. That could mean even fewer homes in a neighborhood — and city — starved for places to live. Keep reading…
