Notice of clearing placed on McPherson Square fence in February of 2023 by Joe Flood licensed under Creative Commons.

Six weeks later, most former McPherson Square encampment residents still unhoused

Fifteen of the 70 people who were living in the encampment before it was cleared have moved into temporary housing, and three more have signed leases. Activists have struggled to find those who remain homeless and connect them with ongoing support services.  (Morgan Baskin / DCist)  

Arlington County has other goals for 136 properties ineligible for missing middle changes

Arlington County has plans for 136 properties that don’t qualify for the new missing middle stipulation because their lots are the smallest standardized residential lot sizes and they are within planning districts. They aim to combine these lots, mostly concentrated along Columbia Pike, in Cherrydale, and near the East Falls Church Metro station.  (Jo DeVoe / ARLNow)  

MoCo Council overrides County Executive Elrich’s veto of proposed planning board appointee

The Montgomery County Council unanimously overrode the veto of appointee James Hedrick, who works at the Federal Housing Finance Agency and was initially selected in an 8-3 Council vote. Councilmembers who initially voted against him supported the veto override.  (Ginny Bixby / MoCo360)  

Housing Alexandria to break ground on new 474-unit affordable housing complex this summer

The development will include two buildings, and all units will be affordable. 105 units will be affordable at 40% of Area Median Income, and the rest will be at 80% of the Area Median Income. The work will likely take 3-4 years.  (Vernon Miles / ALXNow)  

Congressional hearings reflect House’s more pointed focus on criticizing DC Home Rule

The US House Committee on Oversight and Accountability is holding a hearing Wednesday morning on crime, homelessness, and the overall financial picture in the District and in the afternoon will hold a debate on a resolution to block another crime-related bill from the DC Council. These hearings and debates reflect a more critical focus on DC governance in this session of the US House.  (Martin Austermuhle / DCist)  

Maryland Pepco bills to rise next month

Pepco is raising its rates on its 600,000 Maryland-based customers starting in April. While the average bill increase will be about two more dollars per month, increases will vary based on actual usage, with those using more power paying more. The increase is slated to improve the energy grid, but critics of the rate increase state that similar increases haven’t necessarily gone to that goal and often are masked as ways to put an undue burden on low-income households.  (Jenny Gathright / DCist)  

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