Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Residents, advocates press Council to protect public land, call for social housing amid IZ failures
Loading...
Summary
Multiple witnesses urged Committee on Business and Economic Development oversight of upzoning and surplus-disposition plans for public land at 1617 U Street NW, criticized the Inclusionary Zoning program and DC Office of Planning outreach, and recommended social housing and alternative financing.
Community residents and housing advocates urged the Council committee to exercise stronger oversight of proposed upzoning and surplus-disposition of public land at 1617 U Street NW, arguing the city's inclusionary zoning approach has not produced deep affordability and that public sites should be used for long-term social housing.
Why it matters: Witnesses said current development patterns and the city's Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) program are producing mostly market-rate or insufficiently affordable units and that the Office of Planning has not adequately engaged the Black community most at risk of displacement. They asked the committee to retain public land for social housing and consider alternative financing mechanisms.
Testimony highlights: Gregory Adams described representing neighbors in zoning proceedings for 1617 U Street NW, where the third District Police Station and Engine 9 Fire Station now sit. Adams said recommendations to upzone the site were made without outreach to affected Black residents, churches and local businesses and relied on the IZ program despite a recent DC Auditor report documenting IZ shortcomings.
Community organizer Andrea Chapman urged the committee to require agencies to apply the racial-equity lens in planning and to develop a formal anti-displacement strategy as called for by the 2021 comprehensive-plan amendment. "Public land is a critical resource to create deeply affordable housing we need," Chapman said, and she recommended using public sites to pilot social housing that retains public ownership to secure long-term affordability.
Multiple witnesses, including Andrea Chapman and Debbie Hanrahan, criticized the IZ program and cited the DC Auditor's November 2024 report that identified program failures. Debbie Hanrahan suggested the city could create an independent authority to finance large-scale affordable housing—similar to the financing vehicle proposed for a private stadium project—and proposed diverting a portion of Events DC revenue streams toward housing.
Council context and oversight: Witnesses asked the committee to require more robust community engagement standards for public-land planning and to consider retention of sites like 1617 U Street and development of social housing models to deliver a larger share of units affordable to households at or below 30% area median income.
What was not decided: No formal votes were held; witnesses urged policy changes and oversight actions that would require further Council consideration and potential legislation.
Clarifying note: Witnesses referenced the city's Inclusionary Zoning program (effective 2009), a November 2024 DC Auditor report critiquing IZ, and the 2021 comprehensive-plan amendment requiring a racial-equity planning lens. Several speakers requested that 20–70% of units on public sites be set aside for affordable housing in different proposals; exact percentages and binding mechanisms were not settled in the hearing.
