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Ward 3 advocates fault DMPED pick for Chevy Chase civic site, urge use of LIHTC to restore deeper affordability
Summary
Community groups told the DMPED oversight hearing the selected proposal for the Chevy Chase Library and community center reduced affordable units from earlier public proposals; advocates urged renewed use of LIHTC and other tools to reach more than 100 affordable units.
Representatives from Coalition for Smarter Growth, Washington Interfaith Network and neighborhood groups told the committee they are disappointed the Chevy Chase civic site award left the project with fewer deeply affordable homes than earlier proposals. Cheryl Court, with the Coalition for Smarter Growth, said DMPED’s revised selection cuts expected workforce and 80% AMI units. "The Chevy Chase Library site should take full advantage of low income housing tax credits," Court said, urging that the public‑land disposition include LIHTC eligibility so the deal finances more units at lower AMI bands.
Elizabeth Baden (Washington Interfaith Network) said eight proposals previously met community affordability targets, and she called for transparency about why the selected Rift Valley proposal now contemplates 177 units with only 54 deeply affordable units. Community witnesses and speakers recommended options: restore the original proposal terms, use LIHTC to finance additional affordable units, or restructure the land‑disposition agreement to produce mixed‑income housing totaling more than 100 affordable homes. The committee asked DMPED staff for documentation explaining the selection and the financing assumptions that led to the revised unit mix.
