A Pro-Housing Plan for DC
DC Council
DC is launching its comprehensive planning process next year—a rare chance to shape the city’s housing future. This plan will decide where and how much housing can be built, impacting affordability, accessibility, and neighborhood diversity for years.
Right now, much of DC’s housing is concentrated in a few areas, while large neighborhoods remain restricted to single-family homes. Without bold action, rents will keep rising, and displacement will worsen.
We need a plan that expands housing options, promotes affordability, and ensures an inclusive city. Sign the petition to tell the DC Council to adopt a pro-housing Comprehensive Plan!
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To:
DC Council
From:
[Your Name]
Dear DC Council Members,
Washington, DC is facing a housing crisis. Rents increased 12% from September 2023 to September 2024 – higher than any major city in the United States. While DC will hit its modest goal of 36,000 new units, permits for new units have fallen dramatically since the beginning of 2023.
Fewer homes will increase rents and displacement of long-term residents. The best evidence demonstrates that increasing housing supply, including both affordable and market-rate housing, can help stabilize or reduce rents and prevent displacement. We strongly urge you to implement the following three policies through upcoming Comprehensive plan process:
- Expand Transit-Oriented Development: Much of the residential development in DC currently exists along corridors such as Connecticut Ave and 14th St. Meanwhile, much of the housing around many of the city’s major metro stations is zoned for single-family or row homes. The Comprehensive Plan should prioritize higher-density development including apartment buildings and mixed-use zones near all metro stations and other transit hubs.
- Legalize Apartments and Missing Middle Housing City-Wide: Currently, even small multifamily buildings are illegal in large swaths of the city. The Comprehensive Plan should allow the development of multi-unit buildings throughout the city to increase housing options - especially in high cost areas.
- Submit a Citywide Map Amendment to the Zoning Commission: The Congressional Home rule act governs much of DC zoning law and requires the Zoning Commission to separately approve changes to the zoning map even after they have been approved by the DC Council. The Council should direct the Office of Planning to submit a zoning map amendment after the completion of the Comprehensive Plan process that would implement all changes called for by the council. This would ensure that the city’s plans are implemented quickly and efficiently.
By adopting these measures, the DC Council can address the housing shortage, promote economic diversity, and ensure that Washington DC remains an inclusive and vibrant city for all.