A Pro-Housing Plan for DC
DC Council

A Pro-Housing Plan for DC
Washington, DC is set to launch its comprehensive planning process next year, marking a critical opportunity for residents to shape the city’s future development. This process will determine zoning laws and land use policies that will directly influence housing availability, affordability, and inclusivity for decades to come.
YIMBY advocates must play an active role by attending public meetings, submitting comments, and engaging with policymakers to push for policies that promote increased density, affordable housing, and equitable development across all neighborhoods, ensuring a diverse and thriving city.
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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. DC’s Housing Production Trust Fund recently stopped funding new developments, sending the affordable housing development market into a tailspin. While DC will hit its modest goal of 36,000 new units, permits for new units have fallen dramatically since the beginning of 2023.
This downward trend exacerbates the existing shortage of affordable housing, leading to increased rents and displacement of long-term residents. Numerous studies have shown that increasing housing supply, including both affordable and market-rate housing, can help stabilize or reduce rents and prevent displacement.
- 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.