Today I introduced a Sense of the Council Resolution supporting a “Build First” model for reinvestment in Greenleaf Public Housing. Greenleaf is located in Southwest DC and makes up 455 essential units of public housing, much of which is dedicated to senior and disabled residents, as well as ever diminishing multiple bedroom family housing. Greenleaf Public Housing includes Greenleaf Gardens, Greenleaf Senior, Greenleaf Extension, and Greenleaf Addition, all in Ward 6.

The District of Columbia Housing Authority has initiated a planning process for the redevelopment of Greenleaf, with a full replacement of units, in addition to mixed-income housing. While the reinvestment is welcome, it has, understandably, caused some concern for the Greenleaf community and its surrounding neighborhood – all of whom are worried about the potential displacement of current Greenleaf residents.

The Office of Planning, as part of its extensive small area plan process, recognized these concerns and included recommendations in its Southwest Neighborhood Plan, which this Council approved on July 14, 2015. The plan recommends developing a strategy for keeping current residents in the community during and after construction and redevelopment, including identifying potential “Build First” sites for Greenleaf public housing replacement.

This “Build First” model is supported by the Southwest community, including Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D, the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, and the Southwest Community Benefits Coordinating Committee.

Given DCHA’s independence, it is important for the Council to make a statement on protecting the needs of the Greenleaf and Southwest community. Accordingly, this sense of the Council resolution urges the DC Housing Authority to prioritize and develop a “Build First” model of reinvestment in Greenleaf public housing in order to better preserve this important housing availability and the Southwest community that currently calls it home.   

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[PDF version]

A PROPOSED RESOLUTION IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

To declare the sense of the Council to urge the District of Columbia Housing Authority to prioritize and develop a “Build First” model of reinvestment in Greenleaf public housing as part of its redevelopment strategy.  

            RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Sense of the Council Supporting a “Build First” Model of Reinvestment in Greenleaf Public Housing Resolution of 2015”.

Sec. 2.  The Council of the District of Columbia finds that:

(1) Greenleaf public housing, located in Southwest D.C., makes up 455 important units of public housing, much of which is dedicated to senior and disabled residents, and multiple bedroom family housing. Greenleaf public housing includes Greenleaf Gardens, Greenleaf Senior, Greenleaf Extension, and Greenleaf Addition, all located in Ward 6.

(2) The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) has initiated a planning process for the reinvestment and replacement of Greenleaf public housing.

(3) The Greenleaf and surrounding Southwest community share significant concerns regarding potential displacement of current Greenleaf public housing residents as part of the DCHA future redevelopment.

(4) The Office of Planning, as part of its extensive small area plan process, recognized these concerns and included recommendations in its Southwest Neighborhood Plan, which was approved by the Council of the District of Columbia on July 14, 2015.

(5) The neighborhood plan recommends developing a strategy for keeping current residents in the community during and after construction and redevelopment, including identifying potential “Build First” sites.

(6) The Southwest community, including Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D, the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, and the Southwest Community Benefits Coordinating Committee, has expressed a strong desire to support a “Build First” model for Greenleaf public housing replacement.

(7) In light of DCHA’s status as an independent public agency, and recognizing the importance of protecting the needs of the Greenleaf and Southwest community, the Council makes a statement on the issue.

Sec. 3.  It is the sense of the Council of the District of Columbia that DCHA should prioritize and develop a “Build First” model of reinvestment in Greenleaf public housing to better preserve this important housing availability and the Southwest community that currently calls it home.

Sec. 4.  The Chairman of the Council shall transmit a copy of this resolution, upon its adoption, to the District of Columbia Housing Authority, the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, and the Office of Planning.

Sec. 5. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.