Future of four derelict Anacostia homes unknown due to disagreement between D.C. Council and DHCD

In what Washington City Paper is describing as a “mind-boggling tango dance” between the D.C. Council and the Mayor Muriel Bowser administration, there continues to be a struggle with what to do with four vacant, deteriorating homes in Washington, D.C.’s Anacostia neighborhood.

Washington City Paper reported:

“... during a marathon oversight hearing held by the D.C. Council's housing committee Friday, the agency would not address its refusal to date to transfer four vacant, blighted homes in Anacostia to the nonprofit L'Enfant Trust, as it is required to do by an emergency law the Council passed in 2016. Per the legislation, the L'Enfant Trust would renovate the historic homes into ‘workforce housing’ at no cost to taxpayers. The permanent version of the bill is to become law this month after congressional review. At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds, who ran the hearing, cointroduced both versions of the bill.”

In November 2016, the Council voted to give initial approval to the permanent bill enabling the L'Enfant Trust to redevelop the vacant houses. Later, in response to locals’ concerns for how neighboring houses may be affected, the Council released a solicitation on the vacant properties, ordering Bowser’s administration to transfer the homes to the L'Enfant Trust no later than Jan. 31, 2017. This transfer has not yet occurred, according to Washington City Paper.

Instead, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is currently reviewing two development applications from Mi Casa and the Development Corporation of Columbia Heights. The awarded bid is expected in early April.

There’s still no certainty as to what the plan is for the four homes.

• DHCD Refuses to Comment on Derelict D.C.-Owned Anacostia Houses [Washington City Paper]