The DC Council voted late on Dec 6 to give a community asset to a developer for $1. Here are some preliminary remarks. Look for further conversation soon.
Eastern Branch Boys and Girls Club sold to Morning Star Community Development to replace old rec center with 35 condos: 8 1BR, 14 1BR with den, 11 2BR, and two 3BR.
“I will note, just for the record, that one of the things the community talked a lot about was wanting to see multi-generational housing…I don’t know if that really represents a lot of multigenerational housing, since most of these are 1Brs,” says CM Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) while promoting the project and voting yes.
Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5, and independent elect for at-large seat) mentioned the need for larger units to keep families in the city, but said that was usually referencing rental units rather than purchase opportunities, and then voted for the measure.
DC’s Council Office of Racial Equity said it was not given enough time “to conduct assessment of how these bills will impact Black residents, Indigenous residents, and other residents of the District of Columbia.” Nonetheless, vote went ahead…. as has happened several times recently: See, e.g., 2 Patterson Street, NE — here’s the CORE’s report explaining how “neutral” was not good enough in giving away such a precious, limited resource.
The Boys and Girls Club property matter was introduced in June of this year, hearing not held until Nov 22, committee mark up Nov 29, and Council vote on Dec. 6. Full legislative history on Council’s database.
The DC Council discussion of PR24-0839 took place at 2:20 into the legislative meeting (which began at 8:30 Dec 6, 2022).
Hill Rag report of October 2020 mentioned on air.
Image: Photo of padlocked door with sign taped to the door reading “Sorry this building has been sold. It will no longer serve the community.” Photo taken by V. Spatz many years back
