The Housing Development Growth Amendment Act of 2025 creates a new Office of Social Housing Developments in Washington, D.C., to manage District-owned housing projects. It requires all new developments to be mixed-income (with at least two-thirds of units permanently affordable for extremely, very, and low-income households, where rent never exceeds 30% of household income) and mandates net-zero emissions construction. The bill also updates existing laws to allow the District to use vacant government property for these developments, access housing trust funds for financing, and establish tenant governance structures. This directly affects D.C. residents in affordable housing, the District government (which must appoint an Office Director), and future housing developers working with city-owned properties.
The One Front Door Act of 2025 directs DC's Construction Codes Coordinating Board to amend building codes within two years to allow single entrance/egress stairways in multifamily residential buildings up to six stories. This change would replace the current requirement for two stairwells, which the bill states consumes valuable building space and increases construction costs. The bill requires the Board to consider fire safety factors like water supply, fire department response times, and best practices from cities like Seattle and New York that already permit single-stair buildings. It aims to make multifamily housing more affordable and feasible, particularly for smaller lots and infill projects, without compromising safety. The policy change would directly affect DC developers, builders, and future residents of multifamily housing.
The Housing Capacity Preservation Amendment Act of 2025 amends historic preservation law to ensure the Historic Preservation Review Board cannot require new construction projects to reduce housing units or density below what is permitted by current zoning rules. This directly affects developers and property owners seeking to build new housing in historic districts or near landmarks, as their projects require Board review. The key provision adds that the Board’s findings of incompatibility must not be based on requirements that would lower housing capacity - such as unit count or density - below the zoning allowance. The bill clarifies that historic preservation reviews must respect existing zoning standards, preventing the Board from imposing stricter housing limits than local zoning laws permit.
This bill exempts specific Heritage Trees in the Parkside mixed-use development project from removal requirements under the Urban Forest Preservation Act. It directly affects the Parkside project (Lots 865-869, Square 5056) by allowing tree removal to proceed without violating heritage tree protections, as the Zoning Commission approved the project before July 1, 2016. The key provision amends the 2002 law to exclude these trees from preservation rules, enabling the development to move forward. The exemption applies only to the specified lots and is structured as an emergency measure.
This bill waives property taxes for 20 years on qualifying housing developments at Washington Metro stations in the District. To qualify, developments must be part of a WMATA joint development agreement requiring at least half the project to be housing and 75% to be new construction or substantial rehabilitation. The exemption applies to properties currently generating no tax revenue for the District, aiming to unlock transit-oriented development at stations like Congress Heights and Deanwood. It takes effect January 1, 2026, to encourage mixed-use projects that increase housing density near transit hubs.
This resolution extends the deadline for the Mayor to sell the District-owned property at 261 17th Street, SE (the former Eastern Branch Boys and Girls Club) from December 5, 2024, to December 5, 2026. The extension is required to allow the developer, Morningstar Community Development, to secure final approvals for a zoning map amendment and additional zoning relief needed to proceed with redevelopment. The project plans to transform the site into 35 residential units (including 11 affordable units) and 2,500 square feet of community space. It directly affects the District government's property disposition timeline and the developer's project schedule.
