{"id":1226,"date":"2025-02-15T00:02:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-15T00:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/?p=1226"},"modified":"2026-04-19T17:04:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T17:04:03","slug":"fwd-press-release-residents-gather-for-social-housing-at-1617-u-ward-one-councilmember-brianne-nadeau-says-its-a-good-idea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/2025\/02\/15\/fwd-press-release-residents-gather-for-social-housing-at-1617-u-ward-one-councilmember-brianne-nadeau-says-its-a-good-idea\/","title":{"rendered":"Press Release: Residents Gather for Social Housing at 1617 U; Ward One Councilmember Brianne Nadeau Says Its &#8216;A Good Idea&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"postie-post\">\n<div dir=\"ltr\">\n<div class=\"gmail_quote gmail_quote_container\">\n<div style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;\">\n<p><b><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">For more information, please contact:<\/span>\u00a0 <span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\">Debby Hanrahan, 202-462-2054, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.savedcpublicland.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Save DC Public Land<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Event date Feb 15, 2025, Reportback release Feb 24, 2025<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 24pt;\"><b>Rain Doesn\u2019t Dampen Community Spirit at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/search\/1617+U+Street?entry=gmail&amp;source=g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">1617 U Street<\/a>: Residents Gather to Push for Social Housing; Ward One Councilmember Brianne Nadeau Says Its &#8216;A Good Idea&#8217;<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><b>Washington, DC \u2014<\/b> Despite the cold rain, close to forty DC residents from around the city gathered on Saturday, February 15, to advocate for a safer, more affordable, and racially equitable future for the U Street corridor. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Feb 15 Social Housing event videos and reportback <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/2025\/02\/15\/sat-feb-15-230pm-we\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">linked here.<\/span><\/a><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The meeting, held at the 3D community room, focused on the fate of two acres of public land at <b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/search\/1617+U+Street+NW?entry=gmail&amp;source=g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">1617 U Street NW<\/a><\/b>, currently occupied by essential emergency services but at risk of being handed over to private developers for luxury high-rise construction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/current_google_maps.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"552\" height=\"289\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 24pt;\"><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Key topics discussed<br \/>\nat the Social Housing Event<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The risk of <b>privatizing<\/b> two acres of public land and air rights at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/search\/1617+U+Street+NW?entry=gmail&amp;source=g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">1617 U Street NW<\/a>, potentially leading to a <b>12-story luxury development<\/b> that displaces existing emergency services and fails to meet affordable housing needs.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/2024\/12\/12\/independent-dc-auditor-report-on-inclusionary-zoning-key-highlights-citations-w-pdf\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>failure of DC\u2019s Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) program<\/b><\/a>, which has served as a guise for more high-density luxury development without truly addressing affordability.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The promise of <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1hGn64clhvxCjqjSxA0ebjcPR2TpKoHDK\/view?usp=drive_link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Social Housing (Universal Housing)<\/b><\/a> as a publicly owned alternative to ensure permanent affordability and prevent displacement, without disrupting essential public services.\n<p><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/KQSaQcVN_400x400.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"176\" height=\"176\" \/><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">In the meanwhile, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser\u2019s administration is suggesting that poor and working-class Black residents are responsible for DC\u2019s housing affordability crisis\u2014a statement coinciding with her recent proposed legislation (<b>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/dhcd.dc.gov\/release\/mayor-bowser-announces%E2%80%AFlegislation-protect-and-strengthen-dcs-housing-ecosystem\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Protect and Strengthen DC\u2019s Housing Ecosystem<\/a>\u201d<\/b>) that has outraged community members.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Those in attendance on Saturday want the Mayor and city decision makers to move away from more punitive action and instead point towards Social Housing as a potential real solution, among others, to DC&#8217;s worsening affordability crisis and massive displacement.<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; font-size: 24pt;\"><b>A Call to Preserve<br \/>\nPublic Land for Public Good<br \/>\n<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<blockquote style=\"padding: 0 0.4em; border-left: #1010ff 2px solid; margin: 0;\"><p><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><i>\u201cSocial Housing offers a way to welcome residents and families of all incomes, drive down housing costs, limit displacement, and ensure communities remain rooted as the city grows. I like that and hope we can make it happen here,\u201d <\/i>said <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/YJyPRZyTbhM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gregory Adams, a nearby homeowner and founder of Black Neighbors of 1617 U Street<\/a>.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot_2025-02-06_00-29-42.jpg?resize=587%2C351&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"313\" height=\"187\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; font-size: 24pt;\"><b><\/p>\n<p>A Proven Model for<br \/>\nAffordable Housing<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Special guest <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/p17MvKsHvPY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Will Merrifield<\/b>, Director of the <b>Center for Social Housing and Public Investment<\/b><\/a>, highlighted successful Social Housing projects around the world, including recent developments in <b>Montgomery County, MD<\/b>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">He explained how Social Housing can efficiently and economically provide truly affordable homes for people and families across all income levels, challenging the prevailing trickle-down housing model that has consistently failed DC residents.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Attendees discussed the feasibility of a <b>Social Housing pilot<\/b> on the public land at 1617 U Street NW, evaluating various redevelopment plans for the site that would keep the land publicly owned while addressing affordability and community needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot_2025-02-24_13-24-27.jpg\" alt=\"Screenshot_2025-02-24_13-24-27.jpg\" width=\"488\" height=\"443\" \/><\/div>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; font-size: 24pt;\"><b><\/p>\n<p>Councilmember Support<br \/>\nand Public Frustration<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Though <b>Ward One Councilmember Brianne Nadeau<\/b> was unable to attend the event on February 15, she expressed support via email saying the gathering was <b>&#8220;a good idea.&#8221;<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">This Social Housing event follows a recent <a href=\"https:\/\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/2025\/02\/06\/council-hearing-dc-residents-slam-city-officials-for-prioritizing-connected-developers-and-luxury-playtime-over-black-dc-families-truly-affordable-housing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>DC Council hearing chaired by Kenyan McDuffie<\/b><\/a>, where residents voiced their frustration over the ongoing privatization of public land and air rights for luxury developments that fail to serve the community\u2019s needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot_2025-02-06_00-33-36.jpg?resize=513%2C329&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"513\" height=\"329\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"padding: 0 0.4em; border-left: #1010ff 2px solid; margin: 0;\"><p><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/vTIk-MvRoLM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Rondell &#8220;Magic&#8221; Jordan<\/b><\/a>, a longtime DC resident, criticized the city\u2019s flagship affordable housing IZ program: <\/span><i><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>\u201cThe district\u2019s so-called affordability requirements are nothing more than modern-day redlining. Instead of red lines on a map, we now have policies rigged to exclude Black residents.\u201d<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; font-size: 24pt;\"><b><\/p>\n<p>Next Steps: Advocacy for Social Housing<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><b>Save DC Public Land: Working for a Safe, Truly Affordable, and Racially Equitable U Street<\/b> will continue meeting with Councilmembers and community stakeholders to push for Social Housing at <b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/search\/1617+U+Street+NW?entry=gmail&amp;source=g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">1617 U Street NW<\/a><\/b>, aiming to establish a new model that truly addresses DC\u2019s housing crisis.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">For more information, please contact:<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Contact Information: <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Debby Hanrahan, 202-462-2054<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.savedcpublicland.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Save DC Public Land<\/a><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p>###<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information, please contact:\u00a0 Debby Hanrahan, 202-462-2054, Save DC Public Land Event date Feb 15, 2025, Reportback release Feb 24, 2025 Rain Doesn\u2019t Dampen Community Spirit at 1617 U Street: Residents Gather to Push for Social Housing; Ward One Councilmember Brianne Nadeau Says Its &#8216;A Good Idea&#8217; Washington, DC \u2014 Despite [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1231,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,11,5,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-1617u","category-affordability","category-socialhousing","category-brianne"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/feb15crowdpic.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1226","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1226"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1226\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1232,"href":"https:\/\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1226\/revisions\/1232"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1231"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1226"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1226"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1226"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}