Three more excellent things

Under the Williams Administration there has been a refocusing of efforts on housing, particularly in Wards 7 and 8. Some of this started before the Williams Administration, as a response to federal initiatives (including privatization), particularly the HOPEVI program

Revival of housing and resuscitation of housing projects in Wards 7 and 8 . Because I don't get in Wards 7 and 8 much, I am less familiar with how this works on the ground, and yes there are some negative consequences in terms of displacement because of lack of one-for-one replacement of housing. But many of the housing projects have been turned around. Yes, there is still a lot to be done. But the movement forward is incredible. And not all of it is by the public sector either.

Credit goes in part to housing advocates who helped get the Housing Production Trust Fund set up (with money from real estate transfer taxes) and working to prevent the funding stream from being directed to other activities. These funds make important contributions to housing production--not just in Wards 7 and 8, but all around the city.

The revitalization of the DC Housing Authority. I seem to recall that like most municipal housing authorities across the U.S., back in the day the DC Housing Authority was quite troubled with thousands of vacant housing units. Not anymore. This could well be one of the best run municipal agencies in our city. And no one talks about it.

The creation of the New Communities Program. Listing this is an act of faith. I think it's a good idea, a form of local HOPEVI program, but this program may not survive into the next Mayoralty. Plus, making it work will be really hard. DC communities are tough to help because the intra-neighborhood politics are so f***** up. But this is important. The challenge is to do this in a manner that protects the interests of people with lesser means, without displacement, and while providing opportunities to attract people with middle- and upper- incomes in order to assist the development of social and organizational capital and capacity within neighborhoods.

Index Keywords: urban-revitalization; housing