Mia Boykin
Today, July 29, 2024, marks a victorious moment for Mayor Muriel Bowser’s administration, as they prepare to announce that the city has not only met but surpassed its ambitious goal of creating 36,000 new homes by 2025. In a celebration set for 11 am at the DC Department of Housing and Community Development, the Mayor will reveal that the District has delivered an impressive 36,216 new housing units, including 9,845 affordable homes.
This achievement, tracked meticulously by the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) dashboard, comes months ahead of the 2025 deadline. The DMPED dashboard has been a crucial tool in monitoring progress and ensuring transparency throughout this initiative. It provided real-time data on housing production across the city’s ten planning areas, allowing officials and the public to track the journey towards this ambitious goal.
The dashboard’s data shows that the city has made significant strides in affordable housing, with 9,845 affordable units created, reaching 82% of the specific goal for affordable housing production. This progress is crucial in ensuring that Washington remains accessible to residents across various income brackets. Under the current framework, “affordable housing” refers to units costing no more than 30% of household income for households earning up to 80% of median family income.
Mayor Bowser’s journey toward this milestone began on May 10, 2019, when she signed a Mayor’s Order directing District agencies to accelerate housing production across all income levels. Since then, her administration has made historic investments, including over $1.3 billion allocated to the Housing Production Trust Fund, which has been instrumental in driving progress across the city’s planning areas.
Projects like the Terrace Manor Apartments in Ward 8 exemplify the success of these initiatives. This 130-unit all-affordable community, supported by $29.9 million from the District’s Housing Production Trust Fund and additional financing from tax-exempt bonds, represents the type of development that has propelled DC’s housing revolution.
At today’s event, Mayor Bowser will be joined by key figures including Nina Albert, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, and Colleen Green, Director of the DC Department of Housing and Community Development. Residents who have benefited from these new housing initiatives will also be present to share their experiences, putting a human face on the impact of these policies.
As Washington, DC celebrates this milestone, attention now turns to the future. With the 36,000-home goal exceeded, city officials and community leaders are expected to discuss the next steps in further addressing affordable housing needs and ensuring equitable development across all areas of the District.
The event will be broadcast live through various channels, including mayor.dc.gov/live, Channel 16 (DCN), and Mayor Bowser’s social media accounts, allowing widespread public access to this important announcement.
