For Immediate Release                                  
August 14, 2009                                              

Contacts: 
Cheryl Cort, Coalition for Smarter Growth
202-244-4408 ext. 112 or 202-251-7516

Robin Metalitz, Jews United for Justice
  202-408-1423 

FENTY ADMINISTRATION IMPLEMENTS LONG-AWAITED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING LAW 
Today marks the start of a new D.C. affordable housing program known as
 Inclusionary Zoning, a national best practice

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today marks the final step to putting a long-awaited affordable housing program in place.  With the publication of the final piece of regulations by the Fenty Administration, the city's Inclusionary Zoning law goes into effect.  Inclusionary Zoning is a widely used affordable housing tool throughout the country.  D.C.'s Inclusionary Zoning program requires that D.C. residential developments of 10 units or more set aside 8-10 percent of new housing affordable to moderate and low income families.

"We are so glad this day is finally here," said Cheryl Cort of Coalition for Smarter Growth. She continued, "We are gratified that the Fenty administration is now implementing this important law that makes housing in D.C. more affordable.  Once the economy recovers, inclusionary zoning will be an invaluable tool for preserving the diversity of our neighborhoods."

The Campaign for Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning launched its effort to bring the national best practice to the city in 2004. Many stakeholders across the District worked together for years to design the policy. In addition to the D.C. Council's unanimous endorsement, IZ is incorporated into the District's 2006 Comprehensive Plan, and was also overwhelmingly supported by the D.C. Zoning Commission that same year. In 2007, the Zoning Commission expanded the areas where IZ should apply.

"Housing costs are still a crushing burden for thousands of D.C. families.  The city needs this program so low income residents can stay," said Pocahontas Outlaw, a long-time Ward 6 activist.

Joslyn Williams, president of the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO, said "Inclusionary zoning can help the district make sure that more residents will benefit equitably from the city's revitalization. We should not price-out the city's janitors, bus drivers, teachers, fire fighters, police officers, and other low- and moderate-income residents who are in danger of being displaced by high housing costs, and whose services the city desperately needs."  

 "We appreciate that the administration is taking care to ensure the program works for all the participants - the developers, property managers, and of course, all the working families seeking housing they can afford," said Jacob Feinspan, Executive Director, Jews United for Justice.  "As we were able to demonstrate during the Campaign for Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning, D.C. residents in all neighborhoods and at all income levels understand the importance of this policy in ensuring that D.C. continues to be a welcoming and affordable place to live." 

Jenny Reed, a policy analyst with the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute said, "Affordable housing has recently lost a lot of ground in D.C. with the economic downturn and cuts to important affordable housing programs.  The implementation of IZ adds a critical new tool to help the District get back on track toward providing affordable housing to its residents."  

Hundreds of other jurisdictions throughout the United States have adopted inclusionary zoning programs to help meet affordable housing needs over the long term, including Montgomery County, Maryland and Fairfax and Arlington Counties in Virginia.

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The Campaign for Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning is a diverse coalition of affordable housing advocates, local labor unions, social service providers, civic associations, and faith-based organizations. For more information about IZ, please visit http://dhcd.dc.gov/dhcd/cwp/view,a,1243,q,647468.asp & http://smartergrowth.net/anx/index.cfm/1,135,html/Housing-Choices