Providing housing options that meet people’s needs across a range of ages, incomes, and family sizes is essential to an inclusive and economically prosperous D.C. region.

Building more housing near transit, expanding the variety of housing choices available, and preserving and building affordable housing will allow us to meet our region’s growing housing needs while creating sustainable, diverse, and thriving communities.

Allow a variety of housing options

The demand to live in walkable, transit-connected communities near Metro stations is high. This and recurring opposition to infill development have led to too little supply and high prices for homes near transit.

Allowing a wider variety of housing options near transit and commercial corridors increases the supply of needed housing and will help bring down housing prices and create more equitable access for households of different incomes, ages, and family sizes.

Preserve and build affordable housing

Even with abundant housing options, additional policies are needed to help us bridge the gap where housing costs are too expensive for working families and people on fixed incomes. Preserving existing affordable housing and building new affordable housing ensures everyone has access to safe, affordable housing, provides economic opportunity for all, reduces the risk of displacement, and supports diverse, vibrant communities,

Latest Happenings

DC Region Growth Patterns Contribute to Emissions Problem

ian | September 20, 2007

Washington DC - Meeting the growing demand for conveniently located homes in walkable neighborhoods could significantly reduce the growth in the number of miles Americans drive, shrinking the nation’s carbon footprint while giving people more housing choices, according to a team of urban planning researchers.

D.C. – Compilation of Inclusionary Zoning Regulations

ian | September 10, 2007

The following document represents a consolidated version of Title 11 DCMR Chapter 26 Inclusionary Zoning. The document has been compiled by the DC Office of Planning and does not represent official zoning text. This chapter established an Inclusionary Zoning Program that furthers the Housing Element of the Comprehensive Plan by increasing the amount and expanding the geographic distribution of adequate, affordable housing available to current and future residents.

Ensuring Housing Opportunities in Fairfax

acustis | April 7, 2007

We co-authored "Ensuring Housing Opportunities in Fairfax" using 2005 – 2007 local data on housing costs and income to assess who faces the greatest need for affordable housing in Fairfax County. The analysis was undertaken following criticism by local housing advocates, who decried that the county’s ‘One Penny’ local housing trust fund was used to help finance preservation of units allocated to households making as much as $100,000 per year.

Testimony in support of the proposed action for Takoma Metro Station redevelopment, Hearing No. 175, Docket R06-5

Ted Van Houten | October 11, 2006

Since 2000, WRN has been involved with the question of what kind of redevelopment at the Takoma Metro station would do the most to enhance transit access, improve the station area and larger community, help meet the need for more housing near transit. Appropriate development at the Takoma Metro station helps accommodate our region’s growth in a way that enhances the Takoma neighborhood while contributing to the solution for our region’s transportation, air and water pollution problems.

NATIONAL – Center for Housing Policy’s “Heavy Load” Report

ian | February 21, 2006

The Coalition for Smarter Growth prioritizes the production and preservation of affordable housing, especially with access to transportation choices and jobs, as one critical element of truly interconnected, sustainable communities.