With all the commentary surrounding the history of the failed Peaceoholic project it seems a bit baffling that no one seems to be talking about the very subject that brought this issue to light in the first place - oversaturation.  In 2010, neighbors of 1300 Congress Street SE and ANC 8E launched a hard fought campaign to get the District to follow the Title XI zoning restriction and not place what would have been the FIFTH transitional housing facility on their block.  Because of the community's  appeal to Councilmember Brown meetings were held, questions were asked, documents were pulled and inquiries were made into what would become today's hot news story.


That said, it is a little concerning to see no mention (so far anyway) of the Congress Street community's efforts on DC tax payers behalf and their concerns as it relates to the oversaturation of social service facilities in Ward 8. One has to ask, "if community residential facilities are such a good thing why do they always seem to be crowded in poor neighborhoods?"

Wouldn't "affordable" housing be more useful in affluent communities where lower income people have been priced out?  I'm not sure how helpful housing for the poor is when it always seems to be concentrated in poor neighborhoods.  It is kind of like reserving a seat in an empty theater.

Is the goal here really to encourage economic diversity or just to look like we are encouraging economic diversity because if we were really trying to bring more diversity to Ward 8 we would be bringing more jobs, middle-income residents, and amneties to Ward 8. Why can't "affordable housing" ever be near jobs, amenities, and good schools? Why can't it ever be in the popular neighborhoods west of the river? Why does East of the River have to shoulder the responsibility of housing DC's group homes, methadone clinics, and homeless shelters?

Ward 8 residents have   sacrificed too much and made do with too little. The time is long overdue to finally experience some of the rewards of the city's prosperity. We must evolve past a steady diet of transitional housing to feast on the bounty of transformed neighborhoods.

When will it be our turn?

So before another public official states how he would like to see 1300 Congress Street SE used as another "independent living facility" or another "transitional housing development" perhaps it would be prudent (and more than a little considerate) to at least ask the residents of Congress Street  what they would like to see in their own neighborhood?  With four Community Residential Facilities already on the block perhaps they may want to see something a little different - like hope for tomorrow.