[REPOST] Revitalization 101: Stop being so secretive about what we really want.

Originally posted October 31, 2013

I was on Twitter yesterday talking to a real estate reporter about the challenges of persuading developers to build market rate non-income capped and/or better retail in Ward 8. He pointed out two things that were pretty key in any efforts to attract better housing and retail options:

Retail follows housing. Until we can either grow and/or import a higher income level we will always have to settle for less.

Developers are people too. And developers are hesitant to propose building market rate non-income capped rentals (or building projects without low-income, subsidized units) out of fear of being accused of "pushing people out" or encourage gentrification. Fear of bad PR is keeping Ward 8 and east of the river in the economic dark ages.

I think he was 100% correct on both points and that got me to thinking. 

I have conversations with Ward 8 residents ALL THE TIME about the need to reduce (if not put a complete moratorium on) new social service residential facilities such as group homes, shelters and rehabs in Ward 8. People have been saying for YEARS we have a social service oversaturation problem. East of the river housing can't be exclusively low income and subsidized because west of the river has an "affordability" problem. Ward 8 desperately needs some income diversity. We need at least one building in Ward 8 for market rate non-income capped
renters, and programs to move low income renters into homeownership. We also need to replace social service agencies in our business district with actual businesses (what a novel thought). Anything other than that is just window dressing and public relations stunts. We have to stop leaving the responsibility for economic development to social service nonprofits. They might mean well, but business development really isn't their thing. 

Ward 8 residents (particularly homeowners) are having these conversations all the time. Heck, we are having several right now on Facebook in secret groups. The problem is we keep having these conversations with each other. We are literally preaching to the choir and these feelings, desire, and demand for better housing and development opportunities are not being escalated up the food chain. Perception is literally ruining our reality.

There are a few cases when the message trickles out. Residents in Anacostia stood firm and were clear they did not want the Big K Development to be yet another opportunity to create more "affordable" (which really means subsidized housing) in a neighborhood that desperately needs higher incomes, not more voucher holders. Some may accuse them of being "NIMBYs" (Not In My Back Yard), I say they are WDEUHTBIMBYs (Why Does Everything Unpleasant Have To Be In My Back Yard). East of the river doesn't mind doing their share but why do we have to shoulder the responsibility for west of the river's affordable housing problem? The problem in Ward 8 isn't that we don't have enough affordable housing, the problem is we have too much! 

Ward 8 residents are getting pretty vocal about no longer wanting to be the city's dumping ground for social service initiatives and projects they don't want to place in more affluent neighborhoods. Ward 8 residents are noticing a correlation to the group homes/shelters/rehabs we have too many of and the sit-down restaurants (only 3) that we have to few off. 

That being said if Ward 8 residents and homeowners and those committed to creating a more economically balanced Ward 8 (than one built on the foundation of social service projects and nonprofits) then we are going to have to get pretty vocal and pretty loud about what we do want -- political correctness be damned.

So I am asking you, right now, to spell out what you want now in the "Comments" section of this blog post. Say it clearly, don't be afraid, and be honest. People do read this thing (including agency heads and development companies) and maybe, just maybe, the word will finally spread that Ward 8 wants better and they are not afraid to get it. Someone will be empowered to come with us with a plan to finally bring us what we need and stop being intimidated by the other voices that keep drowning us out. 

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