There are TEN post-pandemic office conversions in SMD 2C02: three hotel projects and seven residential (rental) properties. From 2024 to 2030, there are already planned to be 1,466 new residential units created in 2C02. More conversions are being considered, and I expect the list to grow during the 2027-2028 ANC term.
I have “One Big Idea” for SMD 2C02. I want to add a distinctly new kind of conversion of a former downtown office or commercial building to use as Workforce Housing for Downtown Service Workers. I am committed to the work of the learning curve and coalition building necessary to execute the One Big Idea.
My premise is that if you work Downtown and make Downtown possible for all of us, you should have a chance of living downtown. If you are a housekeeper in a hotel, a service worker back-of-house in a restaurant, a worker for a custodial, concierge, or security company serving a downtown building, a retail clerk, an entry-level medical, geriatric, or home-health aide, a gig worker making deliveries, you should not have to face a lengthy, expensive commute to affordable entry-level housing.
I want to provide adult co-housing with adult amenities. ‘Co-housing’ means a private room and bathroom with utilities included, with shared facilities for cooking, eating, gathering, remote working, video gaming, rooftop outdoor space, and other amenities. ‘Co-housing’ is not necessarily a forever home, not family housing, not permanent supportive housing. I want the One Big Idea to serve residents at 30% AMI, costing no more than 30% of their income for rent and utilities.
I want to explore alternative funding models and sources without the automatic assumption of reliance on DC budget funding. Federal tax credits, investment by corporate, philanthropic, and corporate sources for the conversion construction costs. Ongoing support by the spectrum of private, not-for-profit, and other Downtown stakeholders should be the foundation for total costs not covered by residents’ monthly rents.