“Councilmember Silverman Introduces Legislation to Revitalize Vacant Properties”

From a press release:

“The Property Disposition Reform Amendment Act of 2017, aims to get vacant and blighted properties owned by District government into productive use by engaging licensed real estate brokers to sell these properties on the District’s behalf. The bill requires the Department of Housing and Community Development—which currently has up to 180 vacant and blighted properties in its portfolio—to follow a broker disposition process used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This would put properties on a faster track to getting back into use for affordable housing or other purposes, but does not change the current mission of selling these Property Acquisition and Disposition Division or “PADD” properties to non-profit organizations at a significantly discounted rate for the purpose of redeveloping them for low and moderate income residents.

“This is a sensible approach that is currently used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to turn eyesores into neighborhood assets,” said Silverman. “Many of these properties have fallen into such disrepair that they are blights on our neighborhoods, creating dangerous and unsanitary conditions. Instead, turn them into much-needed affordable housing.”

The bill was co-introduced by At-Large Councilmembers David Grosso and Robert White, Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans, and Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White. At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds was a co-sponsor. The bill was referred sequentially to the Committee on Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization and Committee on Business and Economic Development.”