Posts by Jonathan Nisly — Guest Contributor
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Why do Barry Farm and DC General residents fight to stay even in bad conditions?
Residents of DC General and Barry Farms share a lot of common concerns. Their homes are crumbling. Their environments are toxic. And they don’t trust DC’s plan to fix it. Keep reading…
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This DC bill could help bolster affordable housing and protect low-income borrowers
In November 2017, DC Councilmember David Grosso (At-Large) introduced a bill that would likely increase affordable housing investments and low-income lending by banks that do business with the District government. Now local housing advocates say its passage is more important than ever. Keep reading…
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These two words can keep neighborhoods segregated. Here’s what we can do about it.
“Development [near transit] must not compromise the integrity of stable neighborhoods.” That’s the kind of bland, boiler plate language that a local coalition of housing-minded groups says helps keep DC segregated. Keep reading…
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To escape poverty, buying a home beats investing in stocks
When lower income people rise to the middle class, it's good for everyone. It makes the city safer, improves the economy, and of course it's a huge social good on its own terms. Finding ways to help that happen is one of the most important things cities can do. And few things matter more to that equation than urban housing. Keep reading…
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DC has rent control, but if landlords aren’t making a 12% profit they can file a hardship petition and raise rent
Thanks to the Rental Housing Act of 1985, DC has rent control laws that limit how much rents can go up in a given year for anyone living in a building with five or more units and built before 1975. But a lot of people miss out on these protections when landlords use a loophole called a hardship petition. Keep reading…