Posts about Tenants' Rights

Bicycling

Afternoon links: New developments on old issues edition

by David Alpert   •   September 15, 2008 2:45 pm

Union Station in the Post: Raw Fisher reports that Union Station's movie theater will close, rumors of which we discussed in July. And Dr. Gridlock posts a letter wondering why pedestrians aren't hit more often in Columbus Circle; Gridlock mentions the circle's planned redesign.

Dupont ANC to reconsider 1433 T approval: ANC 2B will be holding a special meeting on Monday, September 22, 7:30 pm at the Resource Center, 9 Dupont Circle. The Commission will reconsider their previous approval of the proposed modifications to 1433 T in light of tenant abuse allegations.

Teacher proposal exposes generation gap: Younger teachers generally support Michelle Rhee's proposed incentive pay structure for teachers, while older ones by and large oppose it, writes Slate; this mirrors similar debates elsewhere. (Tip: Joel)

Peters: bike trails not transportation: Mary Peters still hates bike trails, and her plans to reduce traffic congestion call not for adding more of these ways to get around without driving, but rather for cutting any "wasteful" expenditures on trails. Jim DeMint (R-SC) also criticized Barack Obama for voting for bicycle paths. (WashCycle)

Development

Tenant abuse among several controversies at the Dupont ANC

by David Alpert   •   September 11, 2008 11:42 am

At the first few meetings of the Dupont Circle ANC I attended, the Commission voted unanimously on almost every issue. I criticized the appearance, if not also the reality, that Commissioners were voting on important resolutions without much discussion, or going along to vote for resolutions even when some privately told me they disagreed.

That's certainly changed. Last night, ANC Commissioners spoke up to debate at least three issues: tenant abuse at 1433 T St, the proposed development at 14th and U, and staffing at Francis School. Commissioner Jack Jacobson (2B04, between 15th and 17th from Q to S) has a detailed recap of the meeting's issues.

At 1433 T, the developer and architect presented plans to renovate an existing apartment building. They want to partly fill in light courts on each side and add another story onto an addition in the very rear of the building. The Historic Preservation Office and the Dupont Circle Conservancy feel that this is compatible with the historic fabric of the neighborhood (as do I), but there is another problem: tenants and tenant advocates allege that owners of this building illegally forced out residents in one of Dupont's few rent controlled buildings, for the purpose of renovating it into market-rate apartments.

The Council held a hearing on the topic in 2006, at which DCRA testified that the safety issues claimed by the landlord shouldn't actually require tenants to vacate the building. I don't know all the subsequent steps, but the head of the tenants' association claims that the landlord is taking steps to force out tenants and "most have left due these actions and continuously deteriorating building conditions."

Ultimately, any alleged misbehavior can't factor into HPRB's decision, so the Office of the Tenant Advocate will have to pursue this issue through other approval channels (such as DCRA's granting of actual building permits).

Several Commissioners also spoke up in favor of the 14th and U project, in contrast to previous meetings. The proposal has been scaled back and "sculpted" through numerous rounds of historic review, and is now much less massive than the original proposal. Some of the Commissioners pointed out that density at this corner (near a Metro stop) is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan), and therefore amended the proposed resolution to approve this project moving ahead.