Legislation to Dispose of DC Govt owned vacant properties

Well we'll see where this goes.....
Councilmember Elissa Silverman has introduced some legislation that is supposed to deal with all the vacant properties that the DC Government owns. The legislation is called "Property Disposition Reform Amendment Act of 2017" and you can find the proposed legislation at this link.

The way I read it, there is a catch. Not a horrible catch, but a catch. Check out line 77 section 8B where it mentions something about residents with an income at or below 120% of the AMI. The 2016 AMI is $108,600, but if you want to get into household size and all that, check out this PDF. So she threw in a affordable housing idea. It doesn't appear it is a requirement.

I do hope it is like the way HUD disposes of property, giving possible owner occupant first dibs and then letting everyone else try for it afterwards to do whatever they want with it.

Washington City Paper article about DHCD thwarting DC City Council

This sort of relates to my belief that the city government is not always the best landholder. See DHCD Refuses to Comment on Derelict D.C.-Owned Anacostia Houses

1538 9th St NW- Off the list

The National Park Service FINALLY, finished the home of Carter G. Woodson.
I posted about the problem the structure was in February 2014.

3 years ago the property was a problem. The NPS put up a fence that was supposed to keep the homeless men who used the basement and door/window wells as a hang out and sleeping area. However, it extended out to the street blocking the sidewalk. So if you wanted to walk down 9th you had the option of walking in the street or crossing around 4-6 lanes to the other side.

Ten years ago, the blogs original author Ed mentioned it, and it was abandoned then too. Previously it was owned by Shiloh Baptist Church which still owns many, many crumbly 9th Street properties with no shame and no real plan. It was acquired by NPS in 2005.

Usually I complain about DC government properties that stay vacant for-ever, when no one has any idea what will happen to the property. When the federal government, the NPS, purchased it, there was a plan. But that was 12 years ago. Over a DECADE. So in the case of already vacant properties, remember this and a dozen other places around the city and things tagged "government" when even entertaining the suggestion that the city or the federal government take over, unless you're into waiting a decade or more for change.

Now don't plan a trip to the Carter G. Woodson house just yet. It still is not open to the public as of yet. It's safe enough for the NPS to let in a few VIPs for special visits. Good enough to me.


HT: DCist

448 Q Street NW- Looks vacant to me

I've passed by 448 Q Street NW many times and found the lack of stairs to the front door odd (notice in the 2004 photo left).
According to DCRA's PIVS the inspector does come out once a year since 2014 and most of the time it is cited as vacant. One year, 2015, it was noted as occupied. Only the adjacent neighbors know for sure because the lack of stairs into the front a home (I know this sounds crazy) does not necessarily mean it isn't occupied. There is always the back door. All I know is when I come by, Summer, Winter, or Fall, day or night, I see no signs of life, just maintenance.
When I look for the latest sale date I see 1901! Yes, according to DCRA's PIVS the last date of sale was over 100 years ago. Going over to the tax assessors website, there is no date but I see the owner, Andres R. Alquinta is receiving the Senior Citizen Homestead deduction. Yeah..... my aunt was 102 when she died and has been paying that discounted homestead deduction after her death, so I'll have to dig further to see if the owner is still alive, or more than likely dead like my beloved great-aunt.
Looking at the paper trail, it appears Alquinta is out of the picture and hasn't signed for anything in this century. He (I'll just assume male) has a guardian, as one might have as one enters the twilight of one's life and that guardian has been dealing with what looks to be developers MSC Development and the 448 Que Partnership.
I'll keep my eye on this one. If there is an elderly person living here using the rear please alert me so I can take this post down.

NOTE: I have the memory of a gnat- I've posted on this house before.

1801-1803 6th St NW- Now a vacant lot

Just a quick note. 1801-1803's townhouses have been torn down and now are technically a vacant lot.
I don't really do vacant lots here. They are less of a concern than vacant structures.
So off the list they go.