Last Friday, DCFPI testified in support of two major changes that are being proposed to DC’s zoning code: removing minimum parking requirements and making it easier for accessory dwelling units to be built in some parts of DC. These changes, which could help reduce the costs of building housing as well as increase the supply, might ultimately help build more affordable housing and lessen the pressure on the rapidly rising rents in DC.
DC’s zoning code is currently going through a significant revision and changes to some key areas are being proposed. These include changes to how much parking needs to accompany development, how many accessory dwelling units can be built and how much commercial development can be alongside residential areas. Initiated by the Office of Planning, the changes will ultimately be decided by DC’s Zoning Commission. An overview of the proposed changes and process can be found here: http://www.dczoningupdate.org/default.asp
One of the proposed changes is to remove parking minimums from developments in transit-rich areas. In a city with multiple transportation options, removing these parking minimums could help lower the costs of building housing, which, in turn, means that builders can charge less for housing. For affordable housing developers, lowering total development costs can make it easier to build low- and moderate-income housing in transit rich areas.
Another change proposed is to make it easier to build, or convert, accessory dwelling units in certain residential areas of DC. This could help increase DC’s supply of moderately priced housing, since many of these accessory dwelling units are likely to have a smaller footprint and rents are likely to be more modest. This change could also help increase the supply of housing and help to less the pressure on rental prices in the District.
While both of these changes can help contribute to a diverse housing stock affordable to people at all income levels, it is important to note that these changes alone are not likely to meet DC’s significant affordable housing needs. For many low- and moderate income families, new developments will be out of reach even without parking minimums. In addition, accessory dwelling units, even though they will likely have more modest rents would likely still be out of reach for a low-wage worker and are likely not suitable for low-income families. To tackle DC’s significant affordable housing needs, the District will need to combine these changes with robust public investments in housing tools like the Housing Production Trust Fund and Local Rent Supplement Program which can help build and preserve affordable housing for DC’s low- and moderate income households.
