January 7, 2025 | Ginny Bixby | Bethesda Magazine
The Coalition for Smarter Growth, a nonprofit that, according to its website, advocates for “walkable, bikeable, inclusive, and transit-oriented communities” in the Washington, D.C. area, released a statement Tuesday afternoon saying the organization is “deeply disappointed” by Jawando’s comments.
“Smaller, multi-family units like those proposed in the Attainable Housing Strategies recommendations can be built and sold more affordably than single-family detached homes. Expanding housing choices also offers creative pathways and opportunities to produce subsidized affordable homes, a feat that is financially prohibitive to accomplish with single-family detached homes,” the nonprofit wrote.
“In recommending an indefinite pause on the AHSI recommendations, Councilmember Jawando would prevent these less expensive, more accessible types of homes from being built and leave in place decades-old restrictions that allow only our most expensive and exclusive housing type to be built in many neighborhoods.”