Affordable Housing

More than a decade after the Brookings Institution released the seminal Region Divided report, the Washington region is still divided, with parts of D.C. and the east side of the region not sharing in the prosperity of our economy.

Despite some progress in the last decade, many eastern communities continue to fall on the wrong side of the regional divide with slow job growth, poorly performing schools, high crime, and a devastating home foreclosure crisis. Meanwhile, even in wealthier communities throughout the region many families struggle to keep up with rising housing costs, a situation made even worse by the a lack of diversity in housing types and transit-oriented development.

Addressing this challenge is the most important mission of CSG. With our focus integrating the interconnected issues of land use, housing, and transportation, we are uniquely situated to address this divide through changes in infrastructure policies and our work in local communities across the region. Providing more housing options close to jobs in job-rich areas, creating incentives for jobs to be focused at underdeveloped Metro stations on the east side of the region, focusing businesses in transit-accessible locations, and linking affordable housing and transit, are among the key solutions.

Latest Happenings


Campaign to Strengthen DC’s Inclusionary Zoning Affordable Housing Program Briefing

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Event Materials: Campaign for Inclusionary Zoning Briefing Powerpoint Campaign for Inclusionary Zoning Fact Sheet and Testimony Invite Supporting Materials: DC Office of Planning IZ Setdown Report, July 3, 2015 Campaign for IZ General Comments on Office of Planning's Setdown Report, October 27, 2015 What You Need to Know about DC

Testimony to Alexandria City Council on demolition of Ramsey Homes

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I am a also a strong historic preservationist, which is what attracted me to Alexandria in 1988. The rich African-American history Parker-Gray and our city, and the bravery of the residents who fought for freedom and equality resonates deeply with me and should continue to be documented, promoted and honored -- as is done so well by the Alexandria Black History Museum.

Testimony on partial offsite Inclusionary Zoning and affordable housing benefit in the Highline development project

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We are enthusiastic about this project because it takes full advantage of the site’s proximity to Metro and bus lines, employment, services and burgeoning new commercial districts. I will spend the rest of my time discussing our qualified support for the proposed partial off-site compliance for Inclusionary Zoning regulations (IZ), and an affordable housing proffer.

AS I SEE IT: In Princeton, think small for affordable housing

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On Sunday, May 17, Princeton’s Community Democratic Organization (PCDO) hosted a symposium on what many residents feel is Princeton’s central issue: how to keep — or, depending on your perspective, how to make — Princeton affordable. What are some of the barriers to affordability in Princeton? Our property taxes, for

City should expand Inclusionary Zoning

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D.C.’s transformation from a city struggling and losing population in the 1990s to today’s increasingly popular and booming district has brought many benefits. But this transformation has created a growing affordable housing crisis. Many longtime residents and would-be new transplants without large bank accounts feel that they don’t have a