We recently learned that the District government has acquired the property at 3200 13th Street SE, which sits on the Congress Heights redevelopment site, where tenants have fought for three years against slumlords at Sanford Capital. Recent developments regarding the 3200 building at Congress Heights are indicative of the shocking decisions and deals the District makes with wealthy developers, with no regard to taxpayers or to working class residents of color in Washington, D.C.
The D.C. government plans to put 3200 up for public auction. This means that, already, the former owners of that property have walked off with nearly 1 million dollars after defaulting on their obligations to provide affordable housing at that site. What’s more, DHCD actually paid the owners another $175,000 for the property. It also means, if they go through with selling the property it will be possible for slumlords and slum developers working with Sanford Capital to gain control, which would reward them for their unconscionable behavior and facilitate the displacement of the tenants at Congress Heights.
In order to facilitate the tenants’ successful purchase of their existing buildings through the TOPA process, the Tenants at Congress Heights are demanding that 3200 13th Street SE be transferred by the District to their chosen non-profit housing development partner.
We need you to sign this petition to show that residents of the District of Columbia don't want to see slumlords rewarded but do want to see justice at Congress Heights.
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