In a potentially illegal move, Geoff Griffis, “master developer” of the Congress Heights redevelopment plan, has gained ownership of the Congress Heights properties from Sanford Capital. In addition to being legally dubious, the move has been accompanied by renewed efforts to manipulate the tenants into giving up their right to purchase the buildings under the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act or TOPA.

We will not allow Griffis to get away with this. The tenants of the Congress Heights properties are standing firm: they intend to exercise their rights, they have lined up a non-profit developer to help them purchase the buildings, and they are committed to fighting for control over 3200 13th SE and moving forward with a major affordable housing project. If Geoff Griffis wants to lie about his involvement and scam tenants out of their rights all while promoting the worst types of development practices, we will continue to expose him.

Please join Justice First and our friends at ONE DC in support of the Alabama Ave./13th Street Tenant Coalition as we march on Geoff Griffis’ home on February 10th. We want to send a clear message to him that the tenants and their supporters will not back down!