Council of the District of Columbia

Committee of the Whole

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20004

MEMORANDUM

TO: Nyasha Smith, Secretary to the Council

FROM: Phil Mendelson, Chairman

DATE: March 30, 2023

RE: Request to Agendize for the April 4, 2023 Legislative Meeting

This memorandum is to request that the following measures be placed on the agenda for the April 4, 2023 Legislative Meeting:

▪ Historic Preservation of Derelict District Properties Extension Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2023

▪ Historic Preservation of Derelict District Properties Extension Emergency Amendment Act of 2023

▪ Historic Preservation of Derelict District Properties Extension Temporary Amendment Act of 2023

Emergency legislation is necessary to allow the L’Enfant Trust to continue to rehabilitate two remaining historic homes in Anacostia for resale as workforce housing. In 2016, the Council adopted legislation to transfer four historic properties held by the District to the L’Enfant Trust for rehabilitation and eventual resale of the properties, at no cost to the District.

As of March 2023, three of the four properties have been renovated and two have been sold. The Trust is ready to go to closing on the third historic home. The fourth should be completed within the next three years as the Trust continues to identify grants and other resources to complete the renovation. An extension of the time is necessary for the Trust to complete renovation and sale of the homes. The underlying legislation would extend the deadline to do this from 5 years (expiring in 2023) to 10 years (expiring in 2028).

This has been a remarkable project with the L’Enfant Trust. The Trust has taken four dilapidated and vacant properties that were owned by the District to renovate to historic district standards and put back into use at no cost to the District.

The draft measures are attached. Please call me or Mr. Evan Cash if you have any questions at (202) 724-7002.

cc: All Councilmembers

Council Officers