Ward 3 Housing Justice | Wardman Hotel Strategy Team
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 27, 2022
Contact: Gail Sonnemann, 202-286-0845, gsonnemann@gmail.com
Mayoral candidate Robert White yesterday called for an alternative development plan for the former Wardman Hotel in Woodley Park. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he told a forum convened by the Ward 2 Democrats at the Women’s National Democratic Club. White added, “transforming the Wardman Hotel [is] the most expansive opportunity for housing in Ward 3 that our city has ever seen and probably will ever see. I’m not gonna miss the opportunity to develop more housing.”
Councilmember Robert White (at-large) joins housing advocates adding his voice to counter the current plan, approved by the Bowser Administration, to demolish the hotel buildings at the Woodley Park site and build 900 housing units, 828 luxury market rate and only 73 affordable units.
In addition, 10 candidates for Council have answered ‘yes’ they would support city purchase of all or part of the property, including by eminent domain, responding to a questionnaire from the Ward 3 Housing Justice (W3HJ). These candidates responded ‘yes’: Ward 3 candidates: Deirdre Brown, Ben Bergmann, Tricia Duncan, Beau Finley, Matthew Frumin, and Monte Monash; at-large candidates: Dexter Williams, Nate Fleming and Lisa Gore; and Erin Palmer, council chair candidate.
“We are delighted that Councilmember Robert White sees that the Wardman is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a model of urban planning and community development in the District,” said Margaret Lenzner of the Wardman Hotel Strategy Team (WHST) and W3HJ. “Community members support a vision for the Wardman of mixed income affordable housing, with classrooms for crowded public schools, a grocery store, green space for public gathering, and the potential for small business, recreation, job training or other community investments at the site. The WHST will continue to press the administration and candidates to work toward this vision of model community development.”
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