W3HJ urges the Zoning Commission to reject the Wesley/Landmark proposal in Case 23-08A as inadequate, vague and inequitable.

Contact: Margaret Dwyer, Ward 3 Housing Justice

To: District of Columbia Zoning Commission Office of Zoning

441 4th Street NW #200 Washington, DC 20001

Subject: Testimony in opposition, Case 23-08A

November 21, 2025

Dear Chairman Hood and Zoning Commissioners:

Ward 3 Housing Justice, a grass roots affiliate of Empower DC focused on creating truly affordable housing in Ward 3, urges the Zoning Commission to reject the Wesley/Landmark proposal in Case 23-08A as inadequate, vague and inequitable.

We stand firmly in agreement with the resolution passed unanimously at ANC 3E’s November 13, 2025 meeting that the proffer of Wesley/Landmark does not approach an appropriate amount. The extraordinary relief that Wesley/Landmark is being granted requires extraordinary return in affordable housing benefits. This wealthy, tax-free institution is being allowed to essentially operate an inn filled with luxury housing primarily for students of another institution. The figures it has relied on to calculate their paltry contribution in lieu of onsite affordable housing would be anyone’s dream! How wonderful would it be to be able to build new housing in a park-like setting for $325 per square foot? Unfortunately, in the real world, when we do the math, the costs are almost double that amount. We propose that the contribution be at least $14 million.

We call for a clear plan with meaningful oversight for the effective use of this money for the sole purpose of building new affordable, truly affordable housing in Ward 3. We object to the last-minute switch from LISC to DCHD. LISC has an excellent track record of ethically and efficiently managing funding for criteria-based projects, and the criteria for these funds should clearly speak to the overwhelming need in Ward 3 for permanently affordable, low income, family-sized units. Given the disarray at DCHD, in particular with mismanagement of the IZ program, their role in this project should be one of supporting proposed developments that meet the criteria with other sources of funding. This would actually be a welcome change, since the HPTF has invested in exactly one project in Ward 3 in its history.

We urge the Zoning Commission not only to reject this vague, self-serving proposal and invite LISC and other stakeholders to draft a concrete plan that meets the needs of Ward 3 outlined above, but also to draw a hard line under the case to make it clear that this kind of vague offsite accommodation is never going to be approved again.

Finally, W3HJ raises the issue of repair. Black households, who now have median incomes of less than 40% MFI, have been driven out of the Ward, robbed of their wealth, officially excluded in deeds and covenants, and now held at arm’s length by exorbitant housing costs here. This kind of inequity is not an accident; it is a policy choice. Today, we urge this Zoning Commission to take a bold stand for policy that embodies purposeful, intentional development to remedy inequity within this ward.

Thank you,

Margaret Dwyer, on behalf of Ward 3 Housing Justice