Local Residents Protest at Park Morton

Park Morton was supposed to be the exception: the idea that the redevelopment of Park Morton could be the District’s example of how affordable housing could be implemented in the city without displacing any of its residents. Unfortunately, most residents and neighbors no longer believe this will be the case.

Yesterday, the Park Morton Residents Council, local organizations such as Empower D.C, and community members coordinated a protest on the property to voice their concerns about the status of Park Morton’s redevelopment and express their ongoing fears about residents being displaced.

Plans for the redevelopment of Park Morton have been a topic of discussion in Ward 1 since as early as 2007.

The original plan for redevelopment included a “build-first” plan. The project’s most significant benefit was the creation of new housing, including public housing replacement units and additional new affordable housing units—consistent with the goals of the Zoning Regulations, the Comprehensive Plan, the New
Communities Initiative, and the Mayor’s Housing initiative.

Bruce Monroe, on Georgia Avenue and Irving Street NW, was chosen as the build-first site for Park Morton residents. Park Morton residents were to be relocated to this site before redevelopment at Park Morton would take place. However, a lawsuit brought forward by Park View residents against the Bruce Monroe development prevented this plan from coming to fruition.

Despite having almost universal approval, on June 25th, 2020, the D.C. Court of Appeals sent the plans for redeveloping the Park Morton complex back to the city’s zoning commission for reevaluation.

This decision has created yet another obstacle for the redevelopment of Park Morton, prompting local residents to organize this past Tuesday’s protest.

“What are your demands?” chanted one of the protesters, while holding a bright yellow sign that read “Black Homes Matter.”

“We demand equity,” responded Shawn High, president of the Park Morton Resident Council. “We demand an equitable and implementable plan. We demand to stop being displaced. We want units at The Wren, or units at Arcade Sunshine. Most importantly, WE WANT TO STAY IN WARD 1. This is our home. And we want to keep it that way.”

When asked if Park Morton residents have received any support from their local Councilmember, Brianne Nadeau, Shawn High said that Councilmember Brianne Nadeau’s office was not very involved at first.

“However, since I and other residents have been directly affected by DCHA’s retaliation, CM Nadeau’s Chief of Staff, Tania Jackson, has been front and center to assist with the battle against DCHA and their illegal serving of Notices To Vacate,” said High. “I appreciate that very much. Tania’s will and good nature is what sustains our fight against DCHA.”

“I would’ve loved to have my Councilmembers full support and acknowledgement on the PMEP (Park Morton Equity Plan),” explains High. “However, I’d be remiss to acknowledge that she recently said in a letter to the press that she will support a ‘modified’ plan, which is saying without saying, ‘We’re moving forward with the PMEP as far as building on the footprint of Park Morton,’ although she really didn’t want to. Her hope was for Bruce Monroe to pan out. It didn’t and this is where we are.”

The protestors hope to see more commitment from local government officials to prevent the displacement of Park Morton’s residents.

“I want my Councilmember to remember that she is a community leader who made a promise to her constituents to provide safe, viable, truly deeply affordable housing as the Chairwoman of the Housing Committee,” said Shawn High. “With all due respect, we need her to standup for us now more than ever. We’re appreciative of the fight that has been done thus far, however, there are more rounds in the ring to be had and we need her backing us wholeheartedly.”

In an official statement shortly after the DC Court of Appeals ruling, Councilmember Nadeau said, “I plan to move forward quickly to enable the construction of a modified Phase 1 of the Park Morton project, a new build-first site on the Park Morton property that does not displace any of the current residents. I am aware of proposals to allow the building currently leasing at 965 Florida Avenue (The Wren) to act as the build-first site for Park Morton, and I am very understanding of the desire to do so. I will be supportive of Park Morton residents who wish to use an individual voucher to live in that building, but we do not have an avenue to claim or reserve portions of that property for use as a fully-fledged build-first site.”

The protestors do not support this plan due to concerns that that Park Morton residents will find themselves stuck in housing that is not affordable.

“I don’t believe this is the best way to relocate families as the HUD budget, DCHA budget, Voucher Budget, E-Rap Budget, and more have all been cut,” explains Shawn High, “which will eventually mean that residents will end up paying more out-of-pocket than expected when the amount of their voucher payment is decreased due to the budget cuts.”

As the city still scrambles to find a solution to the problem, conditions at Park Morton continue to worsen. Maintenance requests flood DCHA inboxes as the building continues to fall into disrepair. Some residents of Park Morton who have since moved or accepted housing vouchers elsewhere in the city say that their relocation is even worse than Park Morton. Some of the affordable housing units are in a state of disrepair while other residents have been placed a great distance away from the nearest grocery store, pharmacy, or metro station. It seems as though that the District’s example of ‘How To Implement Affordable Housing’ has quickly become an example of ‘How NOT To.’

What are your thoughts? Let us know what you think in the comments below!