Omnibus Housing Act Signed by the Mayor At Edgewood Terrace in Ward 5

On January 8, 2002, the Council unanimously passed the Housing Act of 2002.
Ward 5 Representative, Councilmember Vincent B. Orange, Sr. witnessed the
signing of the Housing Act of 2002 at Edgewood Terrace , an 800 unit mixed
income community development on Saturday March 9, 2002.  The legislation is
designed to preserve affordable housing, develop vacant and abandoned
buildings and build more housing for people of all incomes.  The Mayor,
Anthony A. Williams credited "the constructive dialogue among the members of
the Council, housing advocates, developers, civic leaders and community
partners," with contributing to the passage of the bill.

The Act will increase the quality and quantity of affordable housing in the
District by:
1) Protecting existing affordable housing and reducing displacement;
2) Converting vacant and dilapidated buildings into new housing; and
3) Promoting new housing for people of all incomes.

In addition, the Act will generate $14.8 million of taxes over the next 10
years, help build and rehabilitate 4,300 housing units for very-low, low and
moderate income families and preserve 2,700 units of affordable housing in
the District.  Further, the bill will create more than 740 construction jobs
per year over the next 10 years