The Expanding Downtown Affordable Housing Options Amendment Act of 2025 aims to facilitate the conversion of vacant office buildings into affordable community housing in the District of Columbia. The bill proposes to align the ventilation requirements for affordable housing units with those of market-rate units, allowing bedrooms without windows as long as they meet natural light and ventilation standards. This change is intended to reduce construction costs and challenges associated with office-to-housing conversions. Additionally, the bill establishes a Community Housing Feasibility Grant Program, which will provide grants of up to $75,000 to eligible commercial property owners to conduct preliminary feasibility analyses for such conversions.

The grant program is designed to support property owners whose commercial office buildings have been at least 50% vacant for the past year. Eligible owners must submit an application detailing the scope of work and cost estimates for the feasibility analysis. The bill emphasizes the potential of community housing to address the needs of single-person households in the District, particularly those earning lower incomes. By encouraging the development of community housing, the legislation seeks to expand affordable housing options in the downtown area, leveraging existing infrastructure and transit accessibility.