ENROLLED ORIGINAL
A RESOLUTION
25-98
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
April 4, 2023
To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to amend the Historic
Preservation of Derelict District Properties Act of 2016 to extend the completion date for
rehabilitation of houses in historic Anacostia.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
act may be cited as the “Historic Preservation of Derelict District Properties Extension
Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2023”.
Sec. 2. (a) Emergency legislation is necessary to allow the L’Enfant Trust to continue to
rehabilitate 2 remaining historic homes in Anacostia for resale as workforce housing.
(b) In 2016, the Council adopted legislation to transfer 4 historic properties held by the
District to the L’Enfant Trust for their rehabilitation and resale at no cost to the District.
(c) As of March 2023, 3 of the 4 properties have been renovated and 2 have been sold.
The Trust is ready to go to closing on the third historic home. The fourth should be completed
within the next 3 years as the Trust continues to identify grants and other resources to complete
the renovation.
(d) This has been a remarkable project with the L’Enfant Trust. The Trust has taken 4
dilapidated and vacant properties that were owned by the District to renovate to historic district
standards and put back into use at no cost to the District.
(e) An extension of the time is necessary for the Trust to complete renovation and sale of
the homes. The underlying legislation would extend the deadline to do this from 5 years
(expiring in 2023) to 10 years (expiring in 2028).
Sec. 3. The Council finds that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute
emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Historic Preservation of Derelict District
Properties Extension Emergency Amendment Act of 2023 be adopted after a single reading.
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.