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To the DC government: I am very concerned about the situation of Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU) owners who were integrated into various market-rate condo buildings throughout Northwest DC. Some of these owners are now paying condo fees that are double what they were paying 3 or 4 years ago, resulting in condo fees that are often over 50% of these owners’ monthly mortgage payments. In fact, one Kenyon Square owner’s condo fees are almost more than his mortgage payments. As these fees continue to rise, an enormous cost burden is placed on these low and moderate-income families. These ADU owners have been put in an impossible situation due to poor City planning and overtly restrictive policies. These families want to continue living in their homes, but due to the rising condo fees, many of them will have to sell. However, the City-imposed resale restrictions on these ADUs require the owners to sell to prospective buyers at certain Area Median Income categories. Due to the high and rising condo fees, many buyers in these income categories would not qualify for the units. Compounding the issue even further for those owners who cannot sell their units, renting out their homes is not an option either. If ADU owners are allowed to rent out their units, which varies depending on the condo building, the City-imposed rental restrictions force them to rent their units at prices that are lower than the monthly costs associated with owning units. The current and escalating situation has left many ADU owners with no other option besides future foreclosure or taking the City to court. Affordable homeownership is supposed to provide stability and opportunity for families, not instability and financial ruin. Please honor the City’s promises to these responsible DC residents by finding an equitable solution to the problem the City has created. My neighbors deserve better and our City can do better.

Housing Advocacy Team (http://hatdc.org)

See the Housing Advocacy Team at http://hatdc.org.