Two miles north of the White House, Columbia Heights boasts a diverse population, a growing business core and a blossoming restaurant scene. But it’s also a neighborhood in transition. As housing prices rise, young professionals are moving in, while some long-time residents and businesses can’t afford to stay. Kojo in Your Community explores the debates over public space, personal safety and mapping the future in changing neighborhoods like this one.
LEDC Director of Affordable Housing Preservation Farah Fosse was one of three panelists in Part One of the community conversation exploring issues related to public space, diversity, and housing affordability in Columbia Heights.
“With more taxes, we should be able to address [housing, shelters and homeless services] better,” Fosse said. “As people are coming into DC, become a registered voter here, become a resident of DC, which not everyone does, and support progressive policies that support making sure that everyone has a home.”
