We've seen the effects of downzoning right here in DC. Here's an article from @peterodrigue.bsky.social on the downzoning of Lanier Heights.
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You too, @giantfood.bsky.social!

Fortunately the answer is simple - allow more homes all over DC!

Even today, Chevy Chase NIMBYs are battling an effort to build income-restricted affordable homes along with a state of the art library and civic center. Fortunately most DC residents - even most people in Ward 3 - believe we need more housing!
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Even when the mayor set explicit housing goals for different areas of DC, the wealthiest, most exclusionary areas of the city basically ignored them.
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And make no mistake - these housing types are illegal in most of DC!

Here's a map from @zoningatlas.bsky.social showing how many of the wealthiest part of the city have walled themselves off from needing to provide housing.

It's also a fiscal boon to the city - $1.2B over ten years. And the DC government doesn't have to spin up a new program or spend any money. All we have to do is legalize it!

Instead of incentivizing huge mcmansions in Ward 3, we could allow some rowhomes, a housing type DC is famous for. This would create more affordable, achievable pathways to homeownership for young families wishing to call DC home.

We know how to make housing more affordable. We just need to do it.

Also this kicker holy hell

Also a good write-up of what respondents said in each forum, like this writeup of the hearing that we livetweeted extensively.
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Here's the breakdown of the DMPED comments specifically. They line up pretty well with polling GGWash conducted last year on housing in DC, which found broad support for building more homes.