How Historic Inequity Shapes D.C.’s Transit-Oriented Development

In one part of a Greater Greater Washington series that explores the history of transit-oriented development (TOD) in the Washington, D.C. region, George Kevin Jordan outlines the ways that TOD can perpetuate existing inequities. “Today, with unaffordability and displacement in many cities at a crisis level, policymakers and activists are wondering how to ensure the benefits of TOD are more equitably distributed.”

Jordan points to changes that occurred under the administration of Mayor Anthony Williams, who took office in 1999 and “was laser-focused on bringing the city back to its former glory by building back trust, stability, and reliability within government.” As part of his plan, Williams strove to bring real estate investors back to the District and build better transit. “The District’s transformation into an in-demand city had ripple effects on many different types of growth in the region, including transit-oriented development.”

As walkable, transit-oriented neighborhoods became more desirable, housing costs rose and older residents were pushed out. “Between 2000 and 2013, about 40 percent of the city’s lower-income neighborhoods experienced gentrification, according to a 2019 study by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition.” The same report claims that more than 20,000 Black residents were displaced during that time. “Meanwhile, not only were residents living East of the Anacostia River not seeing much TOD, they were also dealing with disproportionate social and economic issues,” creating “an uneven set of opportunities for families and businesses.”

The next article in the series will highlight Arlington, “one of the pioneers in TOD, and how its success has complicated and informed the work to achieve equitable transit-oriented development.”