Underutilization of Space and Vacant Retail

**Updated 10/18/2022: Van Ness has a few issues that I think we can solve quite easily through better utilizing the abundant spaces that we have:

1) Housing supply constraints: Housing supply goes up, landlords have a harder time justifying high rents, market rents go down. That is the theory. I look forward to the community learning more as Jair Lynch Realty considers purchasing the Days Inn for redevelopment and using my housing, construction and real estate background to be an asset for the community as the project is planned. I will explore the potential for development of undeveloped land for housing. If potential conflicts of interest arise with the development process due to my employment in the industry, I will recuse myself.

2) Retail Vacancies: I think one of the best things about DC is the diverse small business community. I enjoy patronizing all of the businesses on Connecticut Avenue in Van Ness and want to work to help them flourish in the years to come. I will work with the business community and Van Ness Main Street to help fill vacancies along the corridor both inside and outside of 3F05, taking the community's interests and needs into consideration. Additionally, my interest in working to improve housing density has the potential to improve the stability of the retail market by bringing more customers to regularly patronize the businesses.

3) Underused commercial and educational spaces: I will advocate for community amenities that seek to utilize the unused and underused spaces such as the formerly Whittle School Building and at UDC. I will seek to get approvals for use of these spaces for pop-up shops and events, senior classes, senior and family events and other things that the community may suggest.