Press Release For Immediate Release July 2, 2002 Developers Pre-Qualified to Bid on Vacant and Abandoned Properties in DC (Washington, DC) The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development today announced that 21 developers are pre-qualified to bid on vacant and abandoned properties through the new Home Again Initiative. Launched by Mayor Anthony Williams in January 2002, the Initiative was designed to promote the development of approximately 4,000 blighted properties that litter the District. The administration has made available to the pre-qualified developers 57 properties in six bundles. In order to compete for the purchase of the bundles, pre-qualified developers must submit proposals to purchase the bundles by the beginning of August. The Initiative is continuing to gain site control of properties in five targeted neighborhoods: Columbia Heights, Shaw/LeDroit Park, Near Northeast, Ivy City/Trinidad and Rosedale. These neighborhoods were selected because they have some of the highest concentrations of vacant properties. The Home Again Initiative will begin development of 150 single-family homes by October 2002 and 250 homes by October 2003. "I am confident that these developers will convert these eyesores into new homes," said Eric Price, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. "These public-private partnerships are a key resource to the Mayor's neighborhood revitalization efforts." The Initiative helps convert the vacant and abandoned properties into new homes through a three-step process: Developers are pre-qualified to bid on the properties based on their response to the Request for Qualifications (RFQ). After the first round of developers has been selected, the Initiative will reopen the pre-qualification process for a second round of bidders. Pre-qualified developers will bid on the bundles of properties. The Initiative will select bids based on the scope, quality, and costs of construction of the properties, as well as the final sales prices of the properties. Developers must renovate the properties within one year. They will sell the properties to new home owners and ensure that at least 30 percent of the units are available to low- and moderate-income families. The First 57 Properties in Six Bundles* Developers Pre-Qualified to Participate in the Home Again Initiative* Home Again Cost Proposal: Response to Questions* * This document is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF). A PDF reader is required for viewing. Download a PDF Reader or Learn More About PDFs