DC to Revive Downtown With $400M Pitch 

DC officials have unveiled the Downtown Action Plan, a key component of Mayor Muriel Bowser’s five-year D.C. Comeback Plan, aimed at revitalizing downtown, Washington Business Journal reported. The plan, developed since January 2023, proposes various programs, from easing restrictions on multifamily development to implementing new business incentives and public safety measures, with an estimated cost of $401 million, including $39 million for the upcoming fiscal year. 

The plan seeks to address the decline in downtown activity caused by remote and hybrid work trends, aiming to attract more visitors and residents. It includes investments in streetscapes, cultural districts, economic drivers like housing and universities, parks and open spaces, office users, retail, services, and amenities, public safety, transportation, and marketing D.C. as a global learning hub. The plan also suggests regulatory updates, such as a moratorium on the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) for new non-replacement housing downtown, to streamline processes for small businesses and expand incentives.