Strategy in Action

Tool: Relocation Assistance and Right-to-Return Policies

In 2019, the Council of the District of Columbia passed legislation to help keep small businesses in place in the Anacostia Historic District and ensure their future right to return by mandating certain commercial lease terms. Anacostia is a predominantly Black neighborhood in D.C. that is currently facing gentrification. Many small businesses in the area are Black-owned.The legislation provided grant funding for small business tenants to purchase their building when it went up for sale. The three tenants were initially unable to pay the $2 million asking price for the building, but the city grant allowed Check It Enterprises, a clothing store that serves as an LGBTQ+ cultural hub, to purchase the property and sublease to We Act Radio, a longtime radio station focused on social justice, and District Culture, a shoe and clothing store that has deep cultural ties within the community. The legislation mandates fixed-rate rent for the two subleasees and the right to renew their leases. Both businesses are also granted the right to return to the property if the building is redeveloped or construction temporarily displaces them. As of January 2025, all three businesses are still in place.