COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
OFFICE OF COUNCILMEMBER BROOKE PINTO
THE JOHN A. WILSON BUILDING
1350 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 106
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20004
February 4, 2025
Nyasha Smith, Secretary
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Secretary Smith,
Today, Councilmember Nadeau and I, along with Councilmember R obert White and Councilmember
Anita Bonds, am introducing the Studio Theatre Tax Abatement Amendment Act of 2025. Please find
enclosed a signed copy of the legislation.
In 2009, the Council unanimously passed B18-0204, tax abatement legislation supporting Studio Theatre’s
nonprofit activities—among them, the Apprentice Program. The ten-month Program hosts eleven early-
career arts professionals annually and provides them with on- the-job training, programming, housing,
living stipends, and mentorship. The legislation exempted Studio Theatre properties used for apprentice
and visiting guest artist housing from property taxes for as long as those properties were owned by Studio
Theatre and used in support of the Theatre’s nonprofit activities. In 2021, Studio Theatre sold one of the
exempted properties, 1630 Corcoran St. NW in Ward 2, and purchased another property, 1437 Clifton St.
NW in Ward 1, to replace the sold property as apprentice housing.
This legislation amends D.C. Official Code § 47-1082(a)(2), which lists the lot and square of the sold
property, to instead list the lot and square of the new property. The amendment will be consistent with the
original intent of the tax abatement, which was to exempt the properties used for housing in support of the
Theatre’s non- profit activities. By replacing the previous building used for apprentice housing with the
new building used for the same purpose, the Council will continue to provide Studio Theatre with the
support that the original legislation intended.
I previously introduced an identical version of this legislation in Council Period 25, B25- 0635.
Should you have any questions about this legislation, please contact my Legislative Director , Linn Groft,
at lgroft@dccouncil.gov.
Thank you,
Brooke Pinto
Ward 2 Councilmember 1
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Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau Councilmember Brooke Pinto 4
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Councilmember Anita Bonds Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. 9
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A BILL 14
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 18
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To amend s ection 47- 1082(a)(2) of the District of Columbia Official Code to exempt from 22
taxation certain real property of The Studio Theatre used for housing in support of the 23
nonprofit activities of the theater. 24
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 26
act may be cited as the “Studio Theatre Housing Property Tax Exemption Amendment Act of 27
2025”. 28
Sec. 2. Section 47- 1082(a)(2) of the District of Columbia Official Code is amended by 29
striking the phrase “Lot 0094, Square 179” and inserting the phrase “Lot 0058, Square 2664” in 30
its place. 31
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 32
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 33
impact statement required by s ection 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 34
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1- 301.47a). 35
Sec. 4. Effective date. 36 2
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 37
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30- day period of congressional review as 38
provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 39
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1- 206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 40
Columbia Register. 41