Equity Residential announces that it plans to transfer ownership of 3003 Van Ness

Equity Residential today placed Notices of Transfer of Ownership Interest in front of the apartment doors of residents of 3003 Van Ness, announcing that it plans to transfer ownership of the building to the new company that will be formed as the result of Equity’s planned merger with AvalonBay Communities. Residents were largely suprised and puzzled by the meaning of the announcement.

3003 Van Ness is actually owned by Smith Property Holdings Van Ness, a limited partnership. Equity owns layers of companies that ultimately own Smith. Equity tells the tenant association that the proposed transfer of ownership interests in 3003 Van Ness is just a formality.

However, the Notices of Transfer distributed to residents today actually is announcement that Equity is claiming an exemption from the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act, a DC law which states that a tenant association generally must be given an opportunity to purchase an apartment property before it is sold.

The Van Ness South Tenants Association plans to study the Notice of Transfer to see if the proposed transfer actually qualifies for an exemption from TOPA.

Read Equity Residential’s June 10, 2026 Notice of Transfer of Ownership Interest.