It's a stretch and would require a great deal of digging, but the DC and local municipal government all own quite a few plots of land that they dispose of through various means. In DC, almost all available government owned land goes through NCRC (National Capital Revitalization Corporation). Typically, they put these out for competitive bid for developers, but occasionally they can identify small parcels unsuited for large development, and you can talk with them about acquiring them. If you're building a "green" house, that certainly fits in with what the DC government envisions in its strategic plan, so it might be worth at least pitching the idea. I have some contacts over there, so if you'd like some help, let me know.

Faraji,

Your idea of approaching city redevelopment agencies is intriguing.

We are trying to find land/property in close-in Montgomery County (Bethesda, Friendship Heights, etc.), and are in the same predicament as everyone else, competing with builders who are snapping up all available lots/teardowns before they ever come onto the market.  So, if you have any similar ideas or contacts for finding land in these Montgomery County areas,  I'd be very interested in hearing them.

Thanks,

Don P.