More Info on Upcoming Barney Circle-SE Boulevard, Penn-Potomac Projects

December 3, 2012

Two weeks ago, the District Department of Transportation announced that environmental planning studies are underway for the Barney Circle-Southeast Boulevard and the Pennsylvania-Potomac Avenue intersection projects. The studies will help DDOT determine how best to design these two projects to increase pedestrian safety and traffic connectivity.

A number of residents have asked me for additional information about these two projects. Unfortunately, DDOT’s Anacostia Waterfront Initiative website does not include proposed plans nor drawings. The best renderings I’ve been able to find are included in DDOT’s 200+ page  2005 Middle Anacostia River Crossings Transportation Study (MAC Study). I’ve pulled out the sections of the study that relate to each project and posted them below with a few thoughts:

  • Barney Circle Project – DDOT recommends Option BC-2 in the MAC Study, which would make Barney Circle a true traffic circle with a connection to the new Southeast Boulevard. Traffic traveling on Pennsylvania Avenue in both directions would have to travel around the circle. 17th Street SE and Kentucky Avenue SE would connect to the circle, though Kentucky Avenue would remain one-way going north. One controversial aspect of the this plan is connecting the new circle to the proposed “Park Drive” – a road that would extend the existing RFK service road to Independence Avenue SE. As I mentioned in a previous post, this road is a really bad idea, particularly since it would divide Reservation 13 from the waterfront. MAC Study Barney Circle Project (pdf).
  • Southeast Boulevard – DDOT is in the early stages of construction on the new Southeast Boulevard, a four-lane divided stretch of road that will connect the new Barney Circle with the new 11th Street Bridge freeway access. While the MAC study proposes a number of options, including the construction of a raised deck, DDOT has decided to raise the grade of the sunken freeway between 11th Street SE and Barney Circle and convert it to the boulevard. It is unclear if 13th, 14th and 15th Streets SE will connect to the boulevard or if the boulevard will only connect 11th Street SE and Barney Circle. MAC Study Southeast Boulevard (pdf).
  • Pennsylvania-Potomac Avenue Intersection – DDOT proposes to make the Potomac Avenue-Pennsylvania Avenue SE intersection a traffic oval. Pennsylvania Avenue traffic would proceed around the oval and new cross walk locations and a median crossing area would enhance pedestrian safety. While the MAC study envisions two “decorative crosswalks” that would cross the middle of the circle, making it easier for pedestrians to access the metro plaza and Jenkins Row, DDOT removed the proposed east-west cross walk in plans presented to ANC 6B in 2009. MAC Study Potomac-Penn Intersection (pdf).      

DDOT plans to hold a public meeting to discuss the Barney Circle and Potomac-Penn projects in early 2013. ANC 6B will also have an opportunity to weigh in on DDOT’s recommendations. I’ll post new information as it is released.

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Posted by bflahaven

ANC 6B To Consider Request to Bypass Further BZA Review on Old KFC Site

October 8, 2012

During Tuesday’s ANC 6B meeting, Commissioner Jared Critchfield (6B06) and I will ask our ANC 6B colleagues to support sending a letter to the Zoning Administrator urging him to allow construction to begin at the old KFC site (1442 Pennsylvania Avenue SE) without further Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) review.

Why are we making this request? In 2008/9, ANC 6B supported and the Board of Zoning Adjustment approved Douglas Development requested variances from floor area ratio requirements, rear yard requirements and off-street parking requirements for a two-story commercial building on the site. At the time, Douglas signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with nearby neighbors that outlined agreed upon uses, construction timelines, etc. View the 2008 plans (pdf).

While Douglas would like to proceed with construction under terms of the 2009 BZA Order (pdf), the firm’s updated plans (pdf), which include design changes to the building facade, may trigger an additional round of review by the BZA. The BZA review process could delay construction of the building by 6 months or more.

Given that Douglas is:

  • requesting the same variances as they did back in 2008 (FAR, rear yard, parking)
  • committing to abide by terms of the MOU with nearby neighbors, and
  • only changing the facade of the building (and changing it for the better, in my opinion),

Commissioner Critchfield and I believe that a letter from ANC 6B could help persuade the Zoning Administrator to allow construction of the building to proceed without requiring another round of BZA review. The request would only apply to BZA review – Douglas would still have to get appropriate permits for construction.

Since this is a late breaking addition to ANC 6B October agenda, please post any feedback or comments below, or contact me directly. You can also attend ANC 6B’s October Commission meeting tomorrow night (Tues., 10/9), 7 pm at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE). I expect the letter to be considered during the 8 pm hour.

7 Comments | Development, Penn East | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

Friday Updates: Reservation 13, KFC Site, Dead Man’s Run

October 5, 2012
  • Yesterday, the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development’s (DMPED) office released a Request for Expressions of Interest for development of parcels F1 and G1 on Reservation 13/Hill East Waterfront. Development teams must submit responses by Monday, January 7. I’m working with my ANC 6B colleagues and DMPED to schedule a community meeting to update residents on the RFEI process and timeline. I also plan to post some additional information on the RFEI soon.
  • At a neighborhood meeting last night, Paul Millstein of Douglas Development said the company hopes to begin building a two-story retail/office building at the old KFC site (1442 Pennsylvania Avenue SE) in the next 60 days. Construction would take 4 months and Douglas would seek tenants once the building is finished. Millstein shared updated plans (pdf) for the building and said that a planned roof deck would be limited to the Pennsylvania Avenue side. Douglas Development is also  trying to determine whether or not they will have to re-appear before the Board of Zoning Adjustment to request variance relief for the project, which would delay construction (they originally sought and were granted relief from BZA for a two-story retail building at the site two years ago). Since the only change is in the design of the facade, Commissioner Jared Critchfield (6B06) and I will ask our colleagues at next Tuesday’s ANC 6B meeting to send a letter to the Zoning Administrator encouraging him to allow the project to move forward without additional BZA review. If you have any questions or concerns about the updated plans, please contact me.
  • I’m looking forward to participating once again in the Dead Man’s Run 5K tomorrow (Sat., Oct. 6), 6 pm at Congressional Cemetery (1801 E Street SE). If you haven’t registered, I encourage you to do so by visiting the Congressional Cemetery website. All proceeds go towards the preservation and maintenance of the cemetery. Hope to see you there!   

1 Comment | ANC 6B, Congressional Cemetery, Development, Penn East, Reservation 13/Hill East Waterfront | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

Meeting Tonight on Plans for Old KFC Site

October 4, 2012

The Old KFC building at 1442 Pennsylvania Avenue SE is no more.

Douglas Development will present their plans for the old KFC site (1442 Pennsylvania Avenue SE) at an informal meeting tonight (Thurs., Oct. 4), 6:30 pm at New York Pizza (1401 Pennsylvania Ave. SE). As I mentioned in an earlier post, Douglas plans to build a two-story retail/office building on the site. Please bring your questions and concerns to the meeting.

See you this evening!

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Posted by bflahaven

*UPDATED* Revised Plans for Old KFC Building, Demo Begins Tuesday

September 24, 2012

The old KFC building at 1442 Pennsylvania Ave. SE.

Some new information on the old KFC building at 1442 Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Douglas Development plans to begin demolition of the building on Tues., Sept. 25 and start construction on a new building in the next 2-3 months. Instead of the four-story mixed-use retail/residential building reviewed by ANC 6B in 2011, Douglas plans to build a two-story retail/office building.

The updated plans envision a total of almost 11,000 sq. ft. of retail space with additional space on the building roof. It is unclear from the plans if the roof would be used for a roof deck or other purposes. Loading and trash pick-up would be off of 15th Street SE with a main entrance at the corner of 15th and Pennsylvania Avenue SE. From the drawings, it appears that the entrance for the second floor retail/office would be off Pennsylvania Avenue SE. The architect, Antunovich Associates, is the firm that designed the “Market Commons” in Clarendon.

I’m working with my colleague Commissioner Jared Critchfield (6B06) and neighbors to schedule a meeting for residents to ask questions of Douglas Development. Since the previous commission approved plans for a two-story retail development 3-4 years ago, Douglas does not need additional review from ANC 6B nor approval from the Zoning Commission or the Board of Zoning Adjustment to begin construction.

Please post your thoughts on the old KFC building/new plans below.

Update 9/26/12:  The meeting is set. Douglas Development will discuss their new plans on Thursday, Oct. 4, 6:30 pm at New York Pizza (1401 Pennsylvania Avenue SE). Also, crews have been clearing and removing debris out of the interior of the KFC building.

1 Comment | Development, Penn East | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

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