DC General Building 9 to Be Demolished

June 10, 2014

During a June 5 Zoning Commission hearing, representatives from the DC Department of General Services testified that the city plans to demolish Building 9 on the DC General campus and that DGS, working with the Mayor’s Budget Office, had identified the estimated $2 million needed to raze the building this coming year.

As I wrote in a previous post, the city is relocating the Harriet Tubman Women’s Shelter from Building 9 to Building 27 on the DC General campus. The relocation is due to hazardous and unsafe conditions in Building 9, particularly in the 85 percent of the building not used by the shelter. Since Reservation 13 is zoned to conform with the Reservation 13 master plan, the city needs to get zoning relief to allow the shelter relocation to happen.

Originally, the Office of Planning sought a text amendment that would have allowed shelter use permanently in either Building 9 or Building 27 (not both) and referenced the Department of Human Services’ plan to move the shelter back to Building 9 once renovation was complete. In a May 14 submission to the Zoning Commission, ANC 6B objected to the text amendment and urged the Zoning Commission to require OP to seek a time-limited special exception to allow the temporary shelter use. ANC 6B also urged the Zoning Commission and city to signal intent to demolish Building 9.

After consulting with DGS, DHS, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and reviewing ANC 6B’s comments (pdf), the Office of Planning revised their text amendment to limit the use to Building 27 for period of 5 years. Though I testified (pdf) on behalf of ANC 6B for the special exception, the Zoning Commission approved OP’s revised amendment. While this was not exactly what we wanted, adding a time limit was big move in our direction.

Though getting a time-limit included in the text amendment was a big news, the bigger news was the DGS announcement that the city plans to raze Building 9 this coming year once the women’s shelter is relocated to Building 27. The demolition of Building 9 opens up the northern third of the Reservation 13 site (parcels B1, B2 and C) for development and certainly signals the city’s commitment to the Reservation 13 master plan. Overall, a good outcome for both the residents of the women’s shelter and for the development vision for the site.

I really appreciate DGS, DHS, DMPED and OP’s willingness to revise their original text amendment and find funding to raze Building 9. I’m also appreciative that the Zoning Commission agreed to include a time-limit on the temporary use in Building 27. And, finally, I’m grateful to my colleagues on ANC 6B for supporting  a strong position on this issue and to former ANC 6B Commissioner Ken Jarboe for sharing his expertise and advice on the zoning issues at hand.

You can watch a replay of the June 5 Zoning Commission hearing on the Office of Zoning website.

1 Comment | Development, Reservation 13/Hill East Waterfront | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

The Right Approach to Relocating the Women’s Shelter at DC General

May 23, 2014
Current and proposed location of Harriet Tubman Women's Shelter on DC General Campus. Diagram from DC Office of Planning's prehearing statement.

Current and proposed location of Harriet Tubman Women’s Shelter on DC General Campus. Diagram from DC Office of Planning’s prehearing statement.

The DC Department of General Services needs to move residents out of the current Harriet Tubman Women’s Shelter in DC General’s Building 9 to Building 27. Why? The city has determined that Building 9 is in extremely poor condition and poses potential safety and health hazards, particularly in the unoccupied areas of the building (only 10 percent of the large building is currently used for the shelter). Building 27, which used to house the offices of the city’s chief medical examiner, has been recently renovated and abated. DGS plans to temporarily house up to 100 women in the portion of Building 27 previously used as office space. DCist has a nice recap of the May 8 community meeting where DGS outlined the relocation plans.

Before DGS can begin the process of moving the shelter, the city needs to seek zoning relief to allow the move to happen. The DC General campus is located on Reservation 13, a site with zoning for mixed-use development consistent with the city-approved Reservation 13 master plan. The existing shelter uses on the site – the women’s shelter and the emergency family shelter in the core building – are not permitted under the site’s Hill East District zoning but were grandfathered in when the zoning was approved in 2009.

At the request of DGS, the DC Office of Planning is seeking a text amendment (pdf) to the Hill East District that would allow for a temporary emergency shelter serving up to 100 residents at either Building 9 or Building 27 but not both. OP argues that the text amendment would allow the relocation to happen while ensuring that the shelter use is limited to one building or the other. The Zoning Commission will consider OP’s text amendment request during a June 5 hearing. The Zoning Commission already approved the requested change on emergency basis set to expire in July.

The problem with OP’s text amendment is that it permanently changes the Hill East District zoning, potentially allowing an inconsistent use to exist in Building 9 or Building 27 in perpetuity. Why does the city need to permanently change the Hill East District zoning for a temporary relocation?

Fortunately, the Hill East District zoning already includes a process by which the city or any applicant can seek a special exception to temporarily allow a use that is inconsistent with the zoning. In our letter to the Zoning Commission (pdf), ANC 6B outlines two options the city can use to seek the zoning relief needed through the special exception process. We also argue that any ruling should make it clear that the women’s shelter should not be permitted to move back to Building 9 and that the deteriorating, unsafe building should be demolished (DGS has stated publicly that they have no plans to renovate the building).

Of course, I’d prefer that the city have an actual plan to find better, safer housing options for residents of both the women’s shelter and the temporary emergency family shelter at DC General. Unfortunately, temporary uses tend to turn into permanent uses at Reservation 13, which makes it all the more critical that any zoning changes are temporary and not permanent.

Leave a Comment » | Reservation 13/Hill East Waterfront | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

ANC 6B May Meeting Recap

May 16, 2014

We had a packed agenda and full house for ANC 6B’s monthly commission meeting on May 13. Here is a brief recap of the major actions.

  • The commission voted 9-0-1 to send comments (pdf) to the DC Department of General Services on their planned Request for Offers for the Eastern Branch Building (261 17th Street SE). The comments included feedback received by ANC 6B’s Hill East Task Force at two April community meetings on the topic. DGS is currently working to schedule a public hearing on the building and plans to issue the RFO this summer. Thanks to all who attended the meetings and weighed in on the future of this important building.
  • On the relocation of the Harriet Tubman Women’s Shelter at DC General, ANC 6B voted 9-0-1 to send a letter (pdf) to the Zoning Commission opposing the city’s request to permanently change zoning on Reservation 13. Instead, the commission supports the city seeking a special exception to allow the shelter to move from Building 9 to Building 27. A special exception would keep the existing zoning in place and would allow the Zoning Commission to put a time limit on the use. I plan to write a separate post on the shelter relocation issue soon.
  • ANC 6B voted unanimously to support the public space permit application for outdoor seating at Curbside Cafe (257 15th Street SE).
  • The commission voted 8-0-2 to oppose a fast food special exception request for &Pizza, a local restaurant chain that wants to open a location at 405 8th Street SE (currently Oxx0 Dry Cleaners). However, the commission also voted to support the owner’s request to delay his Board of Zoning Adjustment hearing to allow more time for negotiation. I was one of the abstentions on this vote. While I understand neighbor concerns about the number of fast food restaurants and rodent problem on the 400 block of 8th Street SE, &Pizza would be a welcome addition and would not contribute to the rodent problem like some existing tenants on the block. I’m hopeful that a compromise can be reached.
  • After a back and forth between the owner, commissioners and neighbors, the commission voted unanimously to approve a new settlement agreement with Nooshi (524 8th Street SE). The new agreement will allow the restaurant to seek permission to serve food/drinks on its elevated outdoor patio deck.
  • The commission voted 10-0 to support sending comments to the District Department of Transportation on its new policy regarding private use/improvements of pocket parks. ANC 6B wants to ensure that DDOT policy protects open space and provides ANCs an opportunity to review permit applications for private improvements to triangle and pocket parks. The Capitol Hill Corner blog has more background on the pocket park controversy.
  • A request for a fast food special exception for the vacant commercial space at 1400 Pennsylvania Avenue SE was withdrawn from the ANC 6B agenda by the owners of New York Pizza (1401 Penn Ave SE). The owners, who plan to expand their operations, have asked for a delay in the case.
  • ANC 6B’s June meeting will be on Tuesday, June 10, 7 pm at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Ave SE).

2 Comments | ANC 6B, Eastern Branch Building, Reservation 13/Hill East Waterfront | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

*UPDATED*Hill East Cases on May 13 ANC 6B Agenda

May 13, 2014

ANC 6B will be discussing and voting on a number of Hill East cases during tonight’s full commission meeting, 7 pm at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE). Here is a brief rundown:

  • Sidewalk Cafe Application for Curbside Cafe – The owners of Curbside Cafe (257 15th Street SE) are seeking a public space permit to allow outdoor seating at their location. I fully support this application ANC 6B’s Planning & Zoning Committee unanimously recommended approval of the application and it will be on the commission’s consent agenda.
  • Fast Food Special Exception for 1400 Penn Ave SE – The owners of New York Pizza (1401 Pennsylvania Ave SE) are seeking to expand their operation across the street to the vacant commercial space at 1400 Pennsylvania Ave SE. To do so, they need to ask the Board of Zoning Adjustment for a fast food special exception. Assuming the owners can address the trash, delivery and other concerns of nearby neighbors, I’m still puzzled why NY Pizza would seek to operate the same restaurant on both sides of Penn Ave. I hope to get some answers tonight. This case will likely be considered in the 7:45-8:15 pm time frame.
  • Relocation of Women’s Shelter at DC General/Reservation 13 – Due to environmental and safety concerns, the city needs to relocate the Harriet Tubman Women’s Shelter from Building 9 to Building 27 on the DC General campus. To allow this to happen, the Office of Planning is asking the Zoning Commission to approve a text amendment (pdf) to the Hill East District zoning (the zoning code that exists for Reservation 13). I’m going to encourage my colleagues to oppose the text amendment and instead urge the Zoning Commission to approve a time-limited special exception to allow the move. I’d also like to see demolition of Building 9 clearly stated in the final order. This case will likely be considered in the 8:45-9:00 pm time frame.
  • Comments on Planned Eastern Branch Building RFO – The commission will consider final comments to the DC Department of General Services on the planned Request for Offers for the Eastern Branch Building (261 17th Street SE). The comments reflect the community feedback ANC 6B’s Hill East Task Force heard during our two April community meetings. This case will likely be considered in the 9:00 pm hour.

Updated 5/13/14 1:00 pm – The applicant for the fast food exception for 1400 Pennsylvania Avenue SE has withdrawn the case from tonight’s agenda. This may move up commission consideration of the DC General and Eastern Branch letters.

Leave a Comment » | 15th Street SE, ANC 6B, Development, Eastern Branch Building, Penn East, Reservation 13/Hill East Waterfront | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

Community Meeting on DC General Women’s Shelter Relocation

May 7, 2014

The DC Department of General Services is holding a community meeting tomorrow night (Thursday, May 8), 7:00 pm at the Southeast Library (403 7th Street SE) to discuss plans to relocate the existing 100 occupant women’s homeless shelter at DC General Building 9 to Building 27. Representatives from the DC Department of Human Services and the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development’s office will also be in attendance to take questions.

On June 25, the Zoning Commission will consider ZC 14-03, an amendment to the Hill East zoning code to allow for the relocation of the shelter. ANC 6B will consider submitting formal comments on the case at our next full commission meeting on Tues., May 13, 7 pm at the Hill Center. You can read more by visiting the DC Office of Zoning website and searching for ZC 14-03.

Leave a Comment » | 19th Street SE, Reservation 13/Hill East Waterfront | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

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