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.

Leave a Comment » | Barney Circle, Penn East, Potomac Avenue Metro, Transportation | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

Hill East Task Force Recap: Latest on Reservation 13 Development

November 27, 2012

Around 25-30 residents attended last night’s ANC 6B Hill East Task Force meeting at St. Coletta of Greater Washington. The main topic of discussion was the status of the Request for Expressions of Interest for Parcels F1 & G1 on Reservation 13. Ketan Gada from the Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development’s (DMPED) office provided the task force with an update on the RFEI and answered a number of great questions. Here are the highlights:

  • Gada outlined key aspects of the RFEI – the response deadline (Jan. 7, 2013), response requirements and DMPED’s timeline. He noted that the RFEI requires developers to submit two proposals – one that complies with the full affordable housing requirements on the site (30 percent) and an alternative proposal with the number of affordable housing units the development team feels can be supported on the site without government subsidy (minimum of 13 percent). DMPED’s handout (pdf) and my Oct. 22 post provide additional details on the RFEI.
  • DMPED plans to review all proposals received on Jan. 7, eliminate any non-responsive proposals from consideration and ask development teams to present their plans to ANC 6B and ANC 7F in February. After receiving ANC and community feedback, DMPED will either select a winning development team or narrow the list and ask finalists to submit Best and Final Offers. DMPED’s goal is to select a development team by spring 2013.
  • Gada said that DMPED anticipates receiving 3-5 proposals from development teams. When evaluating proposals, DMPED will consider past experience with the development team, compliance with applicable laws, community feedback, green building requirements and any requests for government subsidy. Not surprisingly, DMPED prefers development proposals that do not seek District subsidy or funds.
  • The District is offering Parcels F1 & G1 “as is,” which means that the winning development team will be responsible for infrastructure requirements, including partial street extensions of Massachusetts Ave. SE, Burke Street SE, C Street SE and the full build out of the “Village Square” around the Stadium-Armory Metro plaza. Gada said the street extensions would be public streets and that the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) does not have funding to complete full extensions of the street at this time. I expect the District will have to fund some of the  Massachusetts Avenue SE extension since it would be the main point of access to the DC Jail.
  • Besides funding, Gada said the National Park Service’s ownership of the Anacostia waterfront land may also prevent construction of the full Mass Ave. extension in the near future. The “Monument Circle” envisioned as the termination point of Mass Ave would actually be located on NPS land, and NPS has been unwilling to sell or lease the land to DC. Monument Circle is the only portion of NPS land that is “touched” in the master plan – the rest would continue to be green space. However, DDOT has proposed constructing “Park Drive,” a roadway that would connect Independence Ave, the newly constructed Monument Circle and a newly reconstructed Barney Circle. This proposed roadway is a really bad idea, particularly since it would block Reservation 13 and the neighborhood from the waterfront.  In any event, NPS still needs to be convinced that leasing or selling the their waterfront land to DC is a good idea.
  • The task force and attendees raised concerns about the piecemeal nature of the development and whether DMPED or anyone in DC Government would provide appropriate oversight to ensure that the full vision of the master plan is realized. Gada said that compliance with master plan is required in the RFEI and that development teams would have to comply with the form-based zoning and design guidelines approved for the site. Ultimately, the ANC and the surrounding neighborhood will have to play an active role in ensuring that DC government, DMPED and the development teams are following the master plan.
  • Once construction at F1 & G1 is underway, Gada said that DMPED plans to issue RFEIs for parcels along the proposed Mass Ave. extension and then move north towards Independence Avenue. Of course, further RFEIs would be contingent on DC government relocating a number of the shelters, services and clinics currently operating at DC General. Gada said that DMPED is talking with the Department of General Services and other relevant agencies about relocating their services. Gada could not provide a definitive timeline for future RFEIs.
  • When asked about the status of the deteriorating Anne Archbold Hall, the only building on the site that is a historic landmark, Gada said that the Department of General Services recently sent out an inspection team to determine what needs to be done to stabilize the building and prevent further damage. DGS plans to use available funding to repair the building’s roof and replace damaged windows.

Please post your comments, questions or anything I missed below.

6 Comments | Development, Reservation 13/Hill East Waterfront | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

Monday Quick Takes: Barney Circle, Potomac-Penn, Zoning Update, Hill East Task Force, Leaf Collection

November 19, 2012
  • This weekend, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) 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. The Barney Circle project envisions the creation of a full traffic circle that would connect to the new Southeast Boulevard south of Pennsylvania Avenue. And DDOT is studying a number of alternatives to improve pedestrian safety around the Pennsylvania-Potomac Avenue intersection, the current location of the Potomac Avenue Metro plaza. DDOT’s press release  states that the agency will hold a public meeting to discuss the environmental analysis in the first quarter of 2013. I’ll post the meeting date as soon as it is announced. 
  • DDOT wasn’t the only agency with news this weekend. The DC Office of Planning announced that the agency is holding community meetings in each Ward to discuss draft proposed changes to the District’s zoning ordinance. The Ward 6 Zoning Update Community Meeting will be on Saturday, Dec. 8 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, 1100 4th Street SW, Second Floor (same building as Safeway). During the meeting, attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback. ANCs across the city, including ANC 6B, will also have an opportunity to formally weigh in on the proposed changes over the coming months.
  • ANC 6B’s Hill East Task Force will hear an update on the Request for Expressions of Interest for parcels F1 and G1 at Reservation 13 on Monday, November 26, 7 pm – 8:30 pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington (1901 Independence Avenue SE). The task force will also discuss topics for future meetings. Please plan to join us and bring your questions!
  • A reminder that the Department of Public Works’ (DPW) will be collecting leaves in our area starting today and ending on Friday, Dec. 1. Please be sure to rake leaves into the treebox or easement in front of your home. DPW will also collect leaves in our area between Dec. 17 and Dec. 29.

Leave a Comment » | ANC 6B, Barney Circle, Development, Reservation 13/Hill East Waterfront | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

DMPED To Update Hill East Task Force on Reservation 13 RFEI

November 16, 2012

Mark your calendars! During the  Monday, November 26 ANC 6B Hill East Task Force meeting, Ketan Gada and Jose Sousa of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development’s (DMPED) office will provide the task force and community with an update on the current Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for parcels F1 and G1 at Reservation 13. Developer responses to the RFEI are due on Monday, January 7, 2013.

The Nov. 26 ANC 6B Hill East Task Force meeting will be from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington (1901 Independence Avenue SE).

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

ANC 6B November Meeting Recap

November 14, 2012

The District Department of Transportation’s 17th & 19th Street Safety Improvement Project recommendations were on the agenda of last night’s ANC 6B meeting at the Hill Center. Here is a brief meeting recap:

  • Michelle Pourciau of  McKissack & McKissack, DDOT’s consulting partners on the 17th & 19th Street Safety Improvement Project, provided a brief overview of the project’s recommendations and answered commission and audience questions. Ms. Pourciau confirmed that DDOT plans to extend the 17th Street SE recommendations to the 700 & 800 blocks of 17th Street SE and clarified that the goal is to have all of the recommendations implemented by spring/summer of 2014.
  • I asked Ms. Pourciau about the installing a raised crosswalk at the intersection of 17th Street SE and E Street SE, a major pedestrian crossing and the point where one lane of traffic will split into two lanes. She replied that DDOT did consider that option but determined that the raised cross walk would be too close to the traffic signal at 17th and Potomac Avenue SE to be effective. Ms. Pourciau did say that DDOT will look into other options for the intersection.
  • After the DDOT presentation, ANC 6B unanimously approved a resolution (pdf) in support of the project’s recommendations. The resolution also includes three requests for DDOT:
    • Include the 700 & 800 blocks of Kentucky Avenue SE when implementing the project’s 17th Street SE safety recommendations,
    • Examine ways to discourage drivers from using the turn lane as a passing lane at the intersection of 17th Street SE and E Street SE,
    • Install appropriate pedestrian crossings at the intersections of 19th and C Streets SE and 19th and Burke Streets SE where pedestrians cross to access the Stadium-Armory Metro plaza and St. Coletta of Greater Washington
  • The commission voted 9-0-1 to withdraw a protest of Ambar (523 8th Street SE – formerly Jordan’s 8) after the owners agreed to sign a voluntary agreement. The original basis for the protest was commissioner and resident concerns about the potential for noise coming from the establishment’s elevated outside patio. Ultimately, commissioners felt the new voluntary agreement, which outlines how the owners will work to reduce sound coming from the patio, was sufficient to address the concerns.
  • Given the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board’s unwillingness to enforce the commission’s stated position on banning the sale of two-packs and three-packs of beer, the commission voted 9-1 to rescind its position. Moving forward, ANC 6B plans to push for bans on the sale of two-packs and three-packs on a case-by-case basis.
  • On an 8-0-1 vote, the commission supported a resolution introduced by Commissioner Neil Glick (6B08) requesting that the intersection in front of the Embassy of Bulgaria (1621 22nd Street NW) be renamed in honor of Bulgarian hero Dimitar Peshev. ANC 2D, which represents the area where the intersection is located, has already voted in support of the resolution.
  • I announced that ANC 6B’s Hill East Task Force will meet on Monday, November 26, 7:00 pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington (1901 Independence Avenue SE). Ketan Gada and Jose Sousa of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development’s (DMPED) office will provide an update on the Request for Expressions of Interest for Phase I of the Hill East Waterfront/Reservation 13 development.
  • The December ANC 6B meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 11, 7 pm at the Hill Center.

Thanks to everyone who attended meetings and weighed in on the 17th & 19th Street Safety Improvement Project. When implemented, the project’s recommendations will certainly improve safety along these two corridors.

1 Comment | 17th Street SE, 19th Street SE, ANC 6B, Reservation 13/Hill East Waterfront, Transportation | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

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