Hill East Development/Reservation 13 Update

October 22, 2012

Attendees at the Oct. 17 DMPED RFEI Pre-Response Conference get a brief tour of parcels F1 & G1 at Reservation 13.

Two weeks ago, the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) released a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for Phase I of the Hill East District Redevelopment at Reservation 13. Last Wednesday, I attended DMPED’s Pre-Response Conference on the RFEI at the Department of Corrections Training Academy on the Reservation 13 site. View DMPED’s conference PowerPoint presentation.

Here is a brief recap of key points made during the meeting:

  • As expected, the RFEI is limited to Parcels F1 and G1, the two parcels adjacent to the southern entrance of the Stadium-Armory Metro. The two parcels are currently used as parking lots.  As expected, the RFEI does not include language giving the development team selected for phase I the right of first refusal to negotiate development rights for the remaining parcels on the site.
  • Developers are clearly interested in the project. Around 60 or so individuals packed the room during the conference. A number of developers and development partners that bid on the original project in 2008 attended Wednesday’s conference.
  • DMPED repeatedly emphasized that development should be consistent with the DC Council approved and neighborhood supported master plan. The plan calls for mixed-use retail and residential on F1 and G1.
  • DMPED also highlighted that the RFEI calls for the creation of a “Village Square,” a vibrant mixed use area surrounding the Metro plaza. Retail would be clustered around this square.
  • The development team selected will be responsible for extending Massachusetts Avenue, C Street, Burke Street and widening a small portion of 19th Street. The roadways will extend as far as the eastern border of F1 and G1. I’d like to see the city proceed with construction of the full Massachusetts Avenue SE extension during phase I.
  • Not surprisingly, DMPED prefers responses that do not seek nor require the DC government to fund or subsidize any portion of the development. The city would like the winning development team to build the project without taxpayer dollars.
  • Developers responding to the RFEI will have to submit two proposals. One proposal (Proposal A ) must comply with all of the affordable housing regulations applicable to the site, including the Anacostia Waterfront Corporation Reorganization Act of 2008 (AWI Act). The second proposal (Proposal B) can provide an alternative number of affordable housing units, a number that the bidding development team feels can be supported on the site without government subsidy. The AWI Act requires up to 30% of the total housing units be affordable, with 15% affordable to households earning up to 30% of the Area Median Income and 15% affordable to households earning up to 60% of the AMI. If a developer’s Proposal B is ultimately selected, it may require DMPED to ask the DC Council for a waiver from the AWI Act requirements.
  • The RFEI submission deadline is January 7, 2013. DMPED will review all submissions and identify a short list of preferred development teams. Teams on the short list will present their plans to ANCs 6B and 7F in February, at which point DMPED may ask the short list to submit best and final offers. DMPED’s goal is to select the developer in spring 2013.

Overall, I’m pleased to see the process finally moving forward. Please post your comments or questions below.

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

Speed Camera Coming to 17th Street SE

October 17, 2012

The new portable speed camera will be identical to this model used by MPD crews this afternoon to mark the camera’s future location.

After a long wait, a speed camera is finally coming to the “17th Street Speedway!”

This afternoon, I met with Lisa Sutter from MPD’s Traffic Safety Automated Enforcement Unit and her crew as they marked the future location of a portable speed camera on 17th Street SE. The camera will be located on the west side of the 300 block of 17th Street SE and will measure speed as vehicles approach the intersection of 17th and D Streets SE.

For years, Hill East residents have complained about vehicles speeding down 17th Street SE. Last November, ANC 6B sent MPD a request to install a speed camera along the corridor, but installation was delayed as MPD worked out the details of contract to secure new photo enforcement technology and waited for DC Council approval. Earlier this month, the DC Council approved the contract.

A few more details about the speed camera:

  • MPD hopes to have the the camera installed and in operation by November 1.
  • The speed limit is 25 mph along 17th Street SE, so motorists will be ticketed if they exceed 35 mph.
  • The camera box will look exactly like the box located at 19th Street SE and Burke Street SE.
  • For the first thirty days it is in operation, speeding motorists will receive warnings. In addition, photo enforcement signs will be added to the speed limit signs posted prior to the camera.
  • MPD does plan to periodically rotate the location of the portable speed camera.

The announcement of a speed camera comes on the heels of DDOT’s announcement that they plan to narrow the corridor to one lane, introduce a dedicated bike lane and install curb extensions at intersections along 17th  between East Capitol Street SE and Potomac Avenue SE. Since DDOT’s recommendations will not be implemented until 2014, the speed camera should help slow traffic  down on 17th Street SE over the next two years.

Thanks to MPD for their decision to place a camera on this dangerous street, my ANC 6B colleagues for unanimously supporting the request and, most importantly, the many residents along 17th who have fought for years to improve safety along the corridor.

Leave a Comment » | 17th Street SE, Transportation | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

ANC 6B October Meeting Recap

October 10, 2012

Around 40 people attended last night’s ANC 6B meeting at the Hill Center. Here is a brief recap of the commission’s major actions:

  • ANC 6B unanimously approved sending a letter (pdf) to the Zoning Administrator asking that construction on a new two-story commercial building at 1442 Pennsylvania Avenue SE (the old KFC site) be allowed to begin without further Board of Zoning Adjustment Review (read more about the rationale for this request). A big thanks to the residents who waited patiently through a long meeting agenda to weigh in on this request and to all who posted comments or sent me e-mails. I’m hopeful that our letter will be persuasive with the Zoning Administrator.
  • On an 8-0-1 vote, the Commission passed a resolution (pdf) supporting closure of the 300 block of 7th Street SE on Saturdays and Sundays during construction of the Hine School development. Closure of the street is necessary since construction will displace the flea markets currently operating on the Hine parking lot. I voted in support of the resolution.
  • Though the notice was extremely late, the commission voted unanimously to support the route for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk taking place this weekend in DC. Walkers will begin on Friday morning at RFK Stadium and will return that evening to RFK. A Komen representative said that the walkers will obey traffic signals and that volunteers will be positioned at key intersections to ensure that traffic can proceed.
  • ANC 6B voted 9-1 to support sending a letter to District Department of Transportation Director Terry Bellamy asking why ANC 6B has not been properly notified of Public Space Committee actions regarding a fence built on public space at 768 13th Street SE. The commission has previously voted in support of removing the fence from public space. I voted in support of sending the letter.
  • The commission unanimously voted to support a grant request (pdf) by the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop for its proposed “Two Views” project. The project involves images that would be projected from two upstairs windows at CHAW’s building at 7th & G Streets SE. CHAW is requesting a grant from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
  • Requests by La Plaza restaurant (629 Pennsylvania Avenue SE) to increase its occupancy load and extend its hours of operation and hours of alcohol sales/service/consumption were unanimously approved by the Commission. La Plaza is adding another floor of seating at its current location. Owner Henry Mendoza did sign a voluntary agreement with the Commission.
  • ANC 6B voted 6-1-2 to support sending a resolution (pdf) to congressional leaders opposing the planned across-the-board budget cuts (a.k.a. “sequestration”) scheduled to take effect in January 2013.  The Mayor’s Office is requesting that each ANC in DC pass such a resolution. Given the potential negative consequences that sequestration could have on DC and my overall dislike of across-the-board cuts, I voted in support of the resolution.
  • DC Fire & EMS Chief Kenneth Ellerbe provided an update on his department’s activities. He reminded attendees that Fire & EMS will provide and install free smoke alarms to DC residents. If you are interested, you can request a smoke alarm online or by calling 202-673-3331.
  • ANC 6B’s November meeting will be on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 7 pm at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE).  

Leave a Comment » | ANC 6B | Permalink
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

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