Restoration Board at Odds with Tommy Wells on Height of Union Station North Development

Restoration Board at Odds with Tommy Wells on Height of Union Station North Development

by Larry Janezich

The Capitol Hill Restoration Society Board of Directors will oppose the proposed height of the planned 14 acre Union Station North development in air space just north of Union Station.  The proposal is to construct a 148 foot structure measured from the H Street Overpass – instead of from the railroad track level (or 1^st or 2^nd Street) as provided by current regulation.  Councilmember Tommy Wells pushed an amendment through City Council to strike the requirement for measuring from track level in order to permit measuring from the H Street Overpass.  This opened the door for a subsequent Zoning Commission decision that the measurement could be from the 30 foot higher Overpass.  The Council-passed amendment will have to be approved by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) and Congress.  The NCPC will consider the Council-passed amendment on January 6.  CHRS will urge NCPC not to approve the proposed change.  The Zoning Commission will hear the Union Station North case later the same day.