Big turnout, lots of questions for Reservation 13 developers

Part of the large gathering at the Hill East Citizens’ Association’s meeting on May 23 at St. Coletta’s.  Near neighbor Carolyn Coppege is far left. ANC 7F Commissioner Shirley Thompson Wright has the mike. Nkosi Bradley stands beside her.  Photo:  Hilary Russell

Reservation 13 is in ANC 7F, most of which lies east of the Anacostia River.  Neighbors in Hill East are in ANC 7D. The blue dot on the map marks the location of new buildings.

Big turnout, lots of questions for Reservation 13 developers

by Hilary Russell

Posted May 29, 2023

On Tuesday, May 23, many Hill East residents and Ward 7 ANC commissioners turned out for a meeting at St. Coletta’s with two developers of Reservation 13, the 67-acre site where the DC General Hospital was located.  The host was the Hill East Citizen’s Association, formed during last year’s Wards 6/7 redistricting debate to “cut through the political upheaval and come together as a neighborhood and community,” as co-founder Nkosi Bradley stated.  He and neighbor Shane Seger promoted the meeting with emailed flyers and door-to-door visits.  An almost full house heard presentations on the large projects awarded to two R-13 developers – Community Partners (a team of eight developers) and Donatelli/Blue Skye Development. 

Former Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander and Evens Charles of Frontier Development & Hospitality Group (a component of Community Partners) outlined their $564-milion Phase II project, which encompasses 1,120 rental and co-living apartments, a 150-room hotel, 60,000 square feet of retail, 126 condos and townhomes, and “multigenerational” park spaces.  The team is finalizing land disposition agreements and infrastructure design and hopes to break ground late next year.

Blue Skye’s “Scottie” Irving referenced two recently completed Phase I buildings – the Ethel and Park Kennedy – and acknowledged that filling the Ethel’s 10 thousand square feet of retail space has been “tough.”  Two restaurants – Sala Thai and an Irish pub – in the Park Kennedy building should open by the end of August.  Irving said his team is providing 1063 residential units and 700 parking spots in total and that construction of a third building – the Coretta – will begin in about 13 months.  His team is also extending 20th, 21st, and 22nd Streets, thereby reducing the traffic flow on 19th.

Alexander and Irving fielded numerous questions, including several on the following topics:

• Parking. Plans anticipate 330 underground parking spaces under the retail space – none under the hotel – and 400+ bike spaces. A lively discussion ensued, led by long-time, Burke Street resident Carolyn Coppedge.  She is convinced that residential streets will attract more vehicles than costly underground parking and averred that an unprecedented number of vehicles lacking DC tags already park on her street and complicate egress to 19th Street, SE.  Others expressed parallel concerns about the impact on residential streets of the hotel’s projected valet-parking services.
• Community benefits agreement. In response to a statement that ANC 7D would like to be brought into this process, Alexander said that “legally speaking” the negotiation would only be with ANC 7F but “we will keep you updated.”  Nkosi interjected that creating a conversation between those legally responsible and the community was “a driver behind this effort.”
• The Anacostia River Park and Trail. Access to the river and trail from the RFK “fairground” area is “dicey,” said Will Middleton. He and other neighbors wanted to know what is being done to improve access to the Anacostia River and Trail and whether these key amenities, owned by the federal government, appear in a R-13 master plan.  Charles responded that his team is hoping to obtain a small parcel of federal land needed by the design team to connect to the river and extend one of its parks.  Alexander referenced a letter to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on this issue and offered to provide a copy to attendees so “we can lobby together.”
• Co-living units. Alexander explained that co-living units are 3-to-4 bedroom units whose occupants will share the cost of rent.  Common Property Management will manage these units, projected to attract unrelated people:  students, the military, and people working temporary jobs.
• The 150-room hotel. Projected to be a Marriott, it is positioned for “whatever comes” to the RFK site, which is a designated events space.  Its location does not presuppose an NFL stadium.

As time ran out for more questions, Bradley stated that the Hill East Civic Association aims to be an ongoing forum where neighbors can continue to express their concerns, find answers to questions, and make suggestions.  Additional issues brought up at the meeting included the addition of a free municipal parking lot, an ombudsman who receives and forwards complaints related to construction (such as cracks in nearby homes and invading rodents), and a web page that posts up-to-date news on Reservation 13 and neighbor feedback.

The Hill East Civic Association has not yet incorporated or stood up a board but has already filled a clear need:  informing and giving voice to the diverse community living in the area bounded by 15th Street, SE, East Capitol, SE, and the Anacostia River.  Its stated mission goals and objectives include:

• a clear and unified voice on the impact and/or contribution of local and federal economic development decisions to the general welfare of the Hill East community.
• active community engagement in arts and entertainment.
• public education resources that serve the community’s resident children and families.
• strategies and resources that serve the needs of resident seniors.

For CHC’s post on the timeline for R-13 Phase II Development, go here:  https://bit.ly/3HRNIX3