Category Archives: Uncategorized

Gibbs School Speeds Toward Transition to Charter

“Trojan Charters” Carry Land Uses Beyond What Current Process Contemplates

By Larry Janezich

Gibbs school has been vacant since 2008 and the DC Public School system (DCPS) has determined that it will not reopen the school.  According to DC law, public schools deemed “surplus” by the DCPS must be offered to eligible charter schools before any other private disposition is considered.

This is the “right of first offer,” and the entire process, including the Request for Offers (RFO), takes place within the offices of the DC Deputy for Mayor Education (DME) and does not require the same public notice, meetings, and disposition process involved when a private developer looks to bid on public land for residential and/or retail use.

Right now, the Gibbs school at 500 19th Street, NE, is in the midst of this very process, and disposition of the school is proceeding at breakneck speed.  After an initial September 9 “surplus meeting” seeking public input (held after the decision to declare the property surplus had been made), the DME released a Request for Offers (RFO) on September 19.  A second meeting on October 20 was held to seek public input on responses to the city’s RFO.  There were apparently only two responses to the RFO – the DME did not respond to CHC’s request for a complete list of responses.  The DME has told CHC that they expect to make an award to a charter school organization by the end of November.

The first organization which outlined its proposal to a the community at the October meeting was

“Building Hope.”  They presented a plan to put three charter schools into the building:  an adult charter school to help people earn GEDs, a weekday boarding school for 160 foster kids in grades 5 – 8, and an international middle year’s program for 240 students in grades 6 – 8.  Three separate entrances would accommodate the three programs.  Building Hope anticipates a July 2015 opening and says their plan would cost $23 million.

Friendship Public Charter School also presented its proposal at the October 20 meeting.  It would use Gibbs to expand their existing preK program for kids 2 – 3 at Blow Pierce as well as for a new Diploma Now/GED program for students 16 and older. Two separate entrances would accommodate the programs.  Their plan, they say, would cost $19 million.

Both presentations seemed short on details.

The current procedure for reuse of public schools raises several issues that would seem to point to a flawed process.  Foremost among these is that DC law does not stipulate how much of the proposed use of a public building must be devoted to the charter school in order to qualify for consideration under this particular process.  It says only that the bidder must be a certified charter in good standing to claim access to the “right of first offer” expedited process.

The actual details of occupancy are worked out in the lease for the property which the developer signs with the Department of General Services, which has the final say over how the building is used.  This raises the question of whether charters or their boards might be used as “Trojan charters,” covering for a much more complicated development deal that would otherwise entail a more rigorous set of procedures.

The logic of “first offer” seems clear:  if a school currently built and previously used as such, can be used by another similar organization and in a similar way, then an expedited process makes sense.  Part of the validity of this proposition is that the community is already accustomed to a school use at this site, and so the surrounding the neighborhood would not be disrupted by a new group performing essentially the same function.  In other words, what might be a “functional footprint” remains largely the same under either operation.

Without any standard for how much variance is permitted between previous use as a public school and proposed use for a different set of purposes, there is the potential for creating disruptions in the community as well as the education system.  If the functional footprint varies in some significant way, then it seems clear that the current process is inadequate and does not allow for enough consideration, notice, or input from neighbors and residents.

Some of the ways that neighbors are concerned, and which some feel have not been adequately addressed, include parking, traffic, competition with existing schools which are under-utilized, and coordination with future planned Career and Technical Education programs.  In the case of Building Hope, there seems to have been little consideration given to creating a boarding school for 160 teens and pre-teens in the middle of a residential neighborhood.

Deferring these kind of decisions until after the award also means that there is no role for the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions to play until well along in the process.  This is a significant departure from the procedure that a private developer undertaking a long term lease of a public property would undergo.

The recent and widely reported problems with Options Charter, and the lax oversight from the Public Charter School Board it revealed, does not help to put community concerns to rest. But the DME notes that the process is much improved – that in the past there was only one community meeting and this meeting occurred after the award had been made.

Once the Gibbs award is made the proposed transaction will be sent to City Council for approval – and the Council has final say on whether the school is deemed surplus and whether or not it is leased.  Given the expedited timeline, it is possible that the disposition of Gibbs will be voted on during the final session of the lame duck City Council – and before Charles Allen takes office as Ward 6 Councilmember.

The Week Ahead…and Lower 8^th Street Springs to Life – The Blue Castle

by Larry Janezich

Purchase of Blue Castle by National Community Church Reported to be Imminent

According to the Washington Business Journal, http://bit.ly/1pFJuWj the National Community Church will shortly close on its purchase of the Blue Castle at 770 M Street, SE, and has plans – down the road – to add floors to the structure.  The castle is leased by tenants including a charter school and PSI Services – a social services company.  The church has had long standing plans to build a coffeehouse, theater and child care center on land it owns on Virginia Avenue and 8^th Street, SE, the site of the old Miles Glass Company.

New Restaurant on Lower 8^th Street’s Horizon

According to Barracks Row Mainstreet, the former home of Chicken Tortilla at 1100 8^th Street, SE has been leased to an investor group which has plans to open a new concept neighborhood oriented restaurant in late spring.

And Finally, Progress on the Long-Stalled Lower 8^th Beer Garden

Also according to Barracks Row Mainstreet, the long stalled plan to open a beer garden at 8^th and L – diagonally across the street from the new restaurant above appears to be moving ahead.  Owners announced last week that they expect to break ground shortly with the hope of opening next spring.  The new venue is reportedly named “The Brig.”

The Week Ahead…..

Monday, November 10

ANC6D meets at 7:00 pm at 1100 4th Street SW.

Agenda unavailable at press time.

Tuesday, November 11

Veteran’s Day Ceremony at 11:00am in Folger Park, opposite the Post 8 building on the corner of 3rd and D, SE.  This year’s Veterans Day ceremony will feature a “Top-Gun” officer, a secret surprise for two VIP guests and the welcome return of a favorite attraction.  For more information go here:  http://bit.ly/1oAfYjE

Wednesday, November 12

ANC6B meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center.

Among items on the agenda:

Presentation – Boathouse Row Marina Development

New alcohol beverage restaurant license for Bayou Bakery on the Hill (at Hill Center)

Planned Unit Development (PUD) for 1333 M Street SE, Phase 1.

Report on Vacant and Blighted Houses.

Comments on Mayor Gray’s plan to close DC General Shelter.

Comments on Eastern Market Vending & Soliciting Policy

Wednesday, November 12

ANC6C meets at 7:00pm in Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Avenue NE

Among items on the agenda:

Comments on Streetcar opening date/proposed expansion

NoMa underpass art project, transportation issues

PUD for Union Market residential/retail mixed use project at 1270 Fourth Street, NE, by Edens Realty Inc.  (Up to 520 residential units and nearly 40,000 square feet of ground floor retail in an 11-story building. The project will total 408,000 square feet, not including a four- or five-story underground parking garage with up to 550 spaces.)

Discussion of Stanton Park and homelessness

Thursday, November 13

ANC6A meets at 7:00pm at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th Street, NE

Among items on the agenda:

Change in entertainment hours and addition of Sunday hours for Red Rocks

Alcohol beverage license for Pizza Parts

Entertainment endorsement to license of Impala Cantina y Taquria

Presentation by reps of Touche – potentially taking over the XII Space

Off street parking requirements for daycare business at 1802 D Street, NE

Construction of new dormitory on campus of Gallaudet University

Commissioned Study Recommends Expanding Capitol Hill Historic District North to H Street

AND Creating a New “Capitol Hill East Historic District”

by Larry Janezich

Last night at Maury School, EHT Traceries, an architectural history company hired by the Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS) to study the feasibility of expanding the Capitol Hill Historic District (CHHD), presented its findings to some 60 residents who live in or around the affected area.

The firm made a series of recommendations in a 200 page report to CHRS, including expanding the current CHHD north, nearly to H Street, on the basis that buildings in those areas reflect the same architecture and style as the CHHD.   The report also recommends creation of a new “Capitol Hill East Historic District” to mark the neighborhood’s later 20^th century period of development that separates it architecturally from the older CHHD to the east.

In addition, the report recommends studying properties in Rosedale and Isherwood – two areas which did not develop, according to EHT, in same way as the other historic districts did. Nonetheless EHT Traceries says there are properties here in the mixture of wooden and brick structures that deserve historic designation.

The report also recommends studying the corner stores which are rapidly disappearing from the community, wood frame structures outside Rosedale/Isherwood, and performing a reconnaissance survey on the rest of the Kingman Park neighborhood.

Based upon the data collected and reported to the public last night, Traceries has recommended expansion of the CHHD to the north and north east and the creation of a new Capitol Hill East Historic District (see illustration above).  But the cost of collecting data for the other areas and historically significant structures, as recommended by EHT Traceries, would be expensive and there was no word of funding available to pursue them at present.

The current study was funded by a settlement CHRS reached several years ago with the Louis Dreyfuss Property Group (some $83,000), as mitigation for the demolition of twelve historic buildings in the way of the new Dreyfuss development between H and G and 2nd and 3rd Streets, NE.  Last night, a Traceries representative said the firm would have liked to have studied the area all the way to Florida Avenue, “but there wasn’t the funding.”  For more on CHRS’ efforts to expand the CHHD, see here http://bit.ly/1oovsau and here http://bit.ly/1y9ymQf

The Historic Preservation Office (HPO) representative in attendance last night, Kim Williams, noted the benefits of historic district designation, which include protection of buildings from demolition and inappropriate alteration.  In addition, she said, “the coherent narrative of neighborhoods” is preserved and “its character is maintained in perpetuity.”

The negatives associated with historic district designation, raised in some questions last night, were also alluded to in a list of FAQs distributed by HPO, regarding the length of time it takes for getting a permit for home improvement.  The memo notes that review for major home improvement projects by HPRB – which meets twice a month – is required (the memo fails to mention the additional approval by the ANC which most applicants will want to have before going to HPRB).  In addition, there are restrictions on alterations to the façade of a house, a virtual prohibition on adding floors or any addition which can be seen from public space, HPRB review of hardscaping (walks, driveways, retaining wall, etc.), and restrictions on use of materials to repair or renovate, including windows and front yard fencing.

The HPO representative stressed the process depends on community initiation, usually by a local civic group or the ANC.  Historical data is compiled to justify the designation of a historic district – in this case the work has already been done for the expansion and the proposed new historic district in Hill East.  Community meetings are held by HPO to assess the degree of support for historic district designation, and if a consensus emerges for going forward, the organizers submit documents nominating an area for historic district designation to HPO.  The process up to this point takes a minimum of six months.  Once submitted to HPO it takes three to four months to schedule a presentation before HPRB.  The HPRB generally makes a decision at the same meeting that the nomination is presented and the HPRB regulations for historic districts become effective at that time.

EHT Traceries is scheduled to make two addition presentations on the study:

ANC 6B area: Mon. Nov. 17, 6:45 to 8:30 p.m., Hill Center, 921 Penn. Ave. SE

ANC 6C area: Tues. Nov. 18, 7 to 9 p.m., Northeast Library, 330 Seventh St. NE

For more information, go here:  www.chrs.org.

CSX Tunnel Expansion Moves Forward

Federal Agency Clears Project Over Nearby Residents’ Objections

by Larry Janezich

Tuesday, the Federal Highway Administration cleared CSX to begin applying for permits for expansion of the Virginia Avenue tunnel and gave CSX authority over the streets near the tunnel for the life of the project.  The project is likely to take 3.5 – 4 years and cost $170 million.

The move came after sustained public opposition from nearby residents who will suffer the negative consequences of the construction which is within a stone’s throw of their homes.

Despite concerns raised by some city council members on behalf of the residents and a hint that the council might take action to delay the project pending the results of a study, it seems unlikely that the council will intervene.

Last July, in a sparsely attended Special Call meeting, ANC6B expressed general support for “Alternative 3 – Two New Tunnels” but listed significant concerns which the ANC wanted to see addressed.  These included repaving/reconstruction of Virginia Avenue north of the freeway; establishment of a complaint resolution process and a community advisory group; assurances of completion in 30-42 months; and more information on potential utility disruptions.

CSX has offered $500,000 in mitigation funs to residents of ANC6B and ANC6D affected by the construction and ANC6B recommended that CSX seek a mechanism for distribution of those funds which will not involve the ANC which cannot legally fill that role.

The ANC passed the endorsement for the project by a vote on 6 – 0.

See the CHC post on that meeting here:  http://bit.ly/1oNi1xE

The FEIS and a fact sheet are available at www.virginiaavenuetunnel.com

Alberti Loses ANC6A Seat – Election Results for Capitol Hill ANCs

by Larry Janezich

ANC6A Chair Nick Alberti , a 12 year veteran commissioner, lost his seat to challenger Matt Levy by a vote margin of 34% to Levy’s 61% in Tuesday’s election.  Alberti was not the only incumbent to lose his seat, but his loss was perhaps one of the most unexpected.  In other news, ANC6B elected seven freshman commissioners – all as the result of vacated seats because of retirement or resignation.  ANC6B had the greatest number of contested seats (five) among all Ward 6 Capitol Hill ANCs.  ANC6A had three contested seats, while ANC6C and ANC6D had one each. (For complete results at the DC Board of Elections, go here:  http://bit.ly/1Aea9hf )

The winners (in bold) of the elections in ANC6A, ANC6B, ANC6C, and ANC6D are as follows:

ANC6A

ANC6A01 –

Omar Mahmud, (incumbent) X

Raphael V. Marshall

Andy Clark

ANC6A02 –

Phil Toomajian X

ANC6A03 –

No Candidate.  Write in vote winner to be announced. 

ANC6A04 –

Nick Alberti, (incumbent)

Matt Levy X

ANC6A05 –

Dan Allen

Patrick A. Malone X

Hassan Christian

ANC6A06 –

Todd Sloves

Stephanie Zimny X

ANC6A07 –

Sondra Phillips-Gilbert, (incumbent – unopposed) X

ANC6A08 –

Calvin Ward, (incumbent – unopposed) X

ANC6B

ANC6B01 –

Jennifer E. Samolyk (unopposed) X

ANC6B02 –

Diane Hoskins X

Gerald Sroufe

ANC6B03 –

Claudia Holwill

James M. Loots X

Kelly Vielmo

ANC6B04 –

Kirsten Oldenburg, (incumbent – unopposed)  X

ANC6B05 –

Steve Hagedorn X

Ellen Opper-Weiner

Carl B. Reeverts

ANC6B06 –

Nick Burger X

Anthony Cassillo

ANC6B07 –

Daniel Chao (unopposed) X

ANC6B08 –

Chander Jayaraman, (incumbent – unopposed) X

ANC6B09 –

Brian Flahaven, (incumbent – unopposed) X

ANC6B10 –

Peter Gould

Kathryn Denise Rucker Krepp X

ANC6C

ANC6C01 –

Daniele Schiffman, (incumbent – unopposed)  X

ANC6C02 –

Karen Wirt, (incumbent – unopposed) X

ANC6C03 –

Scott Price, (incumbent – unopposed) X

ANC6C04 –

Mark Eckenweiler, (incumbent – unopposed) X

ANC6C05 –

Mark Kazmierczak, (incumbent)

Chris Miller X

ANC6C06 –

Tony Goodman, (incumbent – unopposed)  X

ANC6D

ANC6D01 –

Marjorie Lightman (unopposed) X

ANC6D02 –

Stacy Cloyd, (incumbent – unopposed)  X

ANC6D03 –

Rachel Carroll, (incumbent – unopposed)  X

ANC6D04 –

Andy Litsky, (incumbent – unopposed)  X

ANC6D05 –

Roger Moffat, (incumbent – unopposed)  X

ANC6D06 –

Rhonda Hamilton, (incumbent – unopposed)  X

AMC6D07 –

TD Stanger

Josh Hart

Meredith Fascett X

The Week Ahead…Massive Union Market Project Goes Before ANC6C Committee Wednesday

by Larry Janezich

Monday, November 3

ANC6C Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee meets at 7:00pm at Capitol Hill Medical Center/Kaiser Permanente, 700 2^nd Street, NE.

Among the items on the agenda:

New application for a Class C Tavern license for Sixth and H Street Bar and Grill, 523 H Street, NE.

Renewals for L Street Market, The Corner Market, Harris Teeter, Capitol Hill Market and Travel Trader.

Monday, November 3

CHRS Historic Preservation Committee meets at 6:30pm in Kirby House, 420 10th Street, SE.

Tuesday, November 4

Election Day.  For more information, go here:  http://www.dcboee.org

Wednesday, November 5

ANC6B will hold a Special Call meeting at 7:00pm in St. Coletta of Greater Washington to consider commenting on the disposition of Parcels F-1 and G-1 of the Hill East District Redevelopment (Reservation 13).  The meeting will immediately precede the scheduled Planning & Zoning Committee meeting.

Wednesday, November 5

ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee will meet following the Special Call meeting (as above) in St. Coletta of Greater Washington.

Among items on the agenda:

Revisions in the Historic Preservation application for the concept for new construction at 900 11^th Street SE – Madison Investments’ 49 Unit Condo Building

Historic preservation application for new rear accessory building at 750 9^th Street, SE.

Historic Preservation application and Special exception from zoning regulations to allow addition to one-family semi-detached dwelling at 213 11th Street, SE.

Special exception from zoning regulations to allow a rear addition to flat at 438 New Jersey Avenue, SE.

Special exception from zoning regulations to allow a second story addition to rear portion of 131 Kentucky Avenue, SE.

Variance from zoning regulations to allow addition to existing one-family semi-detached dwelling at 15 Brown’s Court, SE.

Variance from zoning regulations to allow construction of rear addition to one-family row dwelling 510 Independence Avenue SE.

Zoning map amendment for Planned Unit Development PUD at 1333 M Street, SE.

Wednesday, November 5

ANC 6C Planning, Zoning, and Environment Committee meets at 7:00pm in Capitol Hill Medical Center/Kaiser Permanente, 700 Second Street, NE.

Planned Unit Development (PUD) Application from EDENS LLC in support of review and approval to re-zone 1270 4th Street, NE.  In total, approximately 420 to 520 residential units (containing approximately 368,400 gross square feet of residential space) with approximately 39,600 gross square feet of retail will be created as a result of this project. The project will contain a total of approximately 408,000 gross square feet, and have a height of 110 feet. The project is scheduled to go before the Zoning Commission on December 18.  For more see here:  http://bit.ly/1EbMdth  and here http://bit.ly/1xQbOns

Application for Special Exception from zoning regulations to allow an addition that increases the gross floor area of an existing building by more than 50% on a lot that has 6,000 square feet or more of land area at 646-654 H Street, NE.  (Multifamily residential and retail project – for more see here:   http://bit.ly/1txbxqC

Application for window replacement at Imani Temple, 609-611 Maryland Avenue, NE

Historic Preservation application for two story rear addition at 610 A Street, NE

Application for special exception from zoning regulations to allow rear addition to an existing one-family row dwelling at 650 Massachusetts Avenue, NE.

Application for rear and roof addition at 645 Maryland Avenue, NE.

Wednesday, November 5

Expansion of the Capitol Hill Historic District:  The Capitol Hill Restoration Society will sponsor a series of public meetings to present a case for expanding the Capitol Hill Historic District.  The first of these – concerning ANC6A area – will be held from 6:45 – 8:30 pm, Maury Elementary School multipurpose room, 13th and Constitution Avenue, NE.  For more information, see here:  http://chrs.org/beyond-the-boundaries-anc-6a/

Thursday, November 6

ANC6B Alcohol Beverage Committee meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center.  Among items on the agenda:

New restaurant license for Bayou Café at Hill Center.   

Renewals for Yes! Organic Market, Harris Teeter, DCanter, P&C Market, Congress Market, The Radici, and S.E. Market.

Thursday, November 6

ANC 6C Transportation and Public Space Committee meets at 7:00pm at Capitol Hill Medical Center/Kaiser Permanente, 700 2nd Street, NE.

Among items on the agenda:

NOMA Underpass Art Project: Discussion of current and upcoming transportation issues and projects at the underpasses, and how this proposed project may affect these.

Unit Block of E St NE Bike Lanes – Consider DDOT proposal to add bike lanes to one-block stretch on E Street between North Capitol and Massachusetts Avenue as a means to link 1st Street, NE, cycletrack facility at Columbus Circle to existing bike lanes that extend from North Capitol west to 13^th Street, NW.

Thursday, November 6

PSA 107 will meet at 7:00pm in Southeast Library.

Residents Decry Open Air Drug Market In Front of DC General Homeless Shelter

Hill East Task Force Laments Lack of Progress on Closing Shelter

by Larry Janezich

At a meeting of ANC6B’s Hill East Task Force on Thursday night, Chair Brian Flahaven updated the 20 or so attendees on the (lack of) progress on the Mayor’s plan to close DC General’s homeless shelter by next fall.

It’s unlikely that many Hill East residents have ventured across 19^th Street, SE, onto the campus comprised of a huge complex of buildings that makes up DC’s social services center.  One who has is Hill East activist Jim Myers, and Myers told those present that they should consider the possibility that “they’ll never close the shelter.”  He said that the city had to make a choice – that the concentration of city services and the number of people in need of service such as you find on Reservation 13 is unsustainable for DC.  In support of his contention that the city pays scant attention to the campus or cares about what happens there, he pointed to the long-standing open air drug market operating within steps of the newly constructed playground for children housed in the shelter.

The concerns about the drug market was backed up by a Hill East Task Force member who said she had observed the drug market in operation at 11:00am a few weeks ago, “right next to the homeless shelter, the playground, and the federal government building preparing inmates for release on parole.”  She suggested bringing in MPD and the Department of General Services Protection Services.  Flahaven agreed that it was past due time to send them a letter.

Addressing the progress on closing the shelter, Flahaven summarized the Mayor’s planned two prong approach:  1) an open-ended search for several 40 – 50 unit shelters in the private sector, and 2) a search for existing city facilities which can be converted into shelters.

The need is to replace the shelter’s 288 units for about 1,000 people; as Flahaven pointed out, the actual need is probably greater, since those figures count only the units in the current shelter.  An article by Pamela Constable in today’s Washington Post quotes Dora Taylor, spokeswoman for DC DHS, as saying the DC General shelter is now only half full, but the article notes that with the advent of the hypothermia season, the city will be soon overwhelmed with trying to place an estimated 840 families.  The article also reports that CM Jim Graham says only a total of 409 spaces are currently available.  Flahaven warned that the community needs to be on guard against any attempt to increase the current maximum capacity of DC General while trying to close it.

Flahaven’s criticism of the Mayor’s plan was twofold:  If the plan is to close the shelter by next fall (he called this a very optimistic time frame) there should be a deadline on private sector Requests for Offers (RFOs).  Second, he said, there seems to be no current talk of locating existing city facilities which could be used to house the homeless currently residing at DC General.  Flahaven cited the need to identify one or two locations to achieve momentum on the effort, and said that Hill East residents should be willing to step up and have one of the mini-shelters on Reservation 13 to “send a message.”  He expects ANC6B to be open to the idea, and would move on that once the closing of DC General was well on track.

He also noted that the city is spending “a ton of money” to upgrade conditions in DC General in the aftermath of the disappearance of Relisha Rudd and said that the money could be repurposed to support new shelters.  Flahaven said he would take a letter to the city expressing these concerns to the November meeting of ANC6B, and would continue to make these issues a priority for the Hill East Task Force.

Reservation 13 Developer Sees Ground-Breaking in mid-2016 for Residential Retail Project

Two Year Construction Period Anticipated

by Larry Janezich

Wednesday evening, Larry Clark, Vice President of Donatelli Development, told Hill East residents and stakeholders that Donatelli/Blue Skye hopes to break ground in mid-2016 on the mixed use buildings proposed for two Reservation 13 parcels adjacent to the Stadium Armory Metro at 19^th and Massachusetts SE.

In September of 2013, DMPED awarded the proposal to develop the two city-owned parcels to the Donatelli Development/Blue Sky Construction team.  The proposal is for a mixed use project, built as a matter of right (no Public Unit Development (PUD) process required), with the following features:

Total Apartment Units: 354

248 Market Rate Units

106 Affordable Housing Units (30% of total)

53 Units at 30% of AMI

53 Units at 60% of AMI

Approx. 20,000 – 40,000 SF of ground floor retail

Approx. 222 parking spaces

Village square – a green community gathering place

Last night, Clark revealed that access and unloading difficulties have thus far precluded the attempt to place a large grocery in the project but that a boutique grocery outlet is a possibility.

The next step in the process is declaring the property surplus – i.e., no longer of use to the public – which requires City Council approval.  Wednesday night’s meeting to receive public input on surplusing the properties is required by the process prior to a City Council vote.

Fewer than a dozen residents attended the meeting.  The only concerns raised had to do with seeking assurances the land could not be re-purposed should DC win the Olympics bid, as well as assurances that the city receives value for turning over the properties to the developer in exchange for forfeiting land value and use of the property.  DMPED is in the process of having the properties appraised, and the results will be made public upon completion.

The period of public comment on declaring the pieces surplus will end November 10.  Comments may be emailed to DMPED project manager Ketan Gada here:  ketan.gada@dc.gov

Legislation in the form of a “surplus package” will be forwarded to the City Council along with a “disposition package” both requiring Council approval in December.  There could be an additional public meeting if the Council sees fit and there will be a public meeting prior to the disposition of the properties.

Remarking on potential retail for the project, Clark said “Donatelli/Blue Skye is committed to finding as exciting retail as possible.”

Asked about how the project will be financed, Clark replied that funding is being sought in the capital markets.

Ketan Gada of DMPED suggested to Clark that it would be a good idea for Donatelli/Blue Skye to appear before the ANC6B and ANC7F in a month or two to provide an update, and Clark agreed to do so.

The DMPED website for the project is here:

http://dmped.dc.gov/page/hill-east-district-redevelopment