Council Approves Stadium Bill, Awaits Mayor's Signature

The DC Council unanimously approved the District of Columbia Soccer Stadium Act of 2014 on second reading earlier today, which sets things in motion toward building a new stadium for DC United at 2nd and R streets on Buzzard Point. If things go as planned, the stadium will begin construction before the end of 2015 and will open in time for the 2017 MLS season. The city will use a combination of borrowing and a land swap to pay for its portion of the stadium, which covers land acquisition, environmental remediation and infrastructure improvements. One obstacle that is still left is how the city will acquire a two-acre parcel in the stadium footprint owned by Akridge. Since the land swap for the Reeves Center has been removed from the legislation, the city will need to purchase the parcel, by eminent domain if necessary. 

The road leading to this vote was a long one. Chatter about DC United’s interest in Buzzard Point first surfaced during the Great Recession in 2009, after plans to build a stadium at Poplar Point fell apart. DC United has been looking for a new home; the team currently plays at RFK Stadium, an aging multipurpose venue that lacks the intimacy or upgrades that are found in modern soccer-specific stadiums. Akridge’s 100 V Street parcel was eyed as a potential stadium location. At the time, Akridge was marketing the nine-acre site as a secure office complex for a federal tenant, but there was little interest from office tenants. Then in 2011, a land swap was proposed with Akridge, but not for a soccer stadium – it was to swap land in Hill East that houses the DC Jail for the 100 V Street parcel to build a new jail; however, this proposal never moved beyond the discussion phase. 

Several sites around the city were considered by DC United for the stadium, but ultimately Buzzard Point won out. Mayor Gray and DC United team owner Jason Levien signed a term sheet in July of 2013 to locate a new, 20,000-seat stadium on a portion of the 100 V Street parcel on Buzzard Point. Other landowners in the stadium footprint include Pepco, Super Salvage, and Washington Kastles owner Mark Ein. In the agreement, the city would contribute about $150 million for land acquisition and infrastructure improvements while the team would pay $150 million to build the stadium. In addition to the stadium, the team plans to eventually build a hotel and some retail space within the stadium footprint. Legislation was introduced to the Council last spring and a series of hearings were held over the summer and early fall. Some components of the deal announced last year have changed, including the Reeves Center land swap and some of the tax incentives offered to the team, but most of the deal’s original terms have remained intact. A Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) was added to the Council legislation at the behest of the CBCC and other local organizations, which includes restoration of Circulator service with an extension to Buzzard Point; funding for improvements to Randall Recreation Center; and a workforce intermediary to connect ANC 6D residents with stadium-related jobs. A separate CBA will be signed with DC United. 

This largely industrial section of Southwest will likely be transformed as a result of the stadium. An Urban Design Framework draft for Buzzard Point released by the Office of Planning over the summer will inform and guide public and private development decisions in the area for the next 10 years. The new stadium’s location, less than three blocks southwest of Nationals Park, will facilitate the creation of a stadium district in the area, since Potomac Avenue will link the stadia. There is the potential for over 10 million square feet of development on Buzzard Point, including up to 4,000 residential units, a maritime museum, marinas, and an esplanade along the Anacostia River. 

Next up: DC United will need to go before the Zoning Commission in 2015 to get approval for the stadium’s design.  Vamos United!

Renderings courtesy of DC United and DC Office of Planning

Soccer Stadium Vote Today, Buzzard Point Panel Tonight

The DC Council will be taking their first vote today on legislation to approve construction of a new stadium for DC United at First and R streets on Buzzard Point, also known as the District of Columbia Soccer Stadium Development Act of 2014. The proposed legislation has changed from the Mayor’s proposal such as the removal of the Reeves Center land swap. In order to make up for the proceeds that would have been gained from the land swap with Akridge, the city will need to borrow about $62 million out of $150 million to pay for land acquisition. The legislation will also permit the use of eminent domain if necessary to purchase the Buzzard Point land. The WaPo also states that a proposed sales tax abatement of $7 million for the team has also been scrapped. Meanwhile, the CBCC continues to work on including a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) for those living closest to the stadium site in the legislation, although the final asks will likely be scaled back from their draft CBA. The group has been meeting with representatives from DC United and Council members to work on which components of the CBA can be included. Today’s Committee of the Whole meeting will be held today at 10am at the Wilson Building and the legislation meeting will be at 11am. Watch the meetings live.

On a related note, the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly will host a panel discussion this evening on Buzzard Point development and preservation. Moderating the panel will be former ANC 6D commissioner David Garber. According to Hill Now, panelists will include ANC 6D commissioner Rhonda Hamilton, founder of Dupont Underground Julian Hunt, director of the Anacostia Watershed Society Jim Foster and historian Hayden Wetzel. The meeting will be held at MPD’s First District headquarters at 101 M Street, starting at 6:30pm. 

Rendering courtesy of DC United

Latest on Buzzard Point Soccer Stadium Proposal

At Tuesday night’s soccer stadium Open House, representatives from the District government, DC United, and developer Akridge had a series of information stations covering different aspects of the proposal, such as transportation and planning. This Open House follows the forum hosted by SWNA back on September 15. Over the summer, a series of plans and studies have been conducted for the stadium proposal and surrounding Buzzard Point neighborhood, including a Special Events Study, a Transportation Management Plan, and the Buzzard Point Urban Design Framework. Here’s what we now know about the proposal: 

The Stadium 

The District and DC United propose a $300 million, 20,000-seat soccer stadium at 2nd and R streets in Buzzard Point, about two blocks southwest of Nationals Park. There is a chance that in the final design, the number of seats at the stadium could decrease to 18,000. The District will contribute up to $150 million in a series of land swaps with Akridge and Pepco, as well as infrastructure improvements needed for the stadium site; a tax abatement will be provided to the team over a period of 20 years. The land swaps will allow the District to provide a subsidy for the stadium without breaching the debt limit cap placed on the city. DC United will contribute the remaining $150 million to build the stadium.

Major League Soccer’s season lasts from March to November and most of DC United’s home matches occur on weekend nights. Once the stadium opens in the Spring of 2017, there will be an average of 23 home matches per season with an average attendance of 19,200; five sold-out international soccer matches; three sold out concerts; five community events with an average attendance of 4,000 people; and 10 other events with an average attendance of 6,000 people for a total of 46 events a year.

Buzzard Point 

The Urban Design Framework developed for Buzzard Point will inform and guide public and private development decisions for the next 10 years. A summary of the draft can be found here, but some interesting details were mentioned at the forum and Open House. Development in Buzzard Point will be focused toward the rest of the Capitol Riverfront BID area along Potomac Avenue in order to protect the existing housing north of the stadium site. A riverfront esplanade will connect to Yards Park and a more naturalized shoreline is envisioned. A Maritime Museum is planned for a site that lines up with the axis of the Capitol and the soccer stadium south of the proposed traffic oval on South Capitol Street. The addition of residential units in Buzzard Point will come from new construction on empty lots, but will also come from the repurposing of existing buildings in the area, including the Transpoint Building, 1900 Half Street, and the Buzzard Point Power Plant.

Upcoming Events

There will be an Open House/Community Information forum tomorrow evening hosted by representatives from the District government, DC United, and developer Akridge to discuss the pending agreement to build a new soccer stadium for the team at a site in Buzzard Point. The Open House follows a forum hosted by SWNA earlier this month. At the SWNA-hosted forum, consultants stated that the existing housing north of the stadium site will be preserved and development in Buzzard Point will be oriented toward Potomac Avenue to connect the area with the rest of the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood east of South Capitol Street. According to the media advisory for tomorrow’s Open House, this is an opportunity for community members to receive the very latest planning updates and answers to any questions they may have about the project, all in an informal setting. Representatives, government officials and key consultants will be available to discuss planned traffic operations, housing, environmental clean-up, jobs, contracting and more. Capital Business and the DC Fiscal Policy Institute have articles describing a Community Benefits Agreement that the CBCC is negotiating with the city and DC United - the major component being a $5 million community fund to support recreational and educational programming for the community’s youth. Tomorrow’s Open House will be held at 100 M Street, SE, 8th Floor from 6-8pm. 

Rendering courtesy of DC United

The fourth annual SW ArtsFest will take place from October 2-5 at venues across Southwest. Events include (e)merge Art Fair, art installations at Nonuments Park, The Shoplifters at Arena Stage, the G40 art show at Blind Whino, and Pumpkin Lantern Palooza at The Wharf. Check the SW ArtsFest website for more information on which venues will be available and when. 

Image courtesy of SW ArtsFest

There will be a mayoral forum on Monday, October 6 at 7pm at Arena Stage, sponsored by ANC6D, SWNA, and the Navy Yard Civic Association. The forum will cover topics of importance to those who live south of the freeway and west of the Anacostia River. The moderator will be Shannon Vaughn, editor-in-chief of The Southwester. Vaughn hosted the Mayoral Forum that was held ahead of the April 1 primary. 

DC’s local chapter of DOCOMOMO, an international preservationist organization, is hosting a guided tour of modernist architecture in Southwest on Saturday, October 11. The press release states the following: The event will begin at 1:30 pm at Arena Stage with an introductory talk by Dr. Richard Longstreth of George Washington University, followed by two walking tours and a reception in the roof-top Club Room at the Chloethiel Woodard Smith-designed Harbour Square, which overlooks the Potomac River. The tour will also include access to unique interior spaces of the neighborhood's most noted projects, including Arena Stage, Waterfront Tower and River Park. Tickets are $15 for students, $25 for members of the DC Preservation League and DOCOMOMO-US/DC, and $35 for non-members.

The next DC Job Fair, hosted by Arena Stage and Ward 6 Council member Tommy Wells' office will be held on Friday, October 17 at Arena Stage from 10am - 2pm. This year's event will feature a new partnership with the Office of Returning Citizens Affairs, which provides support and services to previously incarcerated individuals - the fair will be targeted toward these individuals. According to the press release for the event, recruiting companies committed so far include Big Bus Tours, Bread for the City, Building Futures, DC Central Kitchen, Fort Myer Construction Corporation, Giant Food, Harris Teeter, Specialty Hospital & Nursing Center of Washington, and the U.S. Postal Service.

 

ANC 6D will have their next monthly meeting on Monday, October 20 at 7pm. The meeting will be held in Near SE/Navy Yard/Capitol Riverfront at 200 I Street, SE.

3rd & I Street Park Reopens as a Playground

After more than four years of dealing with DC government bureaucracy and fundraising, the library park at 3rd and I streets, SW opened yesterday, which marks the completion of phase one of the Southwest Playground Project (SWPP). The SWPP is a project of the CBCC and was championed by Southwest resident Felicia Couts. In an email to supporters announcing the playground’s opening, Couts stated the following: 

“I’m so thrilled to report that the construction fencing is down and the 3rd & I Street Park is open for use! Children and neighbors of all ages have already stopped by to check out the new play equipment, sit on the new benches and enjoy the park!” 

Construction took a little more than seven weeks to complete; however, the playground was a long time coming. Back in 2010, a group of parents came up with the idea to build a centrally-located playground in the neighborhood since there was a dearth of play space for young children at the time in Southwest. With other members of the community joining the parents’ group, the SWPP was born. The group eventually settled on building the playground at the park located at 3rd and I streets, adjacent to the Southwest branch library. This location was chosen because of the synergy that could be created between the library and the playground. In addition, the park is located between public housing and middle class housing, and could serve as a bridge between the two areas where neighbors can interact. 

The SWPP first tried working with Kaboom!, a non-profit organization that builds playgrounds across the country. Due to technical issues with working with the Department of Parks and Recreation, the SWPP did not move forward with Kaboom! and instead tried to work with Make Kids Smile, Inc., a local non-profit. The playground equipment used by Make Kids Smile, Inc. was not compatible with the Gametime equipment preferred by SWPP, so the group ended up working directly with DPR and the Department of General Services to hire a contractor to install the play equipment. The selected play equipment is suited primarily for kids ages 2-5 and has a nature theme, including swings, a slide, spinning leafs, mushroom-shaped stepping stones, and climbing bars in the shape of a butterfly. 

The park prior to construction.

In 2011, the SWPP hosted a “Draw Your Playground” design competition with students at Amidon-Bowen Elementary, which is about one block away from the 3rd & I Street Park. The students were able to show through their drawings that they wanted features such as swings, slides, a bike rack, and a water fountain at the playground. First place went to Edugwu Agada, second place to Jostin Garcia and third to Vanquisha Smith. In addition, a series of charrettes were held in the community to gather further input on the design of the playground. The original intent was to have a Community Build Day, but the city decided to have a contractor build the playground instead for liability reasons. 

An initial budget of $50,000 for playground equipment ballooned to $720,000 once it was discovered that significant infrastructure improvements were needed at the 3rd and I Street Park, including grading, utilities, and drainage. Not to mention the need to hire an architect. The SWPP raised over $100,000 on its own through donations from individuals and local businesses, but the infrastructure improvements necessitated city assistance. After some lobbying, $350,000 was secured in the District’s budget to close the funding gap and allow phase one to be built. 

Phase one included pruning and removing dead or dying trees in the park, as well as grading the site; retaining walls along the center berm area; fencing along I Street, SW and portions of 3rd Street and Wesley Place; playground equipment and soft surfacing were installed in the center berm area; and utilities work. A second phase will cost $270,000 and is still unfunded. The second phase will include storm water retention; more retaining walls; and repaving and scoring of the sidewalks. Two other playgrounds in the neighborhood are supposed to be upgraded later this year as a part of the Play DC Playground Improvement Initiative, including ones at King-Greenleaf Recreation Center and Randall Community Center. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be announced soon for the 3rd & I Street Park.

SW Playground Project Finally Gets Underway

After more than four years of dealing with DC government agencies and fundraising, construction fencing arrived today at the library park at 3rd and I streets, which marks the start of phase one of construction of the SW Playground Project (SWPP).  The contractors have begun pruning and removing dead or dying trees in the park. Phase one is expected to take eight weeks to complete and includes the following: pruning and removal of trees; grading of the site; installation of retaining walls along the center berm area; fencing along I Street and portions of 3rd Street and Wesley Place; playground equipment with a nature theme and soft surfacing in the center berm area; and utilities work. The budget for phase one is $450,000 and came from a combination of city funding and SWPP's fundraising efforts.

A second phase will cost $270,000 and is still unfunded. The second phase will include storm water retention; more retaining walls; and repaving and scoring of the sidewalks.  Two other playgrounds in the neighborhood are supposed to be upgraded later this year as a part of the Play DC Playground Improvement Initiative, including ones at King-Greenleaf Recreation Center and Randall Community Center.

The SWPP is a project of the Near SE/SW Community Benefits Coordinating Council (CBCC).

Stadium Deal Finalized, Ziegfeld’s/Secrets Building for Sale

 

Mayor Gray announced today in a press release that the city has reached final business terms with DC United to build a new 20,000 – 25,000-seat soccer stadium in Buzzard Point at 2nd and R streets. The announcement comes ten months after the city signed a term sheet with DC United. Currently, the city controls 88 percent of the stadium site and “has also brokered an agreement in principle for acquisition of the final parcels for full possession of the required land for the stadium,” according to the press release. 

“This is a major step forward for economic development in the District of Columbia,” said Mayor Gray in a prepared statement. “The new soccer stadium will be the connector between developing areas around our baseball stadium and the new Wharf development along our Southwest Waterfront. The new soccer stadium is the final catalyst for what is certain to become one of the most vibrant and sustainable sports and retail districts in America.” 

Some of the components of the deal include a land swap with Akridge – the city will offer the Reeves Building at 14th and U streets, NW in exchange for a portion of the stadium site. Akridge originally planned a secure office campus ideally for a federal tenant on their three-block long, nine-acre site, which was being marketed as 100 V Street. The developer will retain the southern two blocks of the site and will more than likely build a mixed-use project oriented to an entertainment district rather than a federal enclave, although that is pure speculation at this point. A new Reeves complex will be built in Anacostia that will be completed in three years. The city will also acquire land owned by Pepco in the stadium footprint and in turn, Pepco will buy city-owned land at 1st and K streets, NW, where they will be required to build a new substation. This substation is in addition to the one Pepco has planned in Buzzard Point at 1st and Q streets. Details on the sale of the other parcels needed for the stadium have not been finalized yet. 

The city will spend a maximum of $150 million for land acquisition and infrastructure, while DC United will pay an estimated $150 million to build the stadium. Additional uses will be built adjacent to the actual stadium within the footprint, presumably a hotel, team offices, and some retail. The land will be leased by the team for 30 years (up to 40 years if renewed) at a subsidized rate of $1 per year, but the ancillary uses portion of the site can be renewed for a longer term provided the team pays market rent during that additional term. Property and sales taxes will be phased in during the life of the ground lease, as well as a $2 ticket surcharge. 

A Couple Quick Items: Waterfront Academy Info Sessions, SW Duck Pond Ice Cream Social

Waterfront Academy, the new Montessori dual immersion private school opening this fall on South Capitol Street, will have more parent information sessions over the next week.  Below are the times for the information sessions:

• Thursday, July 25 at 9:30am
• Saturday, July 27 at 2pm
• Monday, July 29 at 9:30am
• Wednesday, July 31 at 9:30am

All of the information sessions will be held at Lot 38, located at 1001 2nd Street, SE.

A community open house and ice cream social will be held this evening at the Southwest Duck Pond at 6th and I streets from 6pm to 7:30pm. Free ice cream will be provided by the Neighbors of SW Duck Pond and information tables will be set up by neighborhood organizations, including Amidon-Bowen PTA, ANC 6D, CBCC, DC Sail, Friends of the SW Library, Girl Scout Troop 4298, Neighbors of SW Duck Pond, PAWS of Southwest, Southwest Chamber Players, SWNA, Southwest Playground Project, SW Gardens, and Waterfront Academy.

The Little Farm Stand is back this season at the SW Duck Pond and will be held on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm through November.  Fresh, local organic produce from Loudoun County will be for sale, along with farm-baked pies, preserves, and honey.  Email littlefarmstand@yahoo.com to join the weekly list serve of fresh offerings and pre-order your selection.  Aya Community Markets also has a farm stand on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm on the grounds of Christ United Methodist Church at 900 4th Street.

More Details on Choice Grant for Greenleaf

At a meeting last month hosted by the Near SE/SW Community Benefits Coordinating Council, a representative from the DC Housing Authority explained to residents of Greenleaf the $500,000 HUD Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant the agency is applying for and the process between now and any future redevelopment of the community. Greenleaf was built in 1959 and includes a cluster of townhomes, midrise, and walk-up units from I to M streets, between 3rd Street and Delaware Avenue. In addition, Greenleaf Seniors is a high-rise at the SE corner of Delaware Avenue and M Street, as well as a mid-rise building located at 203 N Street. There are a total of 497 units in all three sections.  If DCHA is awarded the planning grant for Greenleaf, it would be the third Choice grant for the city, since grants have already been awarded to Kenilworth Parkside in NE and Barry Farm/Wade Apartments in SE. A physical condition report was done on Greenleaf as a part of the application that was submitted late last month to HUD and it was determined that the community was distressed, which is one of the conditions that needs to be met in order to qualify for a Choice grant. In addition, Amidon-Bowen Elementary School is considered to be an under-performing school.

Residents will be given at least 90 days notice before any moving would be necessary for redevelopment to occur. DCHA intends to go forward with redeveloping Greenleaf whether or not it receives the grant since the buildings are near the end of their useful lifespan. DCHA will need to demonstrate to HUD how they will redevelop Greenleaf with or without the grant. They will seek a private partner to help implement the redevelopment and the goal is no displacement of current residents. All units will be replaced one-for-one, interspersed with market-rate units. In previous Hope VI projects, the rules for former residents to return to the redeveloped community were stringent and resulted in many people being unable to return. In Greenleaf's case, the rules have been eased, so the only requirement that a former resident needs to meet is the ability to comply with the terms of the lease.

As a part of the planning process, DCHA will need to come up with a Transformation plan for Greenleaf, which will take about 24 months to complete. The boundaries used for the Transformation plan will be the same as the Small Area Plan that's underway by the Office of Planning, but the process will be different.  After that is completed, it will take another year to prepare the application for a HUD Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant, which could be worth up to $30 million to help implement the transformation plan. In other words, it will take at least five years before any redevelopment would begin. In the meantime, the units will be maintained - recently, some cosmetic improvements have been made at the Greenleaf Extension buildings (garden apartments), including a new paint job.

What Will Happen to Randall Recreation Center?

 

For several years, Randall Recreation Center at South Capitol and I streets has been underutilized. Next door to the recreation center are a community pool, tennis & basketball courts, ball fields, a playground, and a forlorn plaza area. While the ball fields, pool and sports courts are heavily used, the recreation center is currently devoid of programming. There have been efforts by local organizations, such as the Near SE/SW Community Benefits Coordinating Council (CBCC) and SWNA, to get financing and bring some programming to the recreation center. Funding has been secured by the Gray administration’s “Play DC” initiative to build a new playground and renovate the plaza area to make the entrance to the recreation facility more inviting and user-friendly, with construction to occur later this year. 

DPR's renovation plan for the Randall site, developed after community meetings in 2012.

Meanwhile, the Department of Parks and Recreation is supposed to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) to select a non-profit provider of services to Randall Recreation Center. Related to the upcoming RFP, KIPP DC proposes to build a new, LEED-certified charter high school designed by StudiosArchitecture on the site of the current recreation center along South Capitol Street that will accommodate 650 students. There would be space on the ground level for a facility run by Georgetown University Medicine. In addition, KIPP DC would refurbish the existing Randall pool and ball fields, move the basketball courts to the northwest corner of the site, and build a brand new community center and pool house adjacent to the pool. KIPP DC has an ambitious schedule and plans to deliver the new school by the summer of 2014.

A birds-eye view of the proposed KIPP DC campus and new recreation center.

However, KIPP’s plans are incompatible with those of the developers of the former Randall Junior High School site next door. Telesis/Rubell (the Rubell family also owns the Capitol Skyline Hotel across the street from the rec. center) bought the former school from the Corcoran and plans to bring a contemporary art museum and restaurants to the historic buildings as well as build 400,000 square feet of apartments and townhouses. Telesis’ Marilyn Melkonian has pledged to find financing to renovate the existing recreation center. In addition, the Randall Recreation Center could be designated as a historic landmark as one of the few remainders of buildings that existed prior to Urban Renewal, which could complicate KIPP DC’s plans.

An earlier concept for the Randall School site.

At the same time that this is all happening, the Office of Planning is preparing to embark on a Small Area Plan for Southwest at the behest of Ward 6 Council member Tommy Wells. There is a large amount of public land in SW, including the Randall Recreation Center site, and typically, a Small Area Plan provides residents, land owners, developers, city officials and District agencies with a framework and recommendations to guide future development in the study area. The Small Area Plan will take about eight months to complete, but by-right development can still move forward while the plan is underway. ANC 6D voted to support the creation of the Small Area Plan and stipulated that no decisions be made on the Randall Recreation Center site until the Small Area Plan is completed. SWNA supports the measure as well. The CBCC also supports the creation of the Small Area Plan, as long as is doesn’t preclude continuing negotiations with KIPP DC, Telesis/Rubell, or any other interested parties in the Randall Recreation Center site.

Randall Recreation Center.

Each of the plans for Randall has their pluses and minuses. KIPP DC would build a brand-new community center, but what about the increased traffic from 650 students and faculty coming to the site each school day? Is a brand new community center and refurbished fields worth bringing a new school into the community where only students from KIPP DC’s elementary and middle schools would be able to attend? Would Telesis/Rubell still move forward with their plans next door if the charter school is built? Telesis has pledged to find financing to help renovate the existing recreation center, but is it guaranteed that financing would be found? How long would it take to get sufficient financing under either scenario to fund programming? There are a lot of questions yet to be answered.

Rendering courtesy of Studios Architecture

SW Playground Project Moves Forward

Much progress has been made in the design of the new playground planned for the park next to the Southwest Library at 3rd & I Street.  Above is a draft schematic plan rendering done by DC-based landscape architect LAB, which shows a fan-shaped play area in the upper part of the park for children ages 5-12 and a fenced off oval area adjacent to the side of the library for children ages 2-5. Both play areas will have rubber surfacing. The lower area of the park where all of the concrete walkways intersect will have a brick surface. In addition, brick seat walls will be incorporated along a part of the walkways. A ramp will be created in the upper play area to make that area ADA compliant (a second ramp may also be built on the east side of the park). A water fountain may also be added.

Portion of proposed play area for children ages 5-12.

 The Southwest Playground Project (SWPP), which is a project of the Near SE/SW Community Benefits Coordinating Council, was able to raise over $100,000 for the playground and secured an additional $250,000 in the District’s FY 2013 budget. There will be a community meeting held on Saturday, August 18 at 11am at Westminster Church (400 I Street) to gather feedback on the proposed design.  What do you think of the plan?

Schematic Plan Rendering courtesy of LAB

Amidon-Bowen Modernization

Big changes are underway for Amidon-Bowen Elementary School, the only elementary school in Southwest.  Starting on June 15, the school will begin a modernization program to be done in three phases. Five million dollars has been allocated for Phase One of construction, but funding has not been secured yet for the subsequent phases. Phase One will include a new ADA-compliant entrance, a new administrative office suite, a new walk-through from the front to the play area in back, a new air conditioning system, and re-sized classrooms with technology upgrades and movable walls. Phase Two will improve support components, such as the gymnasium and all-purpose room while Phase Three will improve interior systems. QuinnEvans Architects designed the planned upgrades, which include distinct color schemes for each section of the school to help differentiate spaces for administrative, pre-k, kindergarten, and other grade levels. Landscaping will also be refreshed with native plants and a mini-waterfall system that will capture rainwater and lead the water to a small stream bed. The renovation program complements a $200,000 grant received last summer from Target to redo the school’s library on the second floor with light construction, technology updates, new furniture, carpet and shelves, and 2,000 books. 

Vignette of the main lobby area.

Construction will be on-going all summer both day and night to get the school ready for the first day of class for students on August 27. The parking lot facing 4th Street SW will be used as a staging area for construction, so those parking spaces will be unavailable for visitors to Westminster Presbyterian Church’s weekly Jazz and Blues Nights located across the street from Amidon-Bowen.

In addition to school modernization efforts, recent personnel changes have taken place at the school. Amidon-Bowen was reconstituted this past year in order to help improve the school’s performance. Test scores for reading and math at Amidon-Bowen have been among the lowest in the city. According to DC Public Schools, only 15% of students at Amidon-Bowen met or exceeded the Washington, DC Comprehensive Assessment System (DC CAS) standards in math and 19% met, or exceeded standards in reading. As a part of the reconstitution, all faculty members had to reapply for their jobs and a new principal, Izabela Miller was hired. 

Meanwhile, the operation budget for Amidon-Bowen was cut for the 2012-13 school year. DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson stated in an email responding to a letter of concern written by the Near SE/SW Community BenefitsCoordinating Council (CBCC) that the budget cuts were directly tied to the projected decline in student enrollment at Amidon-Bowen. DCPS projects enrollment next year at Amidon-Bowen to be 252 students, the second consecutive year of decline in student enrollment, which places the school in the category of “small schools”, or schools with less than 300 students. As a result, budget cuts throughout DCPS targeted smaller schools to reduce costs since the per student cost at small schools are higher due to economies of scale. Next year, the Art, Music, and Physical Education teachers will become part-time positions instead of full-time. In addition, the Librarian/Media Specialist will become a part-time position as well as the Business Manager. Two teachers and one custodian will be let go, but a part-time School Psychologist will be hired. 

Renderings courtesy of Quinn Evans Architects

ANC Unanimously Supports St. Matthew's PUD Application

At tonight's ANC 6D meeting, representatives from Trammell Crow, CSG Urban Partners, St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, and Shalom Baranes Associates came to the commission to seek their support for the St. Matthew's PUD submission. The PUD includes the development of a new St. Matthew's Church at the corner of Delaware Avenue and M Street, an 8 & 11-story apartment building shaped in the letter L with approximately 220 units, and a community center named the Thurgood and Cecilia Marshall Southwest Community Center.  Details on the development can be found here.  

Some changes have been made to the PUD since last year, especially the community benefits portion of the development. There will be a 1/3 acre landscaped courtyard on top of the parking garage that will be open to the public from dawn until dusk and the opening from Delaware Avenue has been widened from six feet to 12 feet. The loading has been moved from M Street to the parking garage on Delaware Avenue in an underground loading facility.  Parking concerns have been addressed by offering four electric car parking stations, 80 bike parking spaces, 2-3 Zip Car spaces, and residents of the apartments will not qualify for Residential Parking Permits (RPP), similar to the newer multifamily buildings in Near SE. The setback along M Street has been increased from 22 feet to 24 feet to provide for more open space.  Ten percent of the housing will be set aside for households earning up to 80% of Area Median Income (AMI). Trammell Crow will contribute towards the installation of a fence around the vegetable gardens grown at Amidon-Bowen Elementary School by Kid Power DC. In addition, a donation will be made to Casey Trees to plant trees in the median along M Street, as well as a $20K donation to the Near SE/SW Community Benefits Coordinating Council (CBCC) to help the organization in its support of community programs.  The CDC formed to run the proposed community center will have a board member serve on the board of the CBCC and vice versa.  

The ANC supported the PUD application, but excluded the CBCC donation in its approval. However, the donation was offered by the developer, not by the ANC, so it will still be offered as part of the application to the Zoning Commission.

Rendering courtesy of Shalom Baranes Associates

A Few Quick Items: New Metrobus Route, CBCC Survey, SW Playground Project Receives $40K Donation, Dog Park Petition

- Starting on September 25, WMATA will introduce a new bus route that will connect Southwest and Downtown. The new route will be called the "74 - Convention Center/Southwest Waterfront" and will run seven days a week from 5am to 1am. During peak periods, headways will be 18 minutes and 24 minutes during other times.  This fall, Next Bus real-time destination screens will be installed at eight bus shelters along the route. The route is shown on the above map. The dotted line portion of the route shows the extension of the line to Buzzard Point during weekday peak periods. This new route was made to replace the SW Waterfront-Convention Center Circulator route that will be discontinued at the end of this month and also replaces the 70-71 routes.

- The Near SE-SW Community Benefits Coodinating Council (CBCC) is conducting a survey of ANC 6D residents to find out what services they would use in a community center. The survey is available online and participants are entered into a drawing to win a $25 Safeway gift card. Surveys must be completed by September 30. On a CBCC-related note, there will be a reception on October 4 at the Capitol Skyline Hotel to discuss The Wharf developers' community benefit commitment to hire CBE's. for more information, check their website.

- The Mandarin Oriental Hotel was able to raise over $40,000 for the SW Playground Project last Sunday at their inaugural FANtastic March 10K walk/run. $10,000 of the funds was a corporate match from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and the rest came from race participants, nearly 220 people.  Congratulations to race winners Miles Hilder and Sara Vuong, both Southwest residents.

- The SW Dog Park group is passing around an online petition to support bringing an off leash dog park to Southwest, the only quadrant in the city without a dog park. The group has been taking their dogs to Lansburg Park, but the gate at the tennis court is broken so it makes it difficult to enclose the area for dogs to run and play. 

SW Playground Project Receives Safeway Foundation Grant

Safeway announced earlier this week that the Safeway Foundation distributed $130,000 in grants to community organizations. One of those organizations is the SW Playground Project, which received a $5,000 grant to build a new playground next to the Southwest Neighborhood Library on August 23. Pictured above is Rev. Ruth Hamilton (President of the Near SE/SW Community Benefits Coordinating Council), Greg TenEyck (Safeway's Public Affairs Director), Felicia Couts (Project Director of the SW Playground Project), and the child Felicia is holding is Carmen Couts.

Here is a preliminary rendering of one of the three play areas planned at the proposed playground. Courtesy of Playworld Systems.

Photo courtesy of Safeway

ANC 6D Approves Stage 1 PUD for The Wharf *

Updated: After two hours of discussion of The Wharf Stage One PUD, with a presentation by lead developer Monty Hoffman from the Hoffman-Madison Waterfront team and a question & answer period, ANC 6D voted unanimously to approve the application at their monthly meeting this evening.  That approval came with 27 conditions that need to be addressed by the Hoffman-Madison Waterfront team before they meet with the Zoning Commission next Monday. Below is a summary of the 27 concerns and conditions from the ANC resolution:

- bus traffic should be removed from Pier 4 and away from existing residential areas of Southwest, as well as the residential units planned at parcel 11 (St. Augustine's Church)

- a Plan B in case pending legislation in Congress to transfer jurisdiction of the Channel and the ability to allow homeownership along the waterfront do not pass

- a transition plan for residents of the Gangplank Marina

- a dedicated walkway along the Washington Channel of 20 feet

- residential housing at Pier 4 (about 26 townhouses are planned at the current site of the the Spirit Cruises pier) should maintain a minimum 10-foot setback from the existing waterside edges of the pier and not be higher than 45 feet

- the commercial pier structures should not exceed the height of the headhouse structure at Pier 4 except for a two-story office building planned

- the 5-acre Waterfront Park should be built in the first phase and the planned food pavilion should be lowered from 34.5 feet to 20 feet

- massing of buildings

- parcel 11 setbacks should be consistent with the residential buildings along M Street from 6th Street to 2nd Street

- the height of buildings near M Street Landing (parcels 9 and 10) and as the design of the new St. Augustine's Church blocks views along M Street towards the waterfront

- construction staging should be restricted on parcels 10, 11, the Waterfront Park, or any area south of M Street from 6th Street to the Titanic Memorial (basically any area adjacent to existing residential buildings)

- streetcars (no overhead wires along the waterfront and place flange fillers on the tracks until the streetcars are operational)

- no parking at the Waterfront Park nor along the private road leading to Pier 4

- transportation embellishments (bike parking, electric car charging stations, car sharing)

- maintain existing tree canopy along Maine Avenue and the pedestrian walkway between the Washington Channel and Tiber Island and Harbor Square

- restrict Internet gaming that was recently passed citywide by the City Council at The Wharf outside of personal residences

- liquor licenses (the ANC wants to maintain the ability to approve or deny individual liquor licenses)

- provide office space for SWNA and ANC for 20 years starting January 2019 similar to what is provided at Waterfront Station (that space is only available for 10 years)

- environmental issues - abide by federal and District regulations regarding storm water runoff
- create kinetic, programmable recreational spaces for all ages throughout the development, especially toward the western end and the many mews and passageways
- restrict flexibility of future phases on parcels 6, 7, and 8
- create a 37 foot setback along the Maine Avenue side of parcel 7 - similar to the Waterside Towers Townhouses across the street

- placement of the Titanic Memorial and Maine Lobsterman statue within the development

- memorialize commitments to Ward 6 residents from the land disposition agreement between the city and Hoffman-Madison Waterfront

- create an advisory committee with members from the ANC, CBCC, SWNA, and other neighborhood stakeholders to enforce workforce development and jobs, 5% of the 35% Certified Business Enterprises requirement be procured from Ward 6, and housing affordability and diversity with a preference for Ward 6 residents

- help with the planning and implementation of a community center

- transportation issues - a comprehensive traffic study of the Maine Avenue-M Street corridor needs to be conducted

Several of these concerns have already been addressed since the resolution was written last week, but the ANC wanted to include all of these items in anticipation for the Zoning Commission meeting next week.

As a refresher to what the ANC voted on this evening, a Phase One PUD application looks at the following aspects of a given development:

• General site, landscape and development plan
• Development areas including height, density, and massing
• Public parks, open space, and roadways are identified
• Parking and loading access and impacts on the existing neighborhood
• Overall project amenities 

The Wharf aims to transform the Southwest Waterfront into a lively mixed use neighborhood with office, residential, retail, open space, marinas, and cultural uses.  See a general description of the plan here. Some more details about what is planned at parcel 2, or the Wharf Center concert venue, were mentioned at the ANC meeting.  The Wharf Center will be located to the northeast of the intersection of 9th Street and Maine Avenue. This 2,500-seat venue will host events between 150 and 200 nights a year, including concerts, performances, and possibly the Washington Kastles. The high use of this facility is similar to the scheduled use of the Verizon Center, but at a smaller scale. It will be developed during the first phase of development, along with parcels from 7th Street to 9th Street, as well as parcel 11 and the Waterfront Park on the southeastern edge of the development.  Parcel 1 and the area by the Fish Market will be done in Phase II, while the area from 7th Street to Pier 4 will be done in Phase III.

The Zoning Commission will meet on Monday, July 18th at 6:30pm (located at 441 4th Street, NW, Suite 220-S) to discuss the PUD.  Those who wish to testify for or against the PUD can contact Dana Hanousek before the 18th at Donna.Hanousek@DC.gov or 202-727-0789 and provide your name, your desire to testify in support or opposition to the Southwest Waterfront Plan, Case No. 11-03, your telephone number, and a request for confirmation you are on the list.  After the PUD goes through the Zoning Commission, the public process for the Waterfront Park will begin in the fall. Around the same time, a luxury hotel operator will be announced for parcel 3, which will also be where the Graduate School USA will be located. A Stage II PUD application for specific buildings in Phase I of development will begin in late 2011/early 2012. Construction is set to begin on Phase I by the end of 2012.

Renderings courtesy of Hoffman-Madison Waterfront