Potential Greenleaf "Build-First" Site to Receive Budget Funding

Back in February, Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen attended the monthly ANC 6D meeting and one of the topics brought up was the redevelopment of Greenleaf. Allen stated his preferred “build-first” site to be the DCFEMS Apparatus Division station at Half and M streets. Under a "build-first" model, the first phase of construction would be at a site outside of the Greenleaf footprint and residents would move into this new building before demolishing any portion of the existing Greenleaf buildings so no one is displaced during the redevelopment. During the planning phase of Greenleaf’s eventual redevelopment, a study by HR&A Advisors stated that DC-owned sites near Greenleaf would be easiest to use as “build-first” sites, with the DCFEMS repair shop and MPD First District parking lot at Delaware Avenue and M Street identified as the best sites to use for this purpose. 

To move the process along, Allen, as chair of the D.C. Council’s Committee on the Judiciary & Public Safety, allocated $1 million in the District’s FY 2019 budget to start the schematic design and design development phases to build a replacement DCFEMS Apparatus Division facility (also in the DCFEMS budget for Southwest is a new Harbor Patrol facility at the Wharf, with funding allocated in FY 2023 and FY 2024). While this funding will start the process for designing the new maintenance facility, a site has not been identified yet. The Council committee recommends that DCFEMS "move swiftly to identify a site for the new Fleet Maintenance Facility." Under Mayor Bowser’s FY 2019 budget proposal, $47 million in funding for the replacement facility was pushed back to FY 2024, which was previously allocated in FY 2022 and FY 2023. The delay puts in jeopardy the use of the Half and M streets site as a “build-first” site for Greenleaf. 

A RFQ for the Greenleaf redevelopment was issued in December 2017 and a RFP was supposed to be released in March, with a selection to be made this month, but the RFP has been delayed. The ANC sent a letter to DCHA earlier this year requesting a meeting with Greenleaf residents should be held prior to the issuance of the RFP to keep the community in the loop regarding the agency’s process to redevelop the public housing complex.

Unity Clinic Demolition Underway

Demolition is progressing at the former Southwest Health Center site at 850 Delaware Avenue. The Unity Health Care clinic closed there back in September 2017 and was relocated to 555 L Street SE in Navy Yard/Near SE/Capitol Riverfront in early 2018. Once demolition is complete, construction will begin on the Ward 6 Short-Term Family Housing project, which will bring a 50-unit facility for homeless families to the site with a maximum occupancy of 166 people. The shelter will be a seven-story building and is designed by Studio 24 Architecture. Amenities will include space for on-site wrap around services, dining room, computer lab, laundry facilities, common rooms, and play areas. A health care facility is also planned in the building, which will occupy a portion of the first floor and basement. The entrance to the clinic will be on I Street while the shelter entrance will be on Delaware Avenue. The planned health care facility may or may not be run by Unity. 

Rendering courtesy of Studio 24 Architecture

Ground Broken for New Douglass Bridge

A ceremonial groundbreaking was held on Tuesday for the new Frederick Douglass Bridge at the site of the new bridge in Buzzard Point. Mayor Bowser, DDOT Director Jeff Marootian, DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, Congressman Steny Hoyer, DC Council members Charles Allen and Trayon White, and Federal Highway Administration DC Division Administrator Chris Lawson were all there and spoke about the project’s benefits. Bridge construction will last about four years with completion scheduled for 2021. Below are some pictures from the groundbreaking event.

DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton

Construction crane at foot of bridge

Mayor Muriel Bowser

Congressman Steny Hoyer (MD)

Chris Lawson with FHA DC Division

DDOT Administrator
Jeff Marootian

Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White

Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen

Ground is officially broken 

On the way to the ground breaking ceremony, I walked by the construction site of Audi Field, which is still on schedule to open by mid-July. A topping off ceremony was held last month and since then, work has begun on installing the facade of the stadium.  Infrastructure work continues on the roads around the stadium, including Potomac Avenue, which will receive new sidewalks, gutters, trees, and street furniture. Earlier this year, Half Street south of Potomac Avenue reopened to traffic where similar improvements were also made to that street. 2nd Street south of R Street remains closed to traffic as work will be done on that street to create a bike lane and other improvements.

New street lights on Half Street

Beginning of work on stadium's facade

View west of stadium from Half Street

New sidewalk on Potomac Avenue

Street furniture on Potomac Avenue

A Few Quick NYE Items: DC United, SoCap, Fiddler Breaks Record, Topping Off

In one of his final acts before leaving office on January 2, Mayor Gray signed soccer stadium legislation into law yesterday, paving the way for a new stadium for DC United on Buzzard Point. The 20,000-seat stadium will be located at 2nd and R streets, next door to Fort McNair and about three blocks southwest of Nationals Park.

The Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) for the South Capitol Street Project is now available and public comments can be submitted until February 2. A copy of the SDEIS is also available at the SW Branch Library. Check out JDLand for more details on the recent revisions proposed for the South Capitol Street corridor upgrade, including the reduction in size of the traffic oval planned on the west side of the Anacostia, changing the location of the replacement Frederick Douglass Bridge, and more. There will be a public hearing on January 22 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm at Mathews Memorial Baptist Church, Fellowship Hall located at 2616 Martin Luther King Jr, Avenue, SE.

Arena Stage announced this week that Fiddler on the Roof has broken box office records for the SW-based theater. Previously, the record was held by the production of Oklahoma!, which was originally run in 2010 during Arena’s inaugural season back in Southwest and returned for a summer run in 2011. Fiddler’s run has been extended and will now end on January 11, 2015. 

Before the Christmas holiday, a topping off celebration was held at the Hyatt Place/Engine 13 firehouse under construction at 400 E Street. Construction began on the long-awaited project last December and was the subject of my very first post on this blog back in 2008. Delivery of the hotel/firehouse is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2015. In attendance was Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser, who also announced that she has appointed outgoing Ward 6 Council member Tommy Wells as Director of the District Department of the Environment.

A 2014 Year in Review will soon be posted. Happy New Year!

Renderings courtesy of DC United and DDOT; Photo taken by Margot Schulman, courtesy of Arena Stage; webcam image courtesy of Oxblue 

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.

A Few Quick Labor Day Items: Doggie Day Swim, Wells' SW Office Hours, M Street Yoga Opens ths Week, Waterfront Academy Starts Classes, Wharf's Search for $$

DPR and the Department of Health will host the sixth annual DPR Doggie Day Swim on Saturday, September 6 from 12pm to 4pm. One of the pool facilities that will participate is Randall Pool at South Capitol and I streets. Admission is free; however, all dogs must have a valid, DOH-issued DC dog license to enter the pool. Licenses will be issued on site, however dog owners must have all the required documentation (proof of rabies and distemper vaccinations; and proof of spaying/neutering) and fee payment. Only money orders or personal checks are accepted (no credit cards nor cash), made payable to "DC Treasurer." The cost of the license is $15 for dogs that are spayed/neutered and $50 for non-spayed/neutered dogs. 

Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells will not have September Southwest Office Hours since the Council is in recess until September 15. The next Southwest Office Hours will be on Thursday, October 2 from 8am to 9:30am at the Southwest Safeway (1100 4th Street). 

M Street Yoga will finally start offering classes next week on the ground floor of Carrollsburg, a Condominium’s North Building at 300 M Street. Ahead of the start of classes on Thursday, there will be an Open House on Wednesday, September 3 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. The studio’s website recently went live, where classes can be scheduled. 

Waterfront Academy, the new dual immersion Montessori school opening this fall at 60 I Street, has hired its teaching staff for the 2014-15 school year. Karina Trejo will serve as the Spanish Montessori Primary Guide; Garry Robert will be the Bilingual Catechist; and Concepcion Roque will be the Primary Assistant Catechist. The trio joins Head of School Rebeca Shakleford. The first day of school will be on Tuesday, September 2 and the Grand Opening will take place on October 2 at 6:30pm. 

Photo courtesy of Waterfront Academy (foto cortesía de Waterfront Academy) 

An article in Capital Business profiles Amer Hammour, executive chairman of Madison Marquette, one of the developers of The Wharf. The article mentions how Hammour had to travel around the world to find financing for the project. From the article: 

One colossal Chinese firm expressed interest, and after Hammour and Hoffman made their pitch, the chairman declared that instead of investing he would buy the entire waterfront and build a five-story shopping center. “He happens to be one of the richest guys in the world, period,” Hammour said. “And he comes in and makes it clear that, you know, he’s going to own this project. And then talks about what he wants to do with the project, which is completely unrealistic. We had to explain to him that, to build a Chinese-like shopping center like that on the Potomac might not be a great idea.”

Imagine the reaction if that idea went anywhere...

Where Will a New SW Library be Built?

The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) and the Office of Planning are pushing for a plan to include a new Southwest Branch Library as a component of a mixed-use building on a 4th Street parcel the city owns at Waterfront Station. As a part of the agreement made with Waterfront Associates when the former Waterside Mall at 4th and M streets was demolished and redeveloped, the city (formerly the National Capital Revitalization Corporation) would retain the NE parcel for future development as a mixed-use building with ground floor retail and residential units above, a percentage set aside as affordable housing. Marc Bleyer from DMPED is now the point man for disposition of the District-owned NE parcel and is looking to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) soon; however, he needs to determine first whether space for a new library should be included in the planned mixed-use building. 

DMPED has engaged CORE Architects to come up with some concepts for what is possible for a library that is contained within a mixed-use building, as well as how a standalone library at Wesley Place would look. These concepts will be developed over the next six weeks and presented to the community to gauge support for either option. The city has been building several new or substantially renovated libraries recently – mostly as standalone buildings; however, a library in a mixed-use building is planned in the West End and there are plans to put a non-library addition in the flagship Martin Luther King, Jr. library downtown. Some of the new, standalone library branches built in the city recent years include those in Bellevue, Anacostia, and Deanwood, while other branches that are architecturally significant have been substantially renovated, such as those in Petworth, Georgetown, and Northeast. 

At a recent meeting with community leaders, most of the attendees expressed their preference for a standalone library for several reasons. A concern shared by many was that a library on 4th Street would take away street-level retail space from potential retailers. Melissa Bird from the Office of Planning pointed out that the 4th Street retail corridor has struggled to sign tenants and a library would enliven the street, potentially attracting more tenants. Also, the library could be placed on the second floor, reducing the space it would take away on the ground level. Some were concerned that children would not feel welcome if the library was on 4th Street because of how some businesses along the street have become inhospitable to minors in their efforts to curb shoplifting. It was felt that children need a place to let off some steam after an altercation in the library and the library park serves that purpose – no such space would exist on 4th Street. Related to the library park, another concern was there would be lost synergy between the planned playground at the park and the library if it moved to 4th Street. 

Others were concerned that a standalone library at the current site would be overwhelmed by high-rise buildings surrounding it on three sides – the NE parcel at Waterfront Station to the west, a new building planned at Town Center East to the south, and the redevelopment of Greenleaf to the east. Along that line of reasoning, officials from the District Public Library system prefer to move to 4th Street in order to increase visibility and usage of the library. Meanwhile, a majority of respondents to a recent SWTLQTC unscientific poll preferred a mixed-use library on 4th Street. Fifty-two percent of respondents preferred a library on 4th Street, SW, compared to 35% of those who preferred a standalone library. The remaining 12% were unsure. 

Currently, funding for a new Southwest branch library is tied to the sale of city-owned land. That does not necessarily mean that the land to be sold must be the current library site, but it is implied. There are other city-owned sites around the community that could be sold to fund a new Southwest branch library, including the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) inspection station, DMV office, and the fire truck repair facility at Half and M streets. Ward 6 Council Member Tommy Wells has stated that the DC Council could find a way to fund the new library in future budgets without the need to sell District land. 

If the current library site is sold, under current zoning, a building up to six stories tall could be built in its place if the owner goes through the Planned Unit Development (PUD) process. Proposed changes to the zoning code would allow for a similar amount of density on the site by-right. The library park to the north would remain whether the library is retained at its current site or moved to 4th Street, so the planned playground is not in danger of being scrapped. In fact, a design-build contract was recently awarded by the Department of General Services for phase one of the park, which includes infrastructure improvements and play equipment in the center berm area. 

A community meeting will be planned sometime this summer to discuss the concepts that CORE Architects has developed, then a RFP could be released sometime in the fall, with or without the library component. In the meantime, the vacant NE parcel will receive some upgrades in the coming months. The diagonal gravel pathway will be replaced with concrete or interlocking concrete pavers and semi-circular pathways will also be constructed using compressed stone. These improvements will accommodate a temporary art installation for 5 x 5, A Project of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. 5 x 5 is the largest, temporary public art project in the District. Designed by Lance Fung, the Waterfront Station installation will feature the work of five artists in a piece called Nonuments, described as “a temporary sculpture park featuring ‘monuments’ devoted not to the great but to ordinary people, to the ideals of democracy, and to the common struggles of humanity.” Nonuments will be on display from September 1 to December 6.

A Few Quick Sunday Afternoon Items: Stadium Update, Wharf Planner Awarded, New Businesses to SW?

Now that the DC Council has received legislation on the DC United stadium deal in Buzzard Point, more voices are making themselves heard regarding their position on the pending deal. An editorial in this week’s Washington Business Journal (subscribers only) gave its support for the stadium deal, starting with this statement, “We have never been closer. If the D.C. Council does not approve the deal for a new D.C. United soccer stadium, the deal will die. D.C. United will leave. And Buzzard Point will languish for another decade.” Ward 7 Council member Yvette Alexander recently tweeted her support for the stadium (since deleted), while Ward 6 Council member Tommy Wells has expressed reservations about the deal, according to a City Paper article, because the Council recently cut streetcar funding (two streetcar lines are planned to terminate in Buzzard Point near the stadium). Council Chair Phil Mendelson was quoted on WJLA that he doubts the stadium deal will be voted on by the Council before the fall, so the next mayor will have the final say whether the deal goes through. The first DC Council hearing on the stadium deal will be on June 26 at 10am.

Rendering courtesy of Gensler

Perkins-Eastman, master planner of The Wharf, received a 2014 Charter Award by the Congress of New Urbanism in the category of Best Neighborhood Plan. From the Digital Journal article: 

Washington, DC's mixed-use Southwest Waterfront development, aka The Wharf, is designed on the premise of reconnecting the city with its waterfront and creating a place that residents can be proud to call their own. Stretched across 27 land acres and 24 water acres, with 1.9 million gsf of building area comprising the first of three phases alone, this neighborhood revival has long been a glimmer in DC residents' eyes and now construction is underway, with a projected completion date of 2017 for Phase 1. The entire development is targeted for LEED-ND Gold, with all new buildings planned to achieve a minimum of LEED Silver. 

Rendering courtesy of Hoffman-Madison Waterfront

It was reported over the past week that two new businesses may be considering Southwest for their headquarters. First up is Pigmental, a newly formed digital animation studio that is relocating from California to the District. The Washington Post reports that the company is considering moving to either Georgetown or the Southwest Waterfront. The article didn’t state where in Southwest they are looking, but I imagine one of those places isn’t The Wharf, since the first phase isn’t scheduled to open until 2017. Pigmental is planning to begin operations with about 24 employees, with the possibility of expanding to 60 people. Another firm looking to move to the Washington metro area is McCormick & Co., the Baltimore-based company known for making Old Bay Seasoning. In a WBJ article, the author speculates that if McCormick chooses to relocate to the District, a logical place would be The Wharf, although the company is looking for over 300,000 square feet of space and the first office buildings at The Wharf are under 300,000 SF.

Rendering courtesy of Hoffman-Madison Waterfront 

A Few Thursday Morning Quick Items: Channel Inn Closing, Job Fair, Tiber Island

The Channel Inn, along with Pier 7 restaurant will be closing for good on March 31 to become the temporary headquarters of the construction team of The Wharf and the temporary home of the Capital Yacht Club.  Ahead of the closing date, Ward 6 Council member Tommy Wells will host a Legacy Celebration this Saturday from 7-9pm.  After the Channel Inn and Pier 7 closes, everything will be sold at auction on April 21. 

The DC Job Fair will be held tomorrow at Arena Stage, in partnership with Ward 6 Council member Tommy Wells' office. This will be the third job fair held at Arena since the first was held in conjunction with its production of Good People in early 2013. Recruiting companies onsite March 28 will include Athena Consulting, Big Bus Tours, Clark Construction, CLP Resources, Forest City Washington, Keany Produce, Safeway, Specialty Hospital of Washington, Trusted Solutions, United States Secret Service, U.S. Army and U.S. Postal Service. Non-profit employment organization Jobs Have Priority (JHP) will also be onsite to assist attendees with the employment search and application process.A full list of recruiting companies can be found here.

A power struggle is underway at Tiber Island, as chronicled in The Washington Post. It stems from the renovations that have occurred in the property and disagreements with how the community should be run, which is located adjacent to The Wharf.

A Couple Upcoming Events

The DC Job Fair will be held tomorrow at Arena Stage (1101 6th Street).  This is the second time that Ward 6 Council Member Tommy Wells has hosted a job fair with Arena Stage.  According to Wells' website, companies onsite will include Bank of America, City Year, Comcast, Community Services Foundation, DC Department of Human Resources (DCHR), DC Water, Dress for Success, Forest City, Giant, Safeway, Specialty Hospital of Washington, Strive DC, UnitedHealthcare, United Planning Organization (UPO), Unity Health Care, U.S. Army, U.S. Office of Personnel Management and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The DC Job Fair will be held from 10am to 2pm.

Over at the Southwest Duck Pond at 6th and I streets, the PAWS of Southwest have partnered with the Neighbors of Southwest Duck Pond to host an event to celebrate Veteran's Day on Saturday. There will be a Patriotic Pet Parade, judged by local veterans, along with music and light refreshments. Pet owners should arrive at noon and the parade will begin at 1pm. Patriotic costumes are encouraged for dogs and their owners.

Review of "Good People"

Good People, written by David Lindsay-Abaire and directed by Jackie Maxwell, takes place in South Boston’s Lower End, where minimum wage is the maximum wage and hard work and sacrifice don’t ensure success. Tony Award nominee Johanna Day takes on the starring role of Margaret (Margie) Walsh, a single mother of a special needs child who loses her job and struggles to make ends meet. She turns to an old flame named Mike (played by Helen Hayes Award winner Andrew Long), a doctor who made it out of South Boston, in hopes that his good fortune can somehow improve her own. Rounding out the cast is Francesca Choy-Kee as Kate, Michael Glenn as Stevie, Rosemary Knower as Dottie, and Amy McWilliams as Jean. Good People highlights the differences (and similarities) between the classes using comedy, but is very effective in getting the point across. The harsh reality of rough economic times was vividly portrayed on-stage.  I thoroughly enjoyed this production with its mix of drama and comedy and recommend seeing it if you can.

Good People runs from February 1 – March 10 in the Kreeger Theater at Arena Stage.  Southwest Night has already passed for Good People, but ticket prices start at $40. In conjunction with the production and Ward 6 Council member Tommy Wells’ office, the Looking for Good People Job Fair will be held on Friday, March 1 at Arena Stage from 10 am to 2pm. Recruiting companies onsite will include Comcast, Entertainment Cruises, CSX Railroad, Department of Employment Services (DOES), DC Water, Giant Foods, Gordon-Biersch Brewery Restaurant, Safeway, US ARMY Baltimore Recruiting Battalion, Wal-Mart and Washington Metro Transit Authority (WMATA), among others. Organizations including D.C. Housing Authority Workforce Development Office; Dress for Success; The Graduate School, USA; Living Classrooms; Street Sense; Strive D.C. and the United Planning Office (UPO) will also be offering one-on-one workforce development services to enhance interview skills and strengthen job-seekers' ability to get hired. Be sure to bring multiple copies of your resume and dress professionally if attending the job fair.

Photo courtesy of Arena Stage, taken by Margot Schulman

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

Existing Public Parks Finally Getting Some Love

(This post is an abbreviated version of the South by West article that will appear in June's Hill Rag.)

The Southwest Playground Project (SWPP) is projected to receive $250,000 in the District's FY2013 Budget to bridge the funding gap needed to build a playground adjacent to the Southwest Branch Library at 3rd and I Street SW. Budget funds are coming from Ward 6 Council Member Tommy Wells' Committee on Parks, Libraries, and Recreation. The SWPP, a project of the Near SE/SW Community Benefits Coordinating Council, already raised over $100,000 on its own to build the playground, but several infrastructure issues need to be addressed at the city-owned park, such as storm water drainage, broken concrete pathways, and the need for retaining walls. These infrastructure improvements added nearly $250,000 to the budget estimate made by DC-based Landscape Architecture Bureau, who has been hired to design the playground. With the additional funds from the District, design work can proceed and a land survey can be conducted. Since the fiscal year begins on October 1, 2012, the District funds cannot be used until after that date. The first vote on the budget was done earlier this month and final passage is expected on June 5.

There will be a park clean-up this Saturday from 10am - 12pm at the Library Park. SWPP will provide bags, gloves, and refreshments.  Bring shovels, rakes, and of course, your children.

Meanwhile, another $400,000 is reserved in the FY2013 Budget for improvements to Lansburg Park, the large underutilized park located to the east of Greenleaf Gardens along Delaware Avenue. District funds reserved for Lansburg will go towards restoring the overhead lights, as well as installing basketball court to replace the tennis courts that are currently in bad shape. The "Friends of Lansburg Park" group was formed recently to join DPR's Parks Partners program and to use SWNA's 501c3 status to do fundraising. The Friends group is working with the PAWS of Southwest, who is applying with DPR to build what would be the largest dog park in the city at Lansburg, as well as with a group who wants a community garden. An open house was held last month to solicit ideas for the future of Lansburg and a charrette is planned for sometime this summer.

In addition, at the Southwest Duck Pond's annual Volunteer Recognition Event and sign unveiling ceremony yesterday, Council Member Wells announced there will be funding set aside in the FY2013 Budget for improvements to that park. As mentioned previously, there was funding set aside in the FY2012 Budget for park improvements, but since then, the newly created Department of General Services has taken jurisdiction over capital improvements from DPR and nixed the funding appropriation.