District Plans to Swap Land to Preserve Brookland Green

Photo by PoPville flickr user hellomarkers!

From the Mayor’s office:

“Mayor Vincent C. Gray and Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie (D-Ward 5) announced a plan for the District’s Department of General Services (DGS) to swap unused parcels of land in exchange for the Brookland Green site owned by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).

WMATA plans to redevelop the land adjacent to the Brookland Metro Station. Those plans originally included redeveloping the Brookland Green, a parcel of land that contains mature trees. Although the development immediately adjacent to the Brookland Metro station is generally favored, many residents and Councilmember McDuffie opposed the plan to redevelop the Brookland Green site.

“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to craft an agreement that will allow development to continue but will also save this important green space,” noted Mayor Gray. “While improving and diversifying the District’s economy has been one of my top goals, we’ve worked hard to preserve and grow green space as part of our Sustainable DC plan.”

“I welcome additional commercial amenities in the Brookland neighborhood; however, it is important that projects achieve an appropriate balance between development, and the preservation of a neighborhood’s character and historic features,” stated Councilmember McDuffie.

Under the proposed agreement, the District would assume control of the Brookland Green site, leaving the remainder of the land to be developed by WMATA.”