Development

Some Love for Walmart and Adams Morgan Hotel

By Prince Of Petworth

We’ve heard a lot of objections to Walmart and the Adams Morgan Hotel plans. So I thought it was noteworthy to see some groups rallying in support:

Since there has been some concern raised that nobody is organizing those of us in the neighborhood who SUPPORT the Walmart development, I’ve taken on that task. I’ve created a new Yahoo Group, titled Ward4WalmartSupporters. If you’d like to join, please search the group out on Yahoo Groups, or send an email to [email protected]

We will discuss, constructively, some of the concerns that have been raised in these fora, develop ideas on how to constructively engage the developer and Walmart to ensure those concerns are heard and most importantly, act as a voice for those who want and need easy access to a low-cost retail and grocery option in our neighborhood.

And for the Adams Morgan Hotel from the AdamsMorgan MainStreet Group:

“***Clarification One: Creation of the availability of a tax abatement does not mean the project is approved. It only means the next steps of public approval can begin — the PUD process through ANC, HPRB, and BZA with public announcements and comments.

***Clarification Two: Anyone who is worried about budget cuts, should be for this project. Applied to a non-producing church property, it actually ADDS REVENUE TO CITY COFFERS which can be applied to programs. This project could make up some of the revenue the city has had to deduct from needed services. This $46 million tax abatement does not impact the city’s debt at all, and only adds cash flow because it abates taxes that do not yet exist. $7 million in CASH from all taxes and fees (only property tax is postponed) is paid annually during the tax abatement period ($5 million net to city if prorate the abatement). When the abatement period ends, the total revenue to the city goes up to $9, 10 – 15 million and more as the years go by.

Continues after the jump (more…)

The 5pm Post – ANC Meeting on Proposed Adams Morgan Hotel Thursday Night

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I thought you may want to notify your readers that ANC 1C is holding a forum on Thursday night to discuss the proposed Adams Morgan hotel. The only place I have seen it posted is on the Adams Morgan Yahoo listserv. I know the topic generated a good bit of discussion on your site the other day and I thought some of your readers might be interested in attending.

A reminder that you are invited to the Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1C Forum on the proposed hotel development on the lots encompassing the First Church of Christ, Scientist and the building housing the Washington City Paper and WPFW Radio Station:

When and Where:

Thursday, December 16
7:00 PM

Mary’s Center for Maternal Care
2355 Ontario Road, NW
(The pink building)”

More Development for Adams Morgan – New Condos Coming to 18th and Wyoming

By Prince Of Petworth

According the WY18 Condos:

The Warrington and the Wilmington are two of a kind in a one-of-a-kind setting. Welcome to WY18. Located at the intersection of Wyoming Avenue and 18th Street NW, this completely renovated pair of post-industrial era buildings have classical charm throughout. Even more charming, it’s nestled in the heart of Adams Morgan, one of The District’s richest neighborhoods, whose charismatic streets are ripe with multicultural eateries, eclectic shops and a vibrant nightlife. WY18 has easy access to everything Washington DC has to offer, plus quality construction, high-end finishes and thoughtful features.

It also says prices start from the $500’s. I’ll be updated as construction progresses.

Vacant Building at 2448 18th St, NW to Finally Get Renovated, Become Affordable Housing in Adams Morgan?

By Prince Of Petworth

This building located next to the Reef has been vacant and rather rundown for as long as I can remember. I just noticed a zoning proposal go up on the door for a project by Jubilee Housing. These are the same folks who fixed up the Sorrento building at 18th and Kalorama Rd, NW. I think they did a fantastic job on that building.

Jubilee Housing is:

“a faith based non-profit organization founded in 1973 to provide affordable housing and supportive services to economically disadvantaged residents of the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC. Jubilee serves more than 700 individuals and families, and has been a model for programs around the country seeking effective responses to the urban affordable housing crisis. The vision and purpose of Jubilee Housing is about more than providing housing, it is about making it possible for members of the Jubilee community to become their best selves in an atmosphere of supportive community.”

Opposition to relocate the District’s Maryland-based juvenile detention center to the Walter Reed hospital campus

By Prince Of Petworth


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Thanks to all who sent in word about this development first reported by the Washington Business Journal:

“The District’s lofty long-term vision for the Walter Reed Army Medical Center when the campus closes next year features residential, retail, office, education and medical uses spread out across 62.5 acres.

U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., has one more use he’d like to add: juvenile detention.

Cardin wants the District to move the New Beginnings Youth Development Center, currently located in Laurel, to the Walter Reed campus.”

Council Member Muriel Bowser opposes the idea. From a press release:

“Ward 4 Councilmember Bowser has joined with Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton to fight a proposal to relocate the District’s Maryland-based juvenile detention center to the Walter Reed hospital campus. The District is poised to redevelop a portion of the campus for educational and commercial uses.

“Delegate Holmes Norton and I are committed to protecting Ward 4 and the community’s plans for the redevelopment of Walter Reed,” said Bowser. “Relocating New Beginnings to the campus is simply inappropriate for a residential area, would scuttle the long-contemplated redevelopment plan, and would undermine the desires of the community.”

The proposed legislation, sponsored by Senator Ben Cardin, D-Md, would prohibit the Secretary of the Army from approving a redevelopment plan for Walter Reed that does not provide for the transfer of the recently opened $40 million New Beginnings Youth Development Center, located in Laurel, Maryland.”

Dear PoP – zoning variance on kenyon + park b/t 13th and 14th St, NW in Columbia Heights

By Prince Of Petworth


Kenyon House 1349 Kenyon St, NW

“Dear PoP,

I got a notice yesterday in the mail about this hearing.  It’s regarding this propsal,  The building on Kenyon is currently occupied and the one on Park looks mostly vacant.  Since the hearing involves both these properties, which are adjacent, I wonder if the developer will try to connect the two?  I also don’t really know the significance of the zoning change or why they would pursue it.  Another question is what will happen with the current residents – during and after the construction?

As a resident on this block I’m quite curious about this proposal and what it might mean for the neighborhood.  Both properties are quite large so anything done on them would be a big deal for the neighborhood.”

Wow, it’ll be very interesting to track the developments here. More info as it becomes available.


1346 Park Road NW

Details after the jump. (more…)

CM Jim Graham Updates Us on, “A Hotel for Adams Morgan”

By Prince Of Petworth

Dear Friends,

Residents have contacted me regarding the Adams Morgan hotel project at Euclid and Champlain Streets. Opinion appears to be divided but, overall, people are anxious for more information.

I authored the tax abatement bill in order to make this project a reality. The bill proposes to abate property taxes for up to 20 years beginning October 1, 2014, capped at $46 million.

This is a chicken and egg situation– we need to offer this tax relief in order to get this property on the tax rolls (including sales tax, hotel tax, income tax for jobs, parking tax, and ultimately, real estate tax). The DC Chief Financial Officer has certified that–without this tax relief– the project is not feasible and will not proceed. With this relief, DC will net about $5 million annually in revenue.

Thus, through this abatement, we restore to productive use a currently vacant historic church building, insure a development that will create jobs, add district revenue, and increase daytime commerce in a neighborhood where this would dramatically improve business and public safety. Daytime commerce is a key issue: It will more balance for what is now a very heavy reliance on nightlife. In consequence there will be more daytime retail opportunities.

Plan B?—Continued deterioration of this vacant historic church, no tax revenue for the district, no new jobs, and nothing contributed to the surrounding neighborhood. The very tiny church congregation (under 20 members) cannot afford to either maintain or use the building.

There has been extensive community discussion about this project including more than 25 meetings over a period of years with the ANC and community organizations. The Council held a public hearing on my bill on October 7.

There is still another opportunity for community input at an ANC Forum to be held on December 16 at 7pm. (The location will be announced soon.) A Council vote on a tax abatement might occur after this forum, possibly as soon as December 21.

And then there will be more comment–Should this project go forward, the District’s land use planning process (planned unit development (PUD)) will offer further, extensive opportunity for community input on issues such as height, density, parking, design elements, community benefits package &c.

Regarding the tax abatement, the Chief Financial Officer has reported that it will have no negative fiscal impact.

Some have suggested that the Developer would go ahead with or without a tax abatement. As I mentioned earlier, the Chief Financial Officer has done an analysis based on the costs and revenue of this project and has determined that the project would not proceed without a tax abatement.

Yesterday, the Council was expected to take the first vote on the bill that I introduced. However, for procedural reasons, the Council was not permitted to take this vote. The bill was temporarily held-up in the Committee on Finance and Revenue in order to gather additional information. Once the Committee finally voted to support the bill, it was too late to meet the notice requirements to get on the agenda for the Council meeting.

Do you think a tax abatement for this proposed hotel is a good idea?

Anyone know how long this building has already been vacant?

Dear PoP – Church at 10th and V St, NW: Change of Plans?

By Prince Of Petworth

The saga of the old church at 10th and V St, NW continues. Thanks to a reader for sending in the latest:

“Dear PoP,

I’ve been following the progress on the church owned by Sorg & Associates at 10th and V St NW. While the arrival of the new dumpsters is encouraging I was wondering if anyone knows any details of the redevelopment plan.

I had read that Sorg planned to turn the church into office space, with 60+ condos to be built on the adjacent vacant lot.

Out of curiosity I checked out the building plan review status on DCRA’s page http://cpms.dcra.dc.gov/OBPAT/idjob_info.asp (Application B1009512). It appears that the owner has submitted new plans to build 3 apartment units (per the “Fire Review”)?

The church building seems much too large for 3 apartment units.

Any idea what the new plans might entail?”

Yeah, that would be three huge apartment units. Do you think they’ll be super luxury units or do you think the number is likely off?

Dear PoP – What is Being Built Next to the Diner on Bladensburg Rd, NE?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Any idea what is being built next to Capital City Diner (1050 Bladensburg Road, NE)? Its been over a month and its coming up fast. I asked around but no-one seems to know, even the people building it.”

Matt from the Diner tells me:

“City-funded (multi-million dollar, I think, through a city grant) 4-story 15-unit apartment building, I believe. Supposed to be finished early next year.”

And nearby across the street a bit closer to H St, NE there is a huge project called the “Flats at Atlas District” under way:

“Clark Realty Capital is developing The Flats at Atlas District, a multifamily luxury apartment community located near the H Street, Atlas, Trinidad, and Rosedale communities in the Northeast quadrant of Washington, DC, a short walk from the many restaurants, shops, and bars on H Street as well as the historic Atlas Theater.”

This is Gonna Make a Sweet Before and After Photo

By Prince Of Petworth

This is from the 1300 block of 14th St, NW. The space that used to house Rollin Cycles and will become more apartments and retail on the ground floor. It is my dream that one day a bright-eyed blogger (or ‘journo-blogger’ as they’ll then be called) will discover this photo in 2049 and say, “holy shit”.

In the meantime – soak up the ‘before’…

And let’s hope they keep this classic transom:

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