Ga Ave development mtg

[from the office of Muriel Bowser]

Please join Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser and the Deputy Mayor's Office for Planning and Economic Development to hear presentations from potential developers for the properties at 3813, 3815, and 3825-29 Georgia Avenue.

Thursday 8/21, 6:30pm

Patrol Services Bureau (formerly ROC)

801 Shepherd Street

Comments

[Jeff Green]

Ed,

Great Question....

Not sure about the legality of the DC Government ability to own a parking garage. Maybe someone else in the community has better insight into the legality of this ownership.

But I can confirm that the DC Government owns parking garage beneath the DC USA Development.

Now DC Government was not the original owner of the parking garage, they became the owners of the garage due to the consolidation of Economic Development Agencies (Anacostia Waterfront Corp. (AWC) and the National Capital Revitalization Corp. (NCRC)) into the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED).

Read thru the links below:

http://brc.dc.gov/newsroom/2006/february/02_27.asp#1

http://www.columbiaheightsnews.org/News/News-Front/Parking-at-DC-USA.html

http://dcbiz.dc.gov/dmped/cwp/view%2Ca%2C1368%2Cq%2C605398%2CdmpedNav_GID%2C1790%2C.asp

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=846

Jeff Green (Candidate for ANC-C08)
3814 8th St, NW

[Ed]

Mr Green,
I seem to remember hearing that the reason there aren't publicly owned parking lots in DC is because it is illegal for DC government to own and run them. Therefore they are ALL privately owned. Are you positive that it is DC Gov't that runs the parking garage at DC USA?

[Scott]

What is the timeline on all of this development? Is anything (other than Park Place) coming in in the meantime?

[Jeff Green]

The good, the bad, and the ugly of getting what you asked for…… and parking solutions for thought.

First, the good…..
I think that we all have agree that development is needed on these two blighted properties (3812-3815 and 3825-3829 Georgia Ave), as in their current state they provide no value to the community as a whole. The development of these properties is another step in the evolution of Georgia Ave, which is long overdue. And the selecting of a developer by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development is a step in the right direction. Now, it was clearly stated during the meeting, "That this is the beginning of the process, once a developer is selected." After the selection of a developer is made; The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, the selected developer, and the community can proceed with the task of moving the ideas and desires of the community into an agreement that outlines what will be developed on these two properties...

Now, the bad….
The process in getting to this point has been protracted. And the communication from the all the parties involved, could always have been better. But does that mean that we should stop this process and start over? My answer to that is, NO……

Now during the meeting we identified the following concerns and impact that this development will have on our community:
• Parking…..from people living in these developments
• Parking…..from people patronizing the establishments in these developments
• Building Heights….not in scale with what current exist
• Aesthetic Appearance of the Development….Exterior finishes may be a little to modern for some.

During the meeting we also identify the following concerns that need to be address in our community regardless of any development:
• Parking….. from commuters taking Metro Rail
• Parking…...the lack of enforcement

And finally, the ugly….
Redevelopment /Development in our community will bring with it change. This change has been long overdue….. But there is never good without bad in the universe or in our community. Now to achieve the correct balance of good and bad will require some outside the boxthinking and involvement from the community, interested developers, current/future business, and the DC Government. We all asked for development, and now that it is knocking at the door we must answer, or miss our window of opportunity.

Some solutions for thought….to address the issue of parking.

Now it's been proven that if you build it they with come…. The next question becomes where they all will park…….

Has the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development put any thought into working with Safeway on their purposed redevelopment of the Store at 3830 Georgia Ave to increase the number and size of the planned underground parking (Like what was done with the DC USA development http://brc.dc.gov/newsroom/2006/february/02_27.asp#1), where the DC government financed and now owns the garage below the DC USA mall. If not, why not?

Why is it that the DC Department of Transportation/Department of Public Works posted Zone 4C parking permit signs, in the areas around the Petworth Metro station, but DC Department of Motor Vehicles does not have the ability to issue Zone 4C parking permits?

Has there been any thought of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, if they don't already own, acquiring the open parcel at Georgia and New Hampshire (http://maps.google.com/maps? f=q&hl=en&q=3700+Georgia+Ave+NW,+Washington,+District+of+Columbia,+District+of+Columbia+20010,+United+States&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=39.507908,92.8125&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=0,38.936409,-77.024325&ll=38.935618,-77.024444&spn=0.001187,0.002832&t=h&z=19&iwloc=addr ) for retail with parking surrounding (similar to what was done with the parking garages in downtown Silver Spring, MD on Fenton St)

Jeff Green (Candidate for ANC-C08)
3814 8th St, NW