Split Zoning is Actually Possible at 1617 U Street
Black Neighbors Ask for a Customized Special Purpose Zone
“There is no such thing as split zoning in DC which is why it is not being considered.”
ANC 1B Vice Chair, Larry Handerhan:
“You cannot zone a single site different zones, that's not possible like in the way that the zoning code is written in DC.”
Just this week, the DC Office of Planning (“OP”) filed a new report suggesting that “Two zones” split across the 1617 U Street site is possible as an alternative to a singular high-density zone on the entire 2-acre site. See OP report here.
This is the first time the Office of Planning is publicly acknowledging split-zoning as a possible solution to the overwhelming public outcry since filing their zoning application more than a year ago.
If ANC1B had been informed long ago by OP that split-zoning was possible at 1617 U Street, ANC Commissioners may have discussed a more attenuated position. As it was, ANC 1B struggled with supporting OP's rezoning application demonstrated by their resolution showing numerous concerns and conditions about the proposed singular high-density zone mapped onto the entire 2-acre site.
Black Neighbors of 1617 U Street, NW say that customizing a special purpose zone would provide for a far more thoughtful zoning approach to any future development at the site, ensuring much deeper affordability and family-sized housing. Designing a custom zone would also compel the Office of Planning to have meaningful open conversations with the affected community who have been so-far turned around and pushed aside in this zoning process: https://youtu.be/_jLKYM-tanU
More information here: https://savedcpublicland.org/the1617project/
Frederick Douglass' former home in the Strivers Section of Adams Morgan (at corner of 17th and U Street NW).
No one knows for sure what will happen to the future of the police and fire stations operating there now.
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