Office of Planning Says Split Zoning is Possible at 1617 U Street

U Street AIR Press alert — Contact

The DC Office of Planning Embarrasses ANC 1B:
Split Zoning is Actually Possible at 1617 U Street
Black Neighbors Ask for a Customized Special Purpose Zone

Washington, DC — At the April 2023 Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1B (ANC 1B) monthly meeting, ANC Commission leadership spoke with command, presumably based on info given to them by the Office of Planning, that it was not possible for two or more new zone districts to be remapped at 1617 U Street, NW.

Chair of ANC 1B, Sabel Harris:
“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.”

ANC 1B subsequently voted to support OP's singular high-density MU10 zone proposed to be mapped across the entire 2-acres of public land where the 3D Police station and Engine 9 fire station currently operate from. Read ANC 1B's resolution here.

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 have been asking OP and the Zoning Commission to consider a customized special purpose zone specifically for 1617 U Street as has happened at various large parcels around the city. See expert memorandum on special purpose zones here.

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

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More information here: https://savedcpublicland.org/the1617project/

Some background on 1617 U Street NW — 2-acres of public land located at the foot of the Adams Morgan community and existing home of the Third District Police Station and Engine 9 DC Fire station.

The Mayor's Office of Planning has filed an application to convey the right to build a downtown-sized building on the site per the MU10 zone district.

Ward One Councilmember Brianne Nadeau has gone on record as facilitating the rezoning process and in favor of giving the land away for mostly luxury housing.

The immediate residential context around the police and fire station (along 17th, V Street, and Seaton Street NW) includes two- and three-story rowhomes (some dating back to the 1870's), including a longtime affordable Adams Morgan housing cooperative and a series of historic buildings owned by Frederick Douglass and his family. Many elders live nearby.

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.

See the FAQ's about the project for more information.

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