{"id":133,"date":"2023-06-10T00:02:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-10T00:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/?p=133"},"modified":"2026-04-19T16:59:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T16:59:03","slug":"the-split-is-it-overwhelming-support-for-sensible-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/savedcpublicland.org\/the1617project\/2023\/06\/10\/the-split-is-it-overwhelming-support-for-sensible-development\/","title":{"rendered":"The Split is It: Subdividing the 2-acre public site to grant higher density along U Street, and much lower densities along 17th and V Streets"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Subdivision & Mixed Zoning<\/a> at 17th & U Street NW<\/b>
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In considering any proposal for redevelopment at 1617 U Street (Police & Fire Station), many neighbors are asking the city to put density on the U Street side of the block, and much lower density if any along V and 17th Street for obvious reasons (the surrounding area is nearly all in historic districts consisting of two- and three-story homes with many dating back to the 1800’s.<\/div>\n
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There is fundamental support for split zoning the site within the DC Comprehensive Plan’s Generalized Policy Map, which indicates that the northern half of the site is a Neighborhood Conservation Area<\/a><\/strong> and that zoning should mimic existing development patterns.\u00a0

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The Split Zone (Mixed zoning) concept is not new for 17th and U Street NW.<\/u><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
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As recently as 2 years ago, Ward One Councilmember Brianne Nadeau was floating the idea<\/a><\/b> and we are not sure where along the way it became High Density for the whole site.<\/div>\n
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This indicated split zone can be asked for as had been anticipated (in the GPM) in order to truly protect the low rise historic districts surrounding the site.<\/div>\n
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The split zoning would help ease impacts on the low rise 17th street side of the site while benefiting from greater density on the U Street side of the site.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Instead, right now, the Mayor through DMPED is poised to support re-designating the entire public site at 1617-1620 U Street (police & fire station) to High Density zoning allowing future 10-story buildings across the whole site “by right”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Adams Morgan Commissioner, Margaret Stevens affirms with the DC Office of Planning that subdivsion and mixed zoning (split-zoning) can happen at 1617 U Street NW<\/h2>\n\n\n\n