the Hunt proposal, “construction could have started two years ago and would be well on its way.”
Washington, We Have a Problem
Claims and counterclaims aside, Reservation 13 represents a major challenge to any developer, especially in an economic era of dollar-squeezing and lack of financial incentives from the city. Progress on development is slow for many reasons other than politics. First, Reservation 13 was not zoned. Rather than wait for development, it was decided that the land should be pre-zoned in accordance with the master plan. The Zoning Commission approved special zoning in 2008, finalized in 2009, creating the Hill East District overlay that included Reservation 13. Even though the District had jurisdiction over Reservation 13, the land was federally owned. In 2006 the District and the federal government agreed on a land swap, but it took until 2010 to transfer the land to District ownership. To complicate matters further, Reservation 13 is now in Ward 7 as of January because of redistricting, even though it lies adjacent to the Hill East neighborhood in Ward 6 and all negotiations and plans formerly went through Ward 6. Council member Tommy Wells (Ward 6) stands firmly in support of the master plan. “There’s the master plan and the city’s comprehensive plan, and it would take a lot of work and hearings to change it,” Wells said. “The master plan with community support is how we should go forward.” Council member Yvette Alexander said that, because the issue only recently landed in her district, she would address the concerns of Ward 7 before weighing in on Reservation 13. “I plan to review the master plan with Ward 7 residents, get their input and go from there,” Alexander said, noting that the mayor had asked for RFPs for parcels F1 and G1 at the site.
Rehab, Remediation, Preservation
Since DC General Hospital closed more than a decade ago, Reservation 13 has become the go-to site (some say “dumping ground”) for social services. A spokesman for Mayor Gray asked, “Where will we take these social services, including the DC Jail? Where will they go? It’s not like any community is dying to have a homeless shelter or a methadone clinic.” Remediation issues include possible lead and asbestos in older buildings and underground tunnels. The adjacent RFK Stadium and its parking lots were created with landfill dredged from the Anacostia and may also be
toxic, which might affect development of Reservation 13. Anne Archbold Hall, a former nurses’ dormitory, is one of the oldest buildings remaining on the site and has landmark designation. The building was declared “endangered” by the DC Preservation League and is badly in need of repair. It is also uncertain how it would fit into a development plan, though the Hunt Plan included restoring the landmark as part of the project.
“We Need a Catalyst”
The mayor’s office has insisted that the idea for a Redskins training facility is just that—a suggestion among many. “This is a pro-development mayor and a pro-development community, but we need a catalyst to draw developers there without having to subsidize them,” the spokesman said, mentioning successful projects like the Verizon Center and the Nationals Ballpark. “We understand the frustrations of the community,” he said. “We want to develop Reservation 13 as much as they do, so we can get it on the tax rolls and give the neighborhood the parks and other amenities they want.”
What Happens Next?
To realize such a project, the master plan would have to be amended or scrapped altogether, the area would have to be re-zoned and any changes would have to be approved by the City Council and the Zoning Commission. This is not likely to happen. Council Chair Kwame Brown said, “I think Hill East will be developed,” adding that he is “completely committed to the fully vetted plan the community supports.” Brown’s support is pivotal if the Mayor wants to change the Reservation 13 Master Plan. In his role as Chair of the Council, he has oversight over economic development, land dispositions and zoning, all of which reside in the Committee of the Whole Brown noted that several steps are required to move the process along, including possible amendments to the master plan, a Request for Proposals (RFP) and selection of a developer. “Then it would require a council vote to surplus the land and give it to a developer.” Meanwhile, according to ANC 6B Commissioner Brian Flahaven, the master plan worked out more than a decade ago offers the best framework for going forward. “The core of the master plan remains as viable today as it was ten years ago,” Flahaven said. “As long as this idea of a Redskins training facility is out there, it’s holding up everything.” H capitalcommunitynews.com H 45