port recommends approval. In a late breaking development IBG asked that 700 Constitution NE be taken from HPRB’s February 23 meeting calendar.
Clean Hands
One issue not raised at any meetings which may play a role as this project moves forward is that Shin owes real property taxes on the property of $2,197,149.18 plus interest and penalties as well as a lien filed by WASA for $80,865.08. Under the District’s Clean Hands law (DC Code 47-2861-66) no one is allowed to secure a license or permit to do any business with the District government who owes more than $100.00. A Clean Hands certification is required from the Office of Tax & Revenue (OTR). These unpaid taxes could complicate arrangements between the developer and Dr. Shin and certainly will draw the interest of the affected community. Taxes on the property are just under $800,000 annually. According to District records the property was assessed in 2011 at $43,077,600. Helder Gil of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) asserts that the Clean Hands law applies only to getting a business license as he concedes that OTR only has mechanisms in place to monitor licenses. “OTR has never created a database where a permit” is reviewed adding when queried whether applications are ever denied: “There are not many but it does occur once in awhile.” The law states clearly that both licenses and permits are its intent. The lingering question remains: can Shin lease this property to IBG who presumably have the clean hands necessary to do business with the District or are either Shin or IBG or both disqualified from moving forward until this issue is resolved ? Attempts to reach Shin and Scott Fuller, President of IBG were unsuccessful. H
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