78 Affordable Apartments Proposed to Replace Former Sanford Capitol Property in DC

• January 10th 2019

by Nena Perry-Brown

Another former Sanford Capital property may soon be razed and replaced.

An affiliate of the Wesley Housing Development Corporation has applied to the Zoning Commission to bring an all-affordable, 78-apartment development to 1 Hawaii Avenue NE (map). 

The parcel is a triangular island at the intersection of Rock Creek Church Road, Allison Street NW and Hawaii Avenue NE, just off North Capitol Street NW. The existing 34-unit building was owned by Sanford Capital prior to the company's alleged slumlord activity led to bankruptcy and foreclosure proceedings and the company being banned from operating in the District. The tenants assigned their purchase rights to Wesley last March.

The new building would offer studios to three-bedrooms affordable to households earning between 30-80 percent of median family income (MFI). The affordability covenant would expire after 40 years, after which time inclusionary zoning requirements would apply.

As designed by Bonstra | Haresign Architects, the new construction would have a T-shaped footprint similar to what exists now, with an outdoor patio amenity facing Rock Creek Church Road. There would also be 12 below-grade parking spaces.

The project requires relief from the minimum PUD lot size and loading berth clearance requirements. A hearing has not yet been scheduled.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/78-affordable-apartments-proposed-to-replace-former-sanford-capitol-propert/14868.