Douglas Development’s H Street Project Gets Final Green Light

• June 30, 2015

by Tianna Mañón

The latest rendering of the H Street project

The Zoning Commission gave final approval to Douglas Development’s mixed-use project along the H Street Corridor on Monday night.

Douglas sought a residential rezoning for the site and variances from parking, rear yard and loading requirements. According to the developer’s statement, a rear yard large enough to comply with zoning regulations would interfere with space designated for trash and parking. Additionally, the parking variance was requested because Douglas said that the site was not large enough for the 25 required spaces, and also that the parking wouldn’t be necessary given the neighborhood’s easy accessibility to public transit.

The 25-31 unit residential project, planned for 5th Street NE and H Street NE (map), will be a six-story mixed-use building with over 15,000 square feet of retail on the first and second levels. Three of the residential units will be set aside for those making 50 percent of the area median income. There will also be five parking spots at ground level, one of which will be for a car-share company. A statement from the District Department of Transportation stated that five spaces would be sufficient for the site, and persuaded Commissioners that residents may be encouraged to use public transit, if they’re not already, to reduce the strain on parking.

Parking continues to be a sticking point for the Zoning Commission, and Douglas created a comprehensive transit plan to offset the little available parking at the project. The plan will give residents a $100 SmartTrip card and a one-year BikeShare membership. A TransitScreen, which gives residents a running log of coming buses and trains, will also be installed in the building lobby.

The new development is just one of many coming to the Corridor.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/h_street_development_moves_forward/10065