March Madness is Upon Us: DC Releases 2016 Development Opportunities

• March 25th 2016

by Nena Perry-Brown

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This morning, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor of Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) hosted their second annual “March Madness” event, where development opportunities across the city are previewed for interested parties. Some of the projects have been in the works for many years or are past the proposal phase, while others are new to the development pipeline. Below we outline many of the opportunities.

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library

One of the most closely-watched redevelopment projects is the DC Public Library’s (DCPL) flagship Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library at 901 G Street NW (map). The historic landmarked building totals 431,082 square feet and is in need of a complete modernization. DCPL is putting the C4-zoned site up for construction bids this summer or fall.

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Hearst Park and Pool

With a builder solicitation scheduled for January 2017, the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is hoping to transform the Hearst Park and Pool at 3950 37th Street NW (map) into a state-of-the-art aquatic facility. An under-maintained multipurpose field with adjacent tennis courts, park areas and sidewalks currently occupies the 6.5-acre site.

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Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library

This summer, DCPL will be putting the Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library at 3310 Connecticut Avenue NW (map) up for a construction bid. The 19,929 square-foot site two blocks from the Cleveland Park Metro station is zoned as CP/C2A.

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1125 Spring Road NW

The rehabilitation and repurposing of the historic former Hebrew Home at 1125 Spring Road NW (map) has been in limbo for several years now, but the DMPED office plans on soliciting RFPs next month. The 144,000 square-foot parcel in question is zoned as Diplomatic and R-4 and also includes two other buildings, surface parking and green space.

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809 and 813 Kennedy Street NW

In May, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is putting up the vacant plots at 809 and 813 Kennedy Street NW (map) for an RFP. Totaling 10,638 square feet, the C2A-zoned site can be built to upwards of 28,395 square feet, and DCHD would like to see it become a mixed-use or multi-family property.

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Crummell School

The 20,000 square foot historic Crummell School and its 80,000+ square foot parking lot is prime for rehabilitation and redevelopment. An RFP will be released in April, and the site, located at 1900 Gallaudet Street NE (map) is zoned as CM1.

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Edgewood Park and Recreation Center

DPR is in the early part of the design process for the Edgewood Park and Recreation Center at Third and Evarts Street NE (map). There is currently a one-story building on the 5.6-acre site, as well as a lighted athletic and baseball field, playground, picnic areas, two tennis courts and two basketball courts. DPR would like to see a 10,000-square foot facility come to the R4-zoned site, with plans including a kitchen, fitness center, office space, multi-purpose rooms and a rooftop farm. A builder solicitation is slated for September.

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Keene School

The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME) is putting the Keene School, at 33 Riggs Road NE (map), up for a Request for Offers (RFO) in May. The 62,730 square-foot building is operable, but requires intensive renovation to fulfill its intended use as a charter school. The building is zoned as R5A.

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Florida Avenue and Q Street NW

Seven vacant lots and an empty building at Florida Avenue and Q Street NW (map) will be put up for an RFP in May. The DHCD envisions that the 12,402 square-foot site will either be used for residential use with up to 60 percent of the site occupied, or 100 percent occupied for other uses. Two of the lots are R4 zoned, while the remainder are C2A.

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Northwest One

The Northwest One moniker is a throw-back to the grand New Communities Initiative redevelopment program launched by Mayor Anthony Williams administration. This June or July, the surface parking lot at North Capitol and K Streets NW (map) will be put forth for RFPs. At about 196,816 square feet, the site is ripe for up to 800 housing units and is zoned as C2A, C2B and R5D.

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Parking Deck at Second and H Streets NW

Also set for an April RFP is the parking deck at 200 H Street NW (map), zoned as C2C. This site is a crucial companion to the Capitol Crossing development.

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Southwest Neighborhood Library

Located two blocks from the Waterfront-SEU Metro station at 900 Wesley Place SW (map), DCPL would like to see the current Southwest Neighborhood Library demolished and replaced with new construction. The R3-zoned site totals 22,032 square feet and is coming up for an RFP this fall.

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Benning Park Community Center

DPR is soliciting builders for the Benning Park Community Center at 5100 Southern Avenue SE (map). The structure itself is in disrepair, and the roof, windows and HVAC system all need to be replaced. The entire site is 8.9 acres, while the 24,000 square foot building contains a boxing ring, computer lab, kitchen, fitness room, gymnasium, dance rooms, a community room with a stage, and lockers for an outdoor pool. The solicitation is scheduled for November, and the space is zoned R2.

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MLK Gateway

Located at the nexus of historic Anacostia, this particular RFP intends to connect and transform this intersection across two sites. The first, at 1909 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE (map), is 5,400 square feet of vacant land, while the second, at 1201-1215 Good Hope Road SE (map), is 13,200 square feet of vacant storefronts and land. Zoned as C3A, any RFP will have to incorporate the existing storefront facades on Good Hope Road.

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PR Harris School

Another DME release is the PR Harris School at 4600 Livingston Road SE (map). The 348,7000 square-foot building is in poor condition and needs major construction and renovation work. Zoned as R5A, the RFP will be put forth in May and will solicit options for use by a charter school, the University of the District of Columbia, or the District itself.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/march_madness_is_upon_us_dcs_2016_rfp_preview/11025.