Metro to Sell Eight Surplus Properties, Including a Columbia Heights Dog Park

• January 16th 2019

by Nena Perry-Brown

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While the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) waded into several endeavors to have their properties redeveloped last year, the agency is starting 2019 with its foot on the gas.

Metro announced yesterday that it has contracted with NAI Michael to put eight surplus properties on the market for sale and one for ground lease. Each site is at or near a Metro station and could potentially support development. The agency also announced plans to put other properties on the market over the next two years (likely to include the current site of WMATA headquarters).

This news comes on the heels of reports that the federal government shutdown has made a sizeable dent in daily ridership, leaving WMATA to deal with a potentially huge revenue shortfall.

“We are turning over every stone, looking at all of our assets to get the most out of every dollar and ensure continued financial stability,” Metro General Manager and CEO Paul Wiedefeld said in a statement.

Here are the nine properties being offered:

• A corner lot that currently houses a de facto dog park at 1100 Park Road NW (map). News of this site hitting the market garnered some attention last week, as the neighborhood had previously rallied in order to preempt a rumored sale and preserve its dog-park status. The DC Council appropriated $1.5 million toward purchasing the park last year, although the funds won't be available until October. The 7,355 square-foot site is zoned MU-4 and is four blocks from Columbia Heights Metro station; the vents on the site must remain unobstructed.

• A single-family lot in the 7100 block of Chestnut Street NW (map). The site is zoned R-1-B and is adjacent to the Red Line tracks, one block from Takoma Metro station.

• A 2.26-acre parcel adjacent to the west entrance of the Glenmont Metro station (map). The site is zoned for both residential and mixed-use and has Metro tunnels running beneath.

• A pad, available for ground lease, next to the east entrance of Glenmont Metro station at 12415 Georgia Avenue (map).

• A roughly 6-acre parcel abutting the Whole Foods-anchored Riverdale Park Station at the intersection of Baltimore Avenue and Albion Road (map). The site sits atop Green Line Metro tunnels and is one mile from College Park Metro station.

• A three-acre parcel at 9400 Lottsford Road (map), a half-mile from Largo Town Center Metro Station. This site is atop train storage and is also in an Opportunity Zone. The zoning supports development up to 130 feet tall; office or medical use is recommended. 

• Two parcels adjacent to Southern Avenue Metro station (map). One site is roughly 34 acres to the south and southeast of the Metro, while the other is 4 acres to the northeast of the Metro. The sites are zoned M-X-T, allowing for high-density residential, and are also in an Opportunity Zone. A sector plan previously identified the site as prime for two residential buildings with 300-600 units.

• A parcel of about an acre across the street from Branch Avenue Metro station (map). The site is zoned for light industrial development.

• A 0.69-acre surface parking lot at 5708 Vine Street (map), a half-mile from Van Dorn Metro station. The site is zoned for general industrial use.

Correction: Although WMATA identifies the Chestnut Street site as being at 7100, it is actually at the opposite end of the 7100 block of Chestnut Street NW.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/metro-to-sell-eight-surplus-properties/14889.