Blagden Alley Micro-Units Delayed Due to Lack of Parking

• December 2, 2014

by Lark Turner

Rendering of proposed Blagden Alley development.

The Board of Zoning Adjustment declined to rule on a Blagden Alley development on Tuesday due to questions raised by the project’s lack of parking.

SB-Urban wants to build 121 units in two connected properties in the alley at 90 and 91 Blagden Alley (map). (The project’s address was recently changed to ensure that the building residents would not be technically eligible for Residential Parking Permits.) The company is working on a similar project with no parking in the Patterson Mansion on Dupont Circle and another project with minimal parking in the Latham Hotel in Georgetown. All three projects consist exclusively of furnished micro-units.

The Office of Planning, the District Department of Transportation and ANC 2F supported the plan, but zoning board members seemed concerned that the ANC’s support came in a split 4-3 vote. SB-Urban said its relatively short-term residents won’t have or use cars. Instead they’re offering carshare and bikeshare memberships while prohibiting residents from obtaining RPPs. The company has also committed to installing a Capital Bikeshare station nearby, including bike parking spaces on-site, and even giving residents access to helmets.

So far SB-Urban’s other projects have had little trouble securing zoning and historic approval. But ultimately the board hesitated to approve the Blagden project, asking for more information on the impact of the lack of parking on the neighborhood. The board will hear from SB-Urban again on January 27.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/sb-urbans_blagden_alley_apartments_delayed_thanks_to_lack_of_parking/9286