Redevelopment of the Grimke Site 1923 Vermont Avenue NW Community Statement of Goals *Grimke Redevelopment Working Group - Unanimously Approved 01/07/14 (7-0) & Confirmed 10/23/14 (4-0-2) U Street Neighborhood Association – Unanimously Approved 01/09/14 (7-0) Westminster Neighborhood Association – Unanimously Approved 01/28/14 (7-0) ANC Design Committee – Approved 4/21/14 (7-1)
Community-DC Partnership Throughout the Grimke redevelopment process, DC should actively involve the public. Information should be openly shared. Community goals should carry “great weight”. This & any other Community Statements should be attached to the RFP. Proposals received from the RFP should be fully shared with the community for evaluation.
General Goals
Daytime Emphasis - Promote daytime through early evening visitor traffic. Limit late night uses. The neighborhood currently suffers from an imbalance of uses, with evening activity far outweighing daytime activity.
Diversity & Mixed Use – Contribute to smart urban development by improving the existing living, working & shopping mix in the community, bringing under-represented uses to this site.
Private/Public Partnership and Funding - Encourage a mixed-use of the site to provide sufficient private funding & tax revenue, along with public and non-profit funding, to provide community-serving uses.
Limited Buildings – In this R4 residential zone, limit buildings to existing heights & similar footprint, maintaining current open space.
Quality Development & Maintenance - Assure that fine design & construction will be completed, with quality maintenance, including landscaping. Show sensitivity to the historic structures on & near the site.
Sustainability – Utilize low impact development design (permeable pavement & other techniques), especially to limit run-off onto T Street, which is currently excessive.
Parking (Post Construction) – Limit parking to occupants only.
Grimke Community Statement, Page 1 of 3
Interim Management (Previous to Construction) – Plan & schedule proper care for the sites, meeting regularly with the community. o Maintenance - Maintain the property throughout the potentially lengthy redevelopment process to the highest safety and aesthetic standards possible. Secure & stabilize the structure, including closing & repairing windows. Turn off interior lights. Remove trash & unsightly containers. o Security – Secure & regularly patrol the sites, monitoring with cameras. o Parking – Allow Museum & residential parking on the main site, with paid parking on the U street site, as interim uses.
Urgency - Proceed as rapidly as possible. This blighted property is already long overdue for redevelopment & is largely vacant, creating a potential hazard for the community.
Desirable Uses
Commercial - Encourage economic diversification by recruiting types of businesses not currently well-represented in the neighborhood. Business income, taxes and services are an important part of the proposed partnership. o Office – Bring daytime workers to the neighborhood. o Business Center - Promote the many neighborhood businesses to visitors.
Cultural/Arts o African American Civil War Museum - Remain fully operational on site throughout construction & beyond. o Neighborhood - Serve as a heritage center to celebrate, educate and direct visitors to the neighborhood’s various cultural attractions. Tell the history of “Black Broadway,” the jazz legacy and this prominent African American neighborhood. o Arts Center - Serve as a center to celebrate, educate, and direct visitors to artists in this Arts Overlay neighborhood. o Gallery, Studio and Small Performance Space - Provide space with a preference for local, established organizations with track records of community service and activity.
Grimke Community Statement, Page 2 of 3
Acceptable Uses
Residences (9 ½ Street Building Only) - Replace the existing non-contributing building with architecturally-appropriate housing to complement the existing townhouses there.
Daytime Retail – Provide goods & services currently lacking in the neighborhood.
Undesirable Uses
Bars, Clubs & Restaurants – Nightlife & associated alcohol are already well established in the neighborhood & would be particularly inappropriate for the main site in this residential block.
School - The site has no outdoor play area; exercise is a necessary part of a healthy learning environment. School budget and management constraints would be insufficient to provide a high quality renovation and subsequent maintenance of this site. The immediate two block radius is already saturated with schools (Shaw-Garnett-Patterson, Garrison, Cleveland & Hospitality High). Potential taxes at this valuable site would be lost.
Residences (Main & U Street Buildings) – The neighborhood is already saturated with new housing, a largely nighttime use.
Hotel – This use would be largely transient & require excessive servicing.
Specific Locations at the Site
U Street Property - Build out the current U Street parking lot with a daytime use that is consistent with its neighbors along the main commercial corridor.
9½ Street Open Space – Do not construct a building on the current parking lot, which will be surrounded by buildings on all 4 sides, to prevent a canyon effect and promote public safety.
Southern Alley & Residential Access – Replace the dangerously narrow alley outlet between 939 & 941 T Street with a wider outlet through to VT Ave behind residences there (1901 Vermont – 941 T). Provide access, especially for emergencies.
* The Grimke Redevelopment Working Group is an ad hoc organization that has met at least 10 times during the RFP processes (2009, 2012 & 2014). Input has been solicited & information shared throughout the U Street neighborhood via list serves & flyers. Over 45 stakeholders have participated, including at least 25 who attended the current 2013-2014 meetings.
Grimke Community Statement, Page 3 of 3
