May 2022 Minutes

BNCA Meeting Minutes
May 17, 2022
Zoom Virtual Meeting

Treasurer’s Report: Joe Miller, Treasurer

• Ending balance $6,304.99 at 4/30
  • Dues and donations received in April = $256.13
  • Treasurer’s report accepted (Motion: Kathy Jacquart; Second: Ed Kent)

Update on Reed St. Development Project: Dan Schramm, previous BNCA President

• 3 buildings in plan
• Neighbors generally in support of project
• Matter is being considered by the ANC; meeting schedule for May 18 at 7pm
• Office of Zoning Docket # ZC 22-04
• Transportation study has been received. In Dan’s opinion it generally meets expectations and proposes some safety features
• Project still reflects resolution that BNCA passed in December 2021

Community Discussion of WMATA 10-year Strategic Plan for Joint Development: Kathy Jacquart, President

Overview of Plan:

• WMATA’s 10-Year Strategic Plan for Joint Development
• Washington Post article
• Planned as a public/private partnership to develop the land around metro stations
• Brookland/CUA station
  • Future land use has been updated to accommodate additional density above the current site zoning. Brookland could have 8+ stories.
  • Cost – btw $15-50 million
  • Targeted to be under contract within next 10 years
  • Plan includes no mention of the “Brookland Green” (area along 10th St. between Otis and Newton Sts.)

Community Member Comments:

• Common themes – WMATA/developers should: preserve Brookland Green , include affordable housing, invest in/work with African-American-owned business, invest in the community
• Edward Johnson (local Architect, Urban Planner)
  • Green spaces should be valued for their health and environmental benefits
  • Development projects create jobs and money for the local community, however:
    • No investment in community from developers allows them to make money and drain our economy
    • Need to require more [long-term] investment in the community from developers
  • Recommended requirements for development:
    • Request enhancement of green space at Brookland metro
    • Request enhancement of green space at RIA metro
    • Request enhancement of affordable housing near metros
    • Invest in African American businesses
    • Enhance public space lighting
    • Enhance public space art
• Alfred Swailes (President, Black Business Task Force)
  • Project should help black businesses lead development projects
• Dan Schramm, previous BNCA President
  • Housing near metros reduces car trips & pollution, which potentially also saves lives
  • Inclusionary Zoning housing is included if there are greater than 10 units in a building
  • Brookland Green should be saved per longstanding community stance^*
• Laura Wormby
  • Support metro-oriented development and preserving the Brookland Green. With use of public land we must insist on deeply affordable and larger units that can accommodate families.
  • The Comprehensive plan requires looking at development projects through a racial equity lens which provides a tool to require opportunities for African American businesses at every level of development.
• Chris Matthews
  • Desires to keep Brookland Green
  • Curious about occupancy rates for this type of development (e.g., near RIA Metro station)
• Stephan
  • Will any of the proposed new development be committed to affordable housing?

^*Prior to the meeting, former BNCA President Caroline Petti sent background info on Brookland Green. Included at end of minutes.

DC Tree Fund Budget Discussion: Steve Farole, VP

• Casey Trees had $1.4M removed from DC Tree Fund in budget but voted to restore it
• Helps remove diseased or dangerous trees
• BNCA sent letter to Councilmembers McDuffie and Mendelson encouraging support of restoring the fund
• 2nd budget vote on 5/18

Announcements:

Silas Grant (Ward 5 Council Office)

• In relation to comments about development:
  • Councilman McDuffie funded an ongoing business disparity study
  • CEstablished a council on racial equity
  • CFunded the DC Commercial Anchor Partnership
  • CFunded Commercial Acquisition Fund

Dakari Taylor-Watson (Site Coordinator Brookland Middle School)

• School hosting a career fair June 9th 10-2 pm for 6,7,8 grade students
• Seeking presenters
  Desired fields: Healthcare, Law, Entertainment, Coding, Land Development, Aviation
• Need a sponsor/donor for the lunch. Suggestion from Dan Schramm for BNCA to make a donation. (BNCA officers subsequently decided to donate $250. As of 6/9/22, awaiting instructions on where to send funds.)
• Phone # 202-802-8576

Meeting Adjourned – 8:00 PM

Contact info:

• Magdalena Acevedo, 5D Community / Prosecutor, Assistant US Attorney for DC, Magdalena[DOT]acevedo[AT]usdoj[DOT]gov, (202) 834-5146
• Christopher Wade, 5D/ 1D Community Outreach Specialist, US Attorney’s Office for DC/ (202) 815-1747 cell / Christopher[DOT]Wade2[AT]usdoj[DOT]gov
• Office of the Attorney General (OAG) Nuisance Property / Monique Cobb / monique[DOT]cobb[AT]dc[DOT]gov
• Capitol Breach Investigation Resource Page
• Stay DC program or unemployment claims issues – contact Silas Grant – 202-724-8028; shgrant[AT]dccouncil[DOT]us

From Caroline Petti:

In November 2013, WMATA issued a Joint Development Solicitation for development of WMATA property around the east entrance of the Brookland/CUA Metro Station. Several months later, Mayor Vincent Gray, Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, and WMATA reached an agreement to preserve the parcel there known as the “Brookland Green” and in March 2014 WMATA issued an amended solicitation for the offered property that removed the Brookland Green parcel in order to set it aside as permanent park space for the benefit of the community. In August 2014, WMATA announced its selection of MidAtlantic Realty Partners (MRP) and CAS Riegler Companies as the developers for its properties at the Brookland/CUA Station. At the same time, WMATA announced that the development there would not impact the Brookland Green because the plan was to set it aside for public park space.

Fast forward to 2016….Nothing happens with respect to development at the Brookland/CUA Station, but in 2016, the DC Office of Planning launched a public process for considering amendments to DC’s Comprehensive Plan, Generalized Policy Map, and Future Land Use Map (FLUM). BNCA participated in that process and submitted a set of proposed amendments based on priorities identified by BNCA members. With respect to the Brookland Green, we requested a change to the FLUM for the Brookland Green parcel. We requested that the future land use category for the parcel rbe changed from “Commercial/Residential Moderate Density” development to “Parks, Recreation, and Open Space.” We argued that this would update the Comprehensive Plan FLUM to reflect the 2014 WMATA agreement to preserve the Brookland Green. With Councilmember McDuffie’s support and leadership, BNCA’s proposed FLUM change was accepted, approved by the DC Council and enacted effectively into law on August 21, 2021.

Questions for WMATA:

1. What can WMATA tell BNCA about its plans for the Brookland Green?
2. When WMATA issues a Joint Development Solicitation for the Station, will WMATA set aside the parcel known as the Brookland Green consistent with its approach in 2014, with the 2014 WMATA agreement and with the recent 2021 change to the land use designation for the parcel in the Comprehensive Plan FLUM?