Barry Farm: Updates

NCI Solicitation Opportunity: Building Community Relations

The District of Columbia Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), (the “District”) is seeking a contractor with the professional expertise in building community relations, building up, reinforcing, improving and strengthening New Communities Initiative’s (NCI’s) local and national profile and reputation. The goal of NCI is to build sound NCI policies and improve the programs that promote and support NCI’s vulnerable communities’ population.

Responses are due August 31st, 2016.

Request for Proposals No. DCEB-2016-R-0002

 

 

2015 Annual Report Released

The New Communities Initiative is pleased to release it’s 2015 Annual Report , which highlights the  key work and accomplishments of the past year, and provides a snapshot of upcoming milestones for the future. While redevelopment often focuses on the physical elements, or “bricks and mortar,” the 2015 Annual Report showcases the people that  live and work in these communities and help make change happen. In our “Faces of NCI” video gallery, you can hear directly from residents, service providers, and our development partners on how New Communities is making an impact.

CBM Executive Director Retires from Service After 17 Years

George Garrow, Executive Director of Concerned Black Men National has transitioned from his long held leadership position of the 40-year-old men’s organization. Garrow has been the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the national organization since its inception in 1989. As the architect of the CBM National Office and a founding member of the Washington, DC Chapter of Concerned Black Men, Garrow has worked tirelessly to build the capacity of the organization to reach more children and their families in the District of Columbia and where CBM National projects are administered nationwide. The organization looks forward to Garrow’s continued support of CBM National’s mission in the esteemed role of Executive Director Emeritus. To read the full press release, click HERE.

Barry Farm Aquatic Center and The SeVerna on K Ribbon Cuttings

Last December, the New Communities Initiative celebrated two important ribbon cuttings on projects that bring quality affordable housing and recreational opportunities to District residents.

On Saturday, December 13, 2014, city officials, community leaders and residents celebrated the opening of the new Barry Farm indoor Aquatic Center in Ward 8. The Barry Farm Aquatic Center is part of the New Communities Initiative, through collaboration with the District of Columbia Housing Authority, the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of General Services. The new 8,800 square foot indoor Aquatic Center replaces an outdoor aquatic facility and features a 6-lane, 25-meter, fully ADA-accessible lap pool, a leisure pool with beach entry, and a waterslide.

The Aquatic Center is the first phase of the $26 million Barry Farm Recreation Center renovation project that began in 2013. When completed, the approximately 32,000 square foot  facility will feature an indoor gymnasium with seating for 250 people, a fitness room, computer lab, kitchen, teen room, senior lounge and multipurpose rooms. Outside, there will be a multipurpose field for football, baseball, and soccer, a press box, community gardens,  basketball courts, a playground and below grade parking structure.

The Aquatic Center is free to District residents with proof of ID or DC One Card. The Center is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6:30am-8:00pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00am-5:00pm. A variety of swimming classes are offered for youth, adults, and seniors, and the full programming schedule can be accessed on the Department of Parks and Recreation website, featured here: http://app.dpr.dc.gov/dprmap/details.asp?cid=27.

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In addition, on Thursday, December 11, 2014 city officials joined development partners Mission First Housing Group, the Henson Development Company, and members of Bible Way Church, to celebrate the grand opening of The SeVerna on K, a newly constructed 133-unit mixed-income apartment building in Ward 6 in Washington, DC located at 43 K Street NW. The development is an important milestone in the redevelopment of the Northwest One New Community, adding to SeVerna Phase I, and the recently completed 2M Street. The financing for the development involved a number of public and private partners, which included tax exempt bonds issued by the DC Housing Finance Agency, under a private placement structure with Bank of America. The Department of Housing and Community Development provided HOME funding, and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development provided $3.6 million in gap funding through the New Communities Initiative. PNC Bank served as the equity investor. The mixed income building includes 48 replacement units set aside for individuals and families previously relocated from the neighborhood under the Northwest One New Communities program.

The SeVerna on K includes studio, one and two bedroom units with underground parking. Amenities include a club room, fitness room, business center, lounge, and roof deck with views of the Capitol. The building incorporates many green design features that will enhance livability for residents. For more information about the property and leasing opportunities, visit www.SeVernaonK.com.

Photo of SeVerna on K

Zoning Commission Approves Proposed Action for Barry Farm Stage Planned Unit Development

On Monday, October 20, 2014, the Zoning Commission for the District of Columbia approved the application for the first stage Planned Unit Development (“PUD”) and related zoning map amendment for the Barry Farm redevelopment. The approval by the Zoning Commission will help to implement the New Communities Barry Farm Redevelopment Plan which was approved by the Council of the District of Columbia in December 2006. The PUD / Barry Farm site is generally bounded by Sumner Road to the north, Firth Sterling Avenue to the west, the Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital property to the south, and Wade Road to the east.  The PUD / Barry Farm site is currently developed with the Barry Farm residences (432 public housing row dwellings); Wade Apartments (12 public housing apartment units); and eight vacant lots along Wade Road.  Under the redevelopment plan, the existing Barry Farm and Wade Apartments (a total of 444 units) will be demolished and rebuilt within a vibrant mixed-use, mixed-income community. The new community will consist of approximately 1,400 mixed-income housing units in a variety of housing types and sizes including public housing replacement units, affordable and market rate rental units and for-sale housing. The plan also calls for approximately 50,000 square feet of new retail and services uses to provide for the everyday needs of the residents; extensive new open space and parks; and improved infrastructure including new roads that introduce a new east-west and north-south grid pattern with smaller pedestrian-friendly blocks to improve  circulation and pedestrian connections.

Key elements of the redevelopment plan include:

  • Create a mixed-income community with a variety of housing types, including low- to mid-rise buildings and townhomes, affordable and market-rate rental and homeownership units.
  • Ensure one for one replacement of subsidized housing units either scattered throughout the development parcels and/or in proximate off-site locations.
  • Develop neighborhood-serving retail that does not compete with the commercial corridor on Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue.
  • Create a new grid of residential streets with new east/west connections that eliminate the isolation of the existing neighborhood.
  • Link the development parcels to the Anacostia Metrorail station and Historic Anacostia through improved pedestrian, bicycle and streetcar route connections, and additional new bus routes through the community.
  • Provide a network of open spaces that are designed with community accessibility and security in mind.
  • Utilize sustainable practices (such as LEED-ND) to design the new neighborhood, preserve existing natural site features and minimize the development impact on the environment.
  • Honor the history of the PUD Site through the preservation of street and school names and with the development of a public art or memorial program.
  • Create new development that minimizes the need for parking and specifically for off-street surface parking.

Policy Advisory Report Released

Earlier this year, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development commissioned a team of affordable housing experts, led by Quadel Consulting,  to examine the New Communities Initiative (NCI) and make recommendations to enhance the program. The final report provides analysis on key lessons learned since the development of NCI, as well as the challenges, opportunities, and solutions to facilitate successful implementation.

 

Great Streets Notice of Funding Availability: Small Business Capital Improvement Grants

The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) invites the submission of applications for the Great Streets Small Business Capital Improvement Grants beginning on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9th, 2014. DMPED will award individual grants of up to a maximum of $85,000 for small business owners to improve their place of business. The grant application will be available on the Great Streets website at greatstreets.dc.gov beginning on September 9th.

The Great Streets Initiative began in 2006, the same time the New Communities Initiative was established by former Mayor Anthony Williams.  Great Streets is a commercial revitalization initiative to transform emerging corridors throughout the District of Columbia into thriving and inviting neighborhood centers. Three New Communities neighborhoods are located near a Great Streets Corridor:

  • Georgia Avenue in Park Morton
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue in Barry Farm
  • Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue in Lincoln Heights

New Communities Releases Interactive Maps of NCI Neighborhoods

The New Communities website now features interactive maps for each of the four NCI neighborhoods. Viewers can select maps for each neighborhood, which include separate categories that highlight the existing housing in the neighborhood, redevelopment to date, public amenities that have been created through NCI, and plans for future development activity.  Links for each neighborhood can be found on the homepage, as well as each neighborhood page, and can also be accessed here:

New Communities Releases 2014 Annual Report

The DC Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development is pleased to share with you its 2014 Annual Report for New Communities. The Annual Report provides an overview and background on the Initiative, and highlights overall progress to date. Additionally, the report provides project updates on each of the four neighborhoods, and offers a preview for the year ahead.

New Communities seeks to create vibrant mixed-income neighborhoods that address both the physical architecture and human capital needs, where residents have quality affordable housing options, economic opportunities and access to appropriate human services. To date, the Initiative has produced over 1,000 new housing units with an investment of gap financing of over $66million, created over 250 new jobs, and served over 500 heads of households through case managementservice annually. The Initiaitve has also produced new community anchors, such as the new HD Woodson High School in Lincoln Heights, or the new flagship Recreation Center under construction in Barry Farm. This past year, New Communities has seen much progress, with the continued build out of Sheridan Station in Barry Farm, the construction of SeVerna Phase II and 2 M Street in Northwest One, and the successful opening and leasing up of the Nannie Helen at 4800 in Lincoln Heights.

Barry Farm PUD Application Approved by Zoning Commission for Setdown for a Public Hearing

At the District of Columbia Zoning Commission’s Public Meeting, the Zoning Commission approved that the proposed First Stage Planned Unit Development (PUD) and related map amendment be set down for public hearing (VIEW THE SETDOWN REPORT HERE). The Applicant: District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA), A&R Development Corporation, and Preservation of Affordable Housing, Inc. (POAH), proposes the redevelopment of the existing Barry Farm and Wade Road Apartments with a mixed use development consisting of residential, retail and service uses. The new development would have residents of varying incomes, a mixture of residential unit types and sizes, retail, service uses, a community park and open space. To accommodate this development, the Applicant has requested a First Stage Planned Unit Development (PUD) and a related map amendment to rezone the property from the R-5-A district to the R-5-B and C-2-A districts.

The public hearing will be scheduled shortly.  Click here to view the March 31st Public Meeting.  For more information on the Barry Farm PUD Application, click here to visit the DC of Zoning website.

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