The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (“D
MPED”), has issued a Request For Proposals (“RFP”) for the 3.5 acre Northwest One site at North Capitol and K Street NW in Ward 6. The RFP is also the product of the “OurRFP” process, a Mayoral initiative that incorporates community engagement early in the RFP process.
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
This summer, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) held two community meetings, on June 21, and July 26, to get input on priorities for the redevelopment of Northwest One as part of Mayor Bowser’s OurRFP initiative. The OurRFP process aims to gather community input at the start of a solicitation process so that the community’s desires are considered in the solicitation for any future development.
The approximately 3.5 acre redevelopment site is located at the corner of North Capitol and K Street, NW, and is the former site of the Temple Courts apartments, which was demolished in 2008. Northwest One was the first neighborhood to be identified under the New Communities Initiative. In addition to the feedback from the OurRFP engagement, the stated policy goals of New Communities will inform the RFP. The redevelopment will include a minimum of 211 replacement public housing units brought back in a mixed-income setting, interspersed with additional affordable units and market-rate units. There is also potential for incorporation of non-residential uses and public/community space.
The original Northwest One redevelopment plan, developed in partnership with the community, provided the initial planning framework for the site. To date, a number of amenities called for in the plan have been built in the neighborhood, including the RH Terrell Recreation Center, as well as the adjacent Northwest One Library and the Walker Jones Education Campus. On the residential side, three mixed-income developments have been completed to date, totaling 507 total units. These are the SeVerna, SeVerna Phase II (also known as SeVerna on K), and 2M Street.
DMPED will consider the feedback received, and will incorporate the community’s priorities into the Request for Proposals (RFP), which will be released in September. Please see below for links from the public meetings:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
The property manager for the 2M opened registration for the 59 replacements units at the site. The property manager/development team launched the initial leasing efforts for residents who could qualify for 30% AMI, 60% AMI, and market units at the same time. The online registration began with 30% AMI units, but only applications for the 60% AMI and market rate units are being accepted at this time because the 30% AMI units will not be ready until the ground floor is completely finished.
Officials at the US Department for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) agreed to amend the regulatory agreement for the land that the former Temple Courts building use to occupy. The former Temple Courts housing complex was located on North Capitol Street between K and L streets NW. There were 211 affordable units in the HUD financed housing development that was demolished in 2008. As a condition of the HUD financing, a regulatory agreement required that 211 replacement units be constructed on the specific lot where the former Temple Courts building was located. District officials argued that the units should be allowed to be scattered throughout the proposed Northwest One redevelopment sites to promote the mixed-income tenet of the New Communities Initiative and reduce concentration of low-income housing units. In October 2013, HUD approved amending the regulatory agreement to allow developing the replacement units on additional parcels.