ENROLLED ORIGINAL
A
RESOLUTION
12-664
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
July 30. 1998
To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to extend the time
for disposal of certain real property situated in squares 272, 4107, and 4103
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited
as the "Extension of Time to Dispose of District Owned Surplus Real Property Revised
Emergency Declaration Resolution of 1998".
Sec. 2. (a) There exist an immediate crisis regarding the disposition of the property
located on Square 272, Lot 45 at 13th Street, 12th Street, and W Street in N.W. (Ward
One), known as the Old Children’s Hospital, to be conveyed to Donnetelli & Klein,
Inc., and the property located on Square 4107, Lots 227 and 900 and Square 4103, Lots 826
and 827 on W Street, N.E. (Ward Five), to be conveyed to Crane Rental Company.
(b) On June 4, 1996, the Council approved Resolution 11-366 authorizing the sale of
Square 4107, Lots 227 and 900 and Square 4103, Lots 826 and 827 on W Street, N.E. (Ward
Five) to Crane Rental Company and Resolution 11-367 authorizing the sale of Square 272,
Lot 45 at 13th Street, 12th Street and W Street in N.W. (Ward One), known as the Old
Children’s Hospital, to Donnetelli & Klein, Inc. The Department of Housing and
Community Development ("Department") then proceeded to negotiate and execute
Exclusive Right Agreements for the property. However, the final disposition has been
delayed due to several circumstances outside of the Department’s control.
(c) On April 3,1998, the Department sent a request to the Council for additional time
for disposition of the property. The Department was notified by the Council’s General
Counsel that the request for additional time was untimely (April 7, 1998) and therefore
could not be considered by the Council. Resolutions 11-366 and 11-367 authorizing
disposition of the properties expired on June 4,1998.
(d) Over the past few years, the area surrounding the Old Children’s Hospital, most
notably the U Street corridor, has been experiencing a rebirth. The redevelopment of the
Old Children’s Hospital site is a major component in the continued revitalization of the U
Street corridor. Absent the extension of time, the site would remain dormant and
undeveloped because the approval process would have to start anew. This delay would be
very detrimental to the continued development of the U Street corridor. This corridor
currently has a significant amount of developmental momentum and the District must be
authorized to actively continue this momentum by continuing the process of developing this
site.
(e) In recent years the District has lost several businesses to the surrounding
jurisdictions. Crane Rental Company, located in Ward Five, is a family-owned business that
has been located in the District for over 58 years. Crane seeks to acquire the subject
property to allow it to expand its business and remain in the District. Absent the
extension of time to complete the disposition, the process would have to start anew and,
given the time-sensitive nature of Crane Rental’s need for acquisition and expansion,
Crane Rental would be forced essentially to relocate outside of the District.
(f) Because no fiscal impact statement was moved with the bill, the Financial
Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority did not approve Act 12-391, the
Extension of Time to Dispose of District Owned Surplus Real Property Emergency Amendment
Act of 1998, and returned the matter to the Council for further reconsideration .
Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances
enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the
Extension of Time to Dispose of District Owned Surplus Real Property Revised Emergency
Amendment Act of 1998 be adopted after a single reading.
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.