Chairman Linda W. Cropp at the request of the
Mayor
A PROPOSED RESOLUTION IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To declare the existence of an emergency, with regard to the need for expedited Council
review and comments on a public offering document to dispose of Parcels 15, 24, 26,27, 29
and 38 in the 14th Street Urban Renewal Area.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this resolution may be cited
as the “Public Offering Document to Receive Proposals to Develop Parcels 15, 24, 26,
27, 29, and 38 in the 14th Street Urban Renewal Area Emergency Declaration Resolution of
1998”.
Sec. 2. (a) There exists an immediate crisis regarding the issuance of
the offering document submitted by the Department of Housing and Community Development
(DHCD), on behalf of the Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA), for the development of Parcels
15, 24, 26, 27, 29 and 38 in the 14th Street Urban Renewal Area.
(b) On May 21, 1998, the RLA Board of Directors, authorized the competitive public
offering of Parcels 15, 24, 26, 27, 29, and 38 in the 14th Street Urban Renewal Area and
authorized its submission to the Council. The vacant parcels to be developed are located
adjacent to and in close proximity to the new Columbia Heights Metro Station that is
projected to be completed and opened by the year 2000. In order to maximize the economic
benefits and to stimulate development at the new metro station, the subject vacant parcels
must be developed. Development cannot commence until parcels are offered for competitive
bid and the RLA receives, reviews, and selects from submitted bids.
(c) In accordance with D.C. Code 5-806(c)(1), the competitive offering document is
subject to a 30-day Council review, excluding days of Council recess.
(d) The proposed Request for Proposals (RFP) is designed to provide for as intense a
development as is permitted by the plan and zoning controls and to integrate the
development with the Columbia Heights Metrorail Station and the adjoining community. The
proposed REP includes as one of the criteria for developer selection, the extent to which
economic benefits are made available to local, small or disadvantaged businesses
enterprises and District residents. Economic benefits include both construction and
permanent jobs, tax revenues expected to be generated by the proposed development and the
opportunity for local, small or disadvantaged business participation in the development.
Prospective developers will need to show whether any broad-based community organizations
will participate in the proposed development. The offering document as approved by RLA
provides for various project benefits.
(e) DHCD and the Community Development Corporation of Columbia Heights, along with
several other organizations sponsored a development charette regarding development in this
area. The community input that resulted from the charette is a part of the RLA records,
and was considered in finalizing the proposed REP.
(f) Following the Council’s action, it is DHCD’s intention to advertise the
availability of the Parcels for development.
(g) Emergency action is requested because of the insufficient time for the Council to
review the public offering prior to the Council’s recess. Pursuant to D.C. Code
5-806(c)(l), the Council has a thirty (30) day period for review, excluding days of
Council recess. The desire that development of these parcels coincide as closely as
possible with the January 1, 2000, opening of the Columbia Heights Metrorail Station
requires Council approval as soon as possible. Issuance of the offering document must not
be delayed until Council considers a vote to approve the resolution at the next regularly
scheduled Council meeting on October 6, 1998.
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 “Public Offering Document to Receive Proposals to Develop Parcels
15, 24, 26, 27, 29 and 38 in the 14th Street Urban Renewal Area Emergency Resolution of
1998” be adopted on an emergency basis.
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.