S and T Street Parks Get Makeover

I am pleased to announce that work will begin soon on the parks at S and T Streets. You may have noticed the new fencing and architectural drawings. These projects will include a dog park at the S Street park. I joined Mayor Fenty, Councilmember Jack Evans, and other community leaders at the groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, February 10. The ANC has worked to bring these projects to fruition for eight years. We have discussed these parks during every year of my three terms. At last, we have results! The work is scheduled to be completed by Memorial Day...just in time for summer!

Photo courtesy of NEWS NOW at www.dc.gov

Whitman Walker Project Moves Forward

The Board of Zoning Adjustment approved the request by the JBG Companies, the developer (http://www.jbg.com/), for a variance and four special exeptions at its meeting on Tuesday, February 3. The mixed use project now goes back to the Historic Preservation Review Board for approval of its conceptual design later this month.

The Historic Preservation Office staff report indicates that "the design (shown above as presented at the Dec. 18 hearing) is not compatible with the character of the historic district as proposed. The interwoven projecting bays, while interesting as a design idea, work at odds with the historic district by emphasizing the addition’s large size and horizontality; their proportion of glass to masonry and the scale of what appears as a single super-projection diminishes rather than enhances the historic building."

Stay tuned as further modifications to the design are made and presented to the Dupont Circle Conservancy, the Dupont Circle ANC, and HPRB for their review and approval.

The JBG Companies are also developing a proposed U Street Hotel at the corner of 13th and U Street.