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City Cast DC

To build, or not to build? That is the big question for the site of an unsightly old firehouse and police station on U Street where the city has proposed a 10-story building with 36,000 housing units by 2028, including affordable units.

While there’s no actual proposal or developer, the 

mayor is proposing a change to the zoning laws

 to build as high as 100 feet. That possibility sent shockwaves through the community, as the Zoning Commission has heard about 30 hours of testimony, 700 exhibits, letters, and petitions against this change. Concerns range from the physical shadow the building could create to how market-rate rentals could displace existing residents. But many also want to see the unattractive and long abandoned property on the edge of Adams Morgan replaced, recognizing D.C. desperately needs more affordable housing.

The Washington Post’s Paul Schwartzman joined City Cast DC and 

walked us through the wild details surrounding this controversy.

 As he and host Michael Schaffer discussed on the podcast, this debate also raises the question of “what version of D.C. do we want to be?”

🎧 Affordable housing, but for whom?

An old firehouse at 1617 U St. NW, is the site of the latest housing debate in Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is proposing to change zoning laws. Still, some neighbors are worried a new development could displace neighborhood residents.

In DC, the Fight Over U Street’s Future

The Fight Over U Street’s Future

What's being decided in DC City Hall and why it matters. We monitor local elections, political news, and DC City Council.

DC Election and City Hall News

Local Civics

I hopped on the phone with developer Jonathon Quince to 

learn more about Kite House, a new condo building in Takoma, D.C.

 Kite House is situated on the original site of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center that is now within The Parks community.

How does The Parks community pay tribute to Walter Reed’s history?

“Honoring the history of the site was probably our core design philosophy. It drove every decision that we made before we even commenced designing any of the buildings that were on site. This philosophy extends through to the use of open space to maintain the views of the historic buildings that we’re honoring as the landmarks that they are in the city.”

What are some of the benefits to living in The Parks community?

“The campus is unique in D.C. The Great Lawn, in particular, is a historic element that has survived from the original hospital, and we have really lent that as our event space. There’s year-round programming, including concerts, theatrical performances and holiday celebrations, and smaller-scale events like our complimentary yoga classes offered spring through the fall. We’re only half a mile from Takoma and the Takoma Metro station and the fantastic downtown that is Takoma.

“We have a bunch of really exciting restaurants coming to the campus. I particularly love ramen. I’m very excited for when Junior opens. Then, of course, nothing beats the convenience of having a Whole Foods at your front door.”

Aside from the cool neighborhood, why should City Cast DC listeners choose to buy at Kite House?

“All the residences have particular sophisticated finishes. We have herringbone backsplashes, Bosch appliances, wide-plan flooring. The design element I particularly enjoy is the abundance of natural light. Within the residences we have lofty 6-foot windows, and then most of the residences have either a private terrace or a private balcony.

“Within the building, there's a hospitality-inspired lobby with a separate coworking space. There's a premium fitness studio with a separate yoga and meditation room. There's a club room that's outfitted with some soft seating, cafe tables, library. That club room actually opens up onto our outdoor entertaining terrace, which has its own dining area, grill stations, lounge seating, and a great location for hosting an outdoor party.”

Start here to learn more about Kite House

🎧 And why he's so proud of the garage

Developer Jonathon Quince discusses Kite House, a new condo building in Takoma, D.C. Kite House is situated on the original site of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center that is now within The Parks community.

DC Developer Takes Us Inside Kite House at The Parks

A DC Developer Takes Us Inside Kite House at The Parks

What DC celebrities, public figures and key citizens have to say about living here.

3 Questions With DC Public Figures

3 Questions With

There's a big debate happening in Shaw over potential new condos at 1515 Ninth Street NW. A local developer wants to replace the vacant building and parking lot with a six-story-high, 45-unit building. But some residents see the development as a "monstrosity" that will ruin the neighborhood.

Shaw resident Brian Janovitz’s home would abut the new development and believes it will “exacerbate all the existing problems in the area — rats in the alley, lack of parking — but it’ll also change the aesthetic and character [of the neighborhood].”

The developer, Monarch Urban, bought the property and adjacent parking lot in February from Shiloh Baptist Church, who had previously used it as a daycare but not for a while. Eighteen percent of thehe proposed new building’s units would be affordable housing.

The Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for the area, Alex Padro, believes the building would enrich Shaw and D.C. generally. “An empty parking lot doesn't serve anyone,” Padro said. “And additional housing is a top priority for the city and for the neighborhood.” Plus, he says construction is nothing new to the neighborhood. But some residents say this reasoning is faulty.

The project has garnered over 50 letters, with dozens strongly opposed. But the project is still expected to proceed. Most leaders and organizations in the area have given the green light.

The ANC zoning committee is recessed in August but will make a decision on the development this fall. We had Padro and Janovitz on our podcast so you can 

Should new condos fit "neighborhood character"?

DC Neighborhood Shaw Debates If New Building Must Fit Community Character

Shaw Condo Meets Resident Pushback

The city is pushing ahead with plans to build a controversial homeless shelter in a former George Washington University dorm. It’s on a block with two hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants and has drawn applause from advocates, but also concerns from neighbors.

Seven years ago, Mayor Muriel Bowser promised to build a homeless shelter in every ward, but Ward 2 never got one. Last year, GW put a dorm up for sale, and the Department of Human Services jumped at it in hopes of completing the Mayor’s goal.

This 200-person facility will be the first of its kind in the District. It will house residents separately rather than in a bunk room, which is especially important for the medically vulnerable. It would also allow adult families (like couples or siblings) to remain together, the absence of which is a huge reason people stay in encampments.

Most residents agree that shelters are needed, but they disagree on 

 exactly they should be. Advocates say wealthy neighborhoods shouldn’t be exempted from supporting unhoused communities. However, some residents worry the shelter would disrupt fancy nearby businesses and harm tourism.

To address this, DHS has committed to 24/7 security inside and outside the building, limited initial capacity, and continued community engagement before and after the facility opens.

The Department of Human Services wants to start renovations next month and hopes to open the facilities to residents this fall.

Our podcast City Cast DC covered more about how the shelter's going to work.

What other precautions is DHS taking?

The city is pushing ahead with plans to build a controversial homeless shelter in a former George Washington University dorm. It’s on a block with two hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants and has drawn applause from advocates, but also concerns from neighbors.



Washington, DC's New Foggy Bottom Shelter Ruffles Feathers

The New Foggy Bottom Shelter Ruffles Feathers

What Washingtonians have been wondering. We break down why things in DC are the way they are and how they work.

DC, Explained

Downtown D.C. is known as a place to work, not live or hang out. In a new ranking of downtown vitality scores, D.C. ranks almost last. Mayor Bowser has made it her life’s mission to revitalize downtown, and 

wants to add about 15,000 residents to downtown in the next five years

But, how do we actually repurpose the area to make it feel like a neighborhood we’d want to live in? Washington Biz Journal Tristan Navera has been covering the revitalization and 

chatted with City Cast DC about what’s 

 Downtown has greenspace, but most of it is off limits, or not appealing. Playgrounds and parks are needed to provide safe outdoor spaces for families and events to use.

D.C. has lots of old zoning restrictions that make it hard to open retail and other businesses downtown. Specifically, Tristan suggests revamping one that prevents light manufacturing, meaning a lot of food production (think Krispy Kreme’s donut line production) and creative spaces are unable to land downtown.

This doesn’t mean just more sidewalks, this means making it actually pleasant to walk around downtown. The city is playing with the idea of funneling traffic towards a few larger streets and leaving others for buses or pedestrians only.

dding more shopping and dining draws people in and gets them to spend time downtown. People need places that aren’t home and aren’t work to hang out, like cafes, libraries, galleries, and gyms.

What would make you want to hang out downtown

housing

The Fight Over U Street’s Future

A DC Developer Takes Us Inside Kite House at The Parks

Shaw Condo Meets Resident Pushback

Latest articles

The Fight Over U Street’s Future

A DC Developer Takes Us Inside Kite House at The Parks

Shaw Condo Meets Resident Pushback

The New Foggy Bottom Shelter Ruffles Feathers

How to Make Downtown Livable

Latest articles

The New Foggy Bottom Shelter Ruffles Feathers

How to Make Downtown Livable