D.C. Council Gives Away Public Land Slated to Ease Traffic in Downtown Ward 7
Coalition for Smarter Growth
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2009
CONTACT:
Cheryl Cort
202-251-7516 (m)
cheryl@smartergrowth.net
D.C. Council Gives Away Public Land Slated to Ease Traffic in Downtown Ward 7
Community plans called for new street connection on city-owned parcel to reduce congestion and increase access to Metro station
Setting aside community plans to ease traffic congestion and increase access to the Minnesota Avenue Metro station, yesterday the D.C. Council approved the administration’s proposal to dispose of a city-owned property to Donatelli/Blue Skye Development, a private development team. The Council authorized the Deputy Mayor to sell for $10.00 the recently acquired property valued at $13 million to build a mixed use development project at the busy corner of Minnesota Avenue and Benning Road NE, an area referred to as Downtown Ward 7. While there is broad support for a quality mixed use development at this site, community members asked that the city not abandon the Minnesota Avenue Great Streets Plan which recommended a new street connection at the rear of the government-owned property. The new street would alleviate severe traffic congestion and improve safety at Minnesota Avenue and Benning Road intersection, and increase access to the Metro station.
“We are deeply disappointed that the city made such a shortsighted decision to give away the parcel without reserving room for this valuable future street connection. It’s the city’s own land – why wouldn’t it better address the long term needs of the community?” said Cheryl Cort, Policy Director for the Coalition for Smarter Growth. Cort participated in several community planning efforts for Downtown Ward 7 beginning in 2005.
ANC 7D, community members and D.C. residents asked the Council to reserve the public street right-of-way as a part of any plans to redevelop the site. While several D.C. Councilmembers expressed interest in reserving the future street connection, the Deputy Mayor’s office argued that because the cost for construction is not currently budgeted, the public land should be given without accommodating the link. The project will offer affordable housing, retail and some community space, which is welcomed by community members. However, the street connection and transportation improvement was also a priority for area residents.
“In a couple of years when the economy turns around, the opportunity will have passed. We’ll be stuck with this outcome. We shouldn’t ignore the transportation needs and opportunities we have here. This decision is closing off an opportunity to really relieve the congestion and fix a dangerous situation for residents and pedestrians in the area,” said Dennis Chestnut, lifetime resident and community activist.
The new street proposal emerged from the 2007 Minnesota Avenue Great Streets planning process which found dramatic traffic congestion relief by adding a new intersection and street connection to the west of the busy Minnesota Avenue and Benning Road NE intersection. Chestnut pointed out that D.C. Department of Transportation worked with the community to develop and vet the recommendations of this plan.
“The traffic analysis showed that by redistributing some of the turning vehicles away from Minnesota Avenue and Benning Road, the intersection’s performance improves dramatically – by unheard of levels. Taking pressure off this choked intersection also increases safety for all travelers, including pedestrians,” commented Cort.
The city assembled the 4.85 acres of land from a number of businesses, a church, and homeowners over the past few years with the intention of building two government offices. All the private occupants were displaced from the city-acquired parcels by 2007. After the plan for the second government building was abandoned, the city solicited proposals from the private sector in 2008.
The Minnesota Avenue and Benning Road intersection is consistently identified by D.C. Department of Transportation as one of the worst for the number of pedestrian and vehicle crashes. The Great Streets Plan was devised to guide public investments to foster economic development and improve pedestrian access and safety in this major Ward 7 shopping district. Benning Road is also a potential streetcar route.
“With all the buses, cars, pedestrians and future streetcars, it’s foolish to foreclose the opportunity to build this street connection. Building a street grid is one of the most important ways to relieve traffic congestion and give walkers, bicyclists and drivers better access,” Cort said.
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