SITE 75A on SQUARE 75
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View of Site 75A on Square 75 from northeast corner of
21st Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
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The
George Washington University is initiating the zoning process to redevelop several university-owned investment properties on Pennsylvania Avenue to maximize the value of its existing investment real estate portfolio in support of the university’s academic and research mission.
The redevelopment will include a previously identified campus plan site, Site 75A, which includes six properties that are all currently included in the university’s real estate investment portfolio (2134, 2136, 2138, 2138½, 2140, and 2142 Pennsylvania Avenue) that will be demolished. In addition, the university will redevelop the adjacent building (2100 West Pennsylvania Avenue) formerly occupied by Kaiser Permanente until it vacated the space in fall 2012. The university will combine these sites to create a more efficient development and maximize the value of its investment properties in support of the university’s mission.
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Historic Preservation
and
GW's 2007 Foggy Bottom Campus Plan
The University worked closely with the Office of Planning historic preservation staff to develop a comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan for the Foggy Bottom Campus during the drafting of the 2007 Foggy Bottom Campus Plan. The historic plan ensures that appropriate campus resources are identified, preserved and maintained while accommodating the university’s forecasted space needs. The plan proposed a historic district on the campus, as well as the naming of additional landmark campus buildings to those already identified. The University is committed to maintaining the diversity of its building fabric on campus through the identification, maintenance, preservation and adaptive reuse of architectural and historic resources, including the resources in the pending historic district.
The row houses on Square 75 were not identified as historically significant during that process and were subsequently approved for redevelopment in the Campus Plan.
More information on the 2007 Foggy Bottom Campus Plan's
Historic Preservation Plan
Square 75 in the News
Students Testify in Support of Building Project
November 19, 2012
GW Moves Ahead with Next Phase of Campus Plan
November 17, 2011
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Similar to the investment practices of major universities across the country, the university has long used the income from investment properties to help fund its academic mission. The return from these investments, many of which are situated along Pennsylvania Avenue, helps to defray the costs of academic programs, facilities, student financial aid, and other expenses necessary to operate a world class university. Investment in properties on the edge of its campus helps to ensure the maintenance of well-run buildings near the campus, providing an attractive environment for the university population and the Foggy Bottom residents, as well as providing tax revenue for the District.
The approved 2007 Foggy Bottom Campus Plan specifically identified the redevelopment of the Pennsylvania Avenue retail townhouses as a site (Site 75A) for either a future commercial/investment or academic/ administrative/medical use. As part of the first stage approval of a Planned Unit Development related to the Campus Plan, the site was rezoned C-4 and approved for up to 130’ height. The university intends to provide parking for the project, as well as improve the alley access to the parking and loading from I Street.
The university plans to partner with an experienced third-party developer who will be responsible for development of the property—similar to The Avenue (Square 54)—in order to generate non-tuition-driven revenue for the university’s academic mission. The new partner will be obligated to the outcomes of the zoning process led by GW.
The new development is expected to have a flexible ground floor that can be configured for retail or flex-office space. University officials recently met with existing retail tenants on Pennsylvania Avenue, who have been aware of this potential redevelopment since the 2007 Foggy Bottom Campus Plan approval, to share information about the university’s future plans and the timeline for the project. The campus has a number of retail venues that are leased to locally owned retail establishments. The university has 12 such businesses on campus currently, not including the independent retailers in the university’s investment properties. The university remains committed to furthering small locally owned businesses at various locations on its Foggy Bottom campus and will continue its commitment through the implementation of the Eye St Retail Corridor, a component of the 2007 Foggy Bottom Campus Plan.
The university filed its application to the DC Zoning Commission in February, 2012 and presented this project to the DC Zoning Commission at a public hearing on November 15, 2012. Pending final zoning approvals, the university anticipates construction of this project to begin as early as 2014.
This page includes (in reverse chronological order) all filings to the Zoning Commissioner related to the redevelopment of Site 75A on Square 75. These documents may be accessed below or in-person by contacting talktogw@gwu.edu
February 4, 2013 - Best and Final Offer Reply Filing
January 22, 2013 - Best and Final Offer Response regarding Proffered Amenitites
January 14, 2013 - Motions to Reopen Record and Letters re: Transportation Monitoring and Affordable Housing
December 31, 2012 – Filing to Zoning Commission of Post-Hearing Statement for Square 75
Decemebr 31, 2012 - Filing to Zoning Commission regarding proposed Draft Order for Square 75
November 15, 2012 - Presentation to the DC Zoning Commission at Square 102 Public Hearing
October 26, 2012 - Pre-hearing Submission to the District of Columbia Zoning Commission for Review and Approval of a Second-Stage Planned Unit Development
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Additional Concept Images
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August 7, 2012 - Pre-hearing Submission to the District of Columbia Zoning Commission for Review and Approval of a Second-Stage Planned Unit Development
July 17, 2012 - Additional Information Regarding Affordable Housing Proposal
February 23, 2012 – Application to the District of Columbia Zoning Commission for Review and Approval of a Second Stage Planned Unit Development; Modification of a First Stage Planned Unit Development; and Further Processing Approval of an Approved Campus Plan
February 1, 2012 – Notice of Intent to File a Zoning Application
Materials from Community Meetings:
11-16-11 ANC 2A Monthly Meeting Presentation |
