Developer Reportedly Picked for Stevens School—And the Neighborhood’s Disgusted
Equity Residential/Neighborhood Development Group’s plan
When the city selects a developer for a major project, the requisite press release usually lands in my mailbox.
But, oh no, not with the redevelopment of Stevens Elementary School, whose famous alums include first daughter Amy Carter, singer Roberta Flack, and many others, and once served as the city’s first elementary school for the children of freed slaves.
Today the Washington Business Journal is reporting that a developer has been chosen, but many involved—neighbors in the West End, local civic leaders, Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans—are angry about the decision. And that’s why the news ended up in a newspaper first, as opposed to being announced by the mayor’s office.
The selection is Equity Residential, which is proposing multi-family housing, courtyards, and ground floor retail on the site, plus a “Memory Wall, reflecting the history of the Stevens School.”
Here’s a snippet. The rest, found here, is a good read:
A top aide to Evans, Jeff Coudriet, said the councilman was indeed unhappy with the choice and was exploring alternatives.
A hotel “clearly seemed to be the preference of the ANC and the neighborhood association. And the word on the street is that that the selection is not,” Coudriet said…
Another ANC, Rebecca Coder, said all three plans were viable but that the community preferred having a hotel in the neighborhood rather than a housing development that seemed catered to college students and not long-term residents.
Photo by NCinDC, Flickr Creative Commons
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Linked From: September 24th, 2009Jay Mathews Feels Your Pain: Loose Lips Daily - City Desk - Washington City Paper
10:56 am[...] construction timeline. I can’t imagine the Fenty folks want a repeat of that.’ Also see Housing Complex. Expect a lot of angry West Enders at this afternoon’s Valerie Santos confirmation [...]
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Linked From: October 8th, 2009West End Neighbors to Developer: ‘Uh, You Can Leave Now’ - Housing Complex - Washington City Paper
9:33 am[...] This is just a funny little tidbit I read this morning. As I blogged in late September, West End neighbors are in an uproar over the city’s selection of developer Equity Residential to redevelop the Stevens School downtown. [...]
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Linked From: October 20th, 2009Stevens Elementary—Officially the Most Contentious Development Deal of the Year? - Housing Complex - Washington City Paper
5:03 pm[...] Then the city selected a developer, but didn’t publicly announce its pick because it caused such an uproar. [...]
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Linked From: November 10th, 2009An Explanation for the Boutique Hotel Boom - Housing Complex - Washington City Paper
9:54 am[...] The neighbors in the West End are dying for a boutique hotel in the old Stevens School. [...]
9:00 am
Amy Carter went to that school for about a week. There is plenty more history about the school to be mentioned than her going there. Look at the history.
12:11 pm
What about it caters to college students?
12:22 am
Small, numerous, expensive rental units, just like the glorified dorm that Equity Residential created a few blocks away at 2440 M Street.