Did you know that developers are proposing new buildings at 807 Maine Ave and 899 Maine Ave? These are the areas where the Disabled American Veterans Office (807 Maine Ave) and US Department of Agriculture (899 Maine Ave) are currently located (see map below). The existing buildings will be demolished and replaced with taller buildings. Detailed information about the proposed developments can be found at: https://app.dcoz.dc.gov/CaseReport/CaseSearch.aspx (case number for 807 Maine Ave is "22-11", and for 899 Maine Ave is "22-06").

These new buildings will surround Jefferson Middle School and Jefferson Field. If the new zoning regulation for increased height is approved by the Zoning Commission, we can expect a significant impact for the surrounding areas, including a significant shadow on our community and add to the existing traffic problems on 9th and G streets.

We have significant concerns about the current PUD, particularly the traffic and parking impact on 9th ST SW and G ST SW, the likelihood that the current curb cut location for the new buildings will create more traffic on 9th St and G St, more traffic to cut through our private drive to access buildings, and a higher building’s shadow impact on the surrounding area. We are concerned with the following:

• Increased traffic: a comprehensive traffic study considering major traffic during Wharf and the Anthem events. This will also be more dangerous for students as they enter and leave school. We recommend a relocation of the G ST SW curb cut further to the west (on 9th street), away from and not across from Capitol Square’s curb cut.

• School safety: Increased traffic around the school and hundreds of apartment windows facing the school and field are both problematic. 

• Programmable public spaces: Thoughtful space design on the corner of 9th and G streets SW, such as more green space, and/or bench seating would create a nice community area. This would also encourage less car traffic in the area as it would be designed for pedestrian traffic.

• Construction impact: the lengthy demolition and construction would add considerable noise to the neighborhood, especially for residents and the school. There needs to at least be a process in place to work with the school to stop work on test days or other important days. The debris from the construction will also affect the neighboring field and people who play on the pickleball courts and the kids who play on the field.

• Affordable housing: Less than 20% of total square footage is planned to be devoted to affordable units, contrary to the percent required in the Southwest Small Area Plan for PUD developments. The "affordable units" in the 807 project is at 60% of median family income, which is not affordable. Even the Office of Planning has weighed in and recommended they lower that percentage.
• Building heights and increased shadows: The proposed buildings on 807 Maine Ave and 899 Maine Ave are expected to have maximum heights of 110ft and 130ft, respectively. However, the areas where the buildings will be located are currently zoned MU-12, which is a zoning designation specific to areas in the vicinity of the waterfront, and only allows a maximum construction height of 45ft. For this reason, the developers are asking the Zoning Commission to change the zoning of the areas to MU-10 and MU-9A, respectively, which would allow them to more than double the current maximum height construction limit.

We will be able to make a stronger argument in the next zoning hearing (October 6) if we can provide a list of residents and community members that share our concerns and position. For this reason, we are asking you to please sign this petition.