CREW DC: News-Program Summary

PROGRAM SUMMARY

September Program – Forging the New Frontier

CREW DC's September program “Forging the New Frontier” spotlighted the development in Ward 4.

The program was moderated by William N. Herman, Principal of CRA Real Estate, whose firm is involved with some of the projects in Ward 4.

Our speaker, Ward 4 Council member Adrian Fenty, has lived in the District since his birth. He and his family moved to Ward 4 in 1997. At that time there were no signs of construction or development.

Ward 4 is the most Northern Ward of the city. It is a very residential area with the highest percentage of home ownership in the city.

Ward 4 is also a large area encompassing 40 blocks. In order to maintain focus, the Council has segmented the revitalization efforts, concentrating development at major nodes along the metro line. Some of the key projects are:

The Georgia Ave./Petworth Area is one of the largest mixed-use projects. It will combine housing and retail.
CVS Pharmacy is building a larger store at 6514 Georgia Ave.
Cedar Crossings at Takoma Metro is one of three new residential projects.
314 Carroll St. is a new state-of-the-art sustainable mixed-use apartment building.
Takoma Recreation Center, with an Olympic size pool, will be the largest recreation center in the District.

Development can often put a strain on infrastructure. The major utilities (Vepco, Washington Gas, etc.) have worked to minimize disruption to the community.

Increase in housing and land values often leads to gentrification. To counteract this trend, the government sets aside twenty percent of the land use to affordable housing.

There is also a concern for Historic Preservation. Many Takoma houses are designated as historic. The Housing Act of 2001 gives credits for restoration of historic houses. Controls are in place to monitor the quality of the architectural changes.

The DC Task Force is committed to keeping the city thriving and diverse. Although the current focus is on the major nodes, the long-term plan is to fill in with development between these nodes.