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Design Modifications for Harris Teeter Approved

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Parcel 4 - Harris Teeter

Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners’ request for a revision to the proposed design of Parcel 4, which required a modification to the existing PUD Order, has been approved.  The design modification results from Jair Lynch’s signed Letter of Intent with Harris Teeter to activate the building’s ground floor with a full-service 50,000 sf grocery store.

Parcel 4 Harris TeeterParcel 4 Harris Teeter
The most visible modification results from the creation of a café mezzanine space connected to an outdoor patio above the street level at the corner of North Capitol and the North Service Court.  The new public outdoor space offers the ability to experience the North Service Court and its historic structures from the approximate elevation of the existing plinth.  Additional design revisions included additional windows, the storefront entry and the incorporation of Harris Teeter’s signage.

On the Quarter Street frontage, the overall appearance of the residential lobbies was enhanced to by incorporating additional windows and architectural elements.  Harris Teeter’s use of smaller delivery trucks provided the opportunity to decrease the size of the loading dock, which strengthened the appearance of the building on Evarts Street.

None of the proposed modifications effect the number of residential units to be located on the building’s upper floors, which will include 85 affordable units set aside for seniors at 50% of AMI. The overall project aims to kick off construction later this year, with the new Harris Teeter and apartments delivering in 2018.

The hearing before the Zoning Commission took place on March 10, 2016. Email us at info@envisionmcmillan.com if you’d like more information regarding the hearing.

WaPo Architecture Critic Roger K. Lewis recommends VMP Plan for the #NewMcMillan

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McMillan plan combines preservation, urban design and inventive architecture

VMP Plan for the New McMillan“The fate of the McMillan Sand Filtration Plant has been the subject of heated controversy ever since the federal government closed the water purification facility in 1986 and sold the 25-acre site to the District of Columbia. During the years, dramatically differing opinions and ideas for transforming McMillan have led to multiple contrasting plans for the site.

But next month the destiny of the historically landmarked McMillan site may be determined and the disputes rendered moot. The D.C. Zoning Commission is reviewing the latest plan (www.envisionmcmillan.com), a well-conceived, pragmatic work of urban design and architecture.”

Read full article here.

One week away…

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South Service CourtNorth Service CourtCommunity Center PoolCommunity ParkThis is it.  The time to show up and state your support is now.

The Zoning Commission hearings for McMillan are only one week away. The first will be next Thursday, May 1st, with subsequent hearings May 5th, 8th and 13th.  Fenced off and closed to the public since the 1940’s, the approval of VMP’s master plan by the zoning commission is a pivotal step in transforming the 25-acre McMillan site into a neighborhood asset, sustainably integrated into the surrounding community

The final master plan for McMillan has been a long time in the making.  Through a collaborative engagement process starting in the fall of 2007, the plan has evolved significantly to become a master plan built on community consensus.  Buildings now cover only a third of the site.  Nearly half of the total site area is reserved for large public open spaces, including an 8-acre park, which will be one of the best-designed public spaces in the District.  A 17,000 SF public community center provide recreation and fitness opportunities for all, as well as a 25 meter indoor swimming pool.  All historic buildings on the site will be preserved, with some adapted for new uses – small business incubators, outdoor cafes, water features, art displays, hanging gardens and more.

The master plan will provide much needed neighborhood serving retail, including a 50,000 SF full-service grocery store.  The new McMillan provides housing opportunities for all, with at least 20% of total housing units affordable to families making up to 80% AMI.  In addition to the the built elements, redevelopment of McMillan will result in $1.2 billion in new tax revenue over the next 30 years, while generating 3,200 permanent jobs and 3,000 new construction jobs.

In order for all of these things to come to fruition, we need you to engage now.  It is critical to let the Zoning Commission know how you feel about the project both before and at the hearings.   Please submit a letter of support to the commission and then commit to attending a hearing in support of VMP’s master plan for McMillan.

McMillan Advisory Group Meeting

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Hello Again!

Last night,  the Vision McMillan team presented evolved Master Plan and revised building concepts proposed for the McMillan site that have been submitted to the Historic Preservation Review Board for hearing later this month.

In addition to walking through the presentation we posted here last week, we also talked about the potential for affordable senior housing onsite.  As those of you who have been following this project from inception know, it was always our intention to include dedicated affordable senior housing onsite. Unfortunately when we doubled the size of the park we effectively reallocated the resources needed for these affordable housing units.

Listening to community members, MAG members, and ANCs, we heard a renewed desire for affordable senior housing.  In reporting to the Council last July, we were directed to reinstate it.  Most notably Councilmembers Bowser and Bonds each asked us to find space for affordable senior housing, and they each said the District had the money to fund it.  To that end, we identified space above the grocery store, as one of three stems of the “E” shaped apartment building.  Last night, VMP promised that we would continue to work to find the resources necessary to develop affordable senior housing at McMillan.

We also agreed to host another design open house.  Mark your calendars for 10AM-1PM Saturday, November 16, 2013, location TBD.  We hope to see you there!

Tania Jackson
Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator
Vision McMillan Partners

4/27 Buildings Open House

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On April 27th VMP hosted an Open House meeting at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Bloomingdale.  Attendees got the first look at buildings planned for the site.

2013-04-04-South-Service-Court-View

In addition to the renderings for the South Service Court’s Community Center, there were pictures of the townhouses that EYA plans to build

Attendees got a look at the Shalom Baranes designed medical office buildings, and the multifamily planned to go over the grocery store space.

Perhaps the biggest news, however, was that Harris Teeter will be coming to the site as the premium grocer onsite.

At the meeting, participants could circulate around and provide feedback that was recorded in its entirety on big pads.  We will be putting up the information we garned from these notes shortly.

Finally, attendees completed a survey designed to get feedback on their thoughts about the current plans for the site.

Of the 47 people who attended, we got 33 surveys back:

  • 97% — all but one respondent said YES they wanted the site redeveloped and opened for public use;
  • Overall satisfaction with the plans — 3.82 (1 was low, 5 was high)
  • What they like most (respondents could pick up to three):
    • Design of park  14/33 or 42%
    • Size of park  11/33 or 33%
    • Grocery store 11/33 or 33%
    • Community center 7/33 or 21%
    • Also mentioned healthcare, trees and water features
  • Top concerns (told to pick 3)
    • Traffic Management 21/33 or 63%
    • Historic Preservation  14/33 or 42%
    • Nothing happening 11/33 or 33%
    • Building heights 7/33 or 21%
    • Stormwater Management,  including DC Water 7/33 or 21%
    • Design of Park 5/33 or 15%
    • Size of Park 3/33 or 10%
    • Community Center 3/33 or 10%
    • Also mentioned: affordable housing, density and parking
  • Retail preferences other than grocery (told to pick 3):
    • Local neighborhood restaurant 24/33 or 72%
    • Coffee shop 17/33 or 52%
    • Fitness/gym 11/33 or 33%
    • Sandwich/Quality Sit down Restaurant 9/33 or 30%
    • Pharmacy 8/33 or 24%
    • Pop up/food trucks 6/33 or 18%
    • Dry cleaner 2/33 or 6%
    • Barber/salon 1/33 or 3%
    • Also mentioned arts/creative, bars, hardware/garden & doggie daycare

We are creating a Survey Monkey version to make available online to neighborhood residents.  We look forward to hearing from more of you!

Next Steps:  VMP and site architects will be attending the ANC 5E and ANC 5A meetings in May and June.  We will also return to ANC 1B’s Design Committee, as well.

As always, please feel free to email me or call me with questions, concerns or comments.

Tania B. Jackson

Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator