both dated July 10, 2008
Note the difference in the number of units as well as what's omitted from LCOR's release -- no promises about minimizing delays to the library or no net loss of green space for Janney. LCOR appears to have cut and pasted language from DMPED's release, but it hasn't repeated promises the Mayor made that LCOR knows can't be kept.
It's also worth mentioning that, in both releases, the city is no longer claiming that 30% of the units will be devoted to "affordable" housing. Now we're being told that there will be an unspecified quantity of much pricier "workforce" housing. And, apparently, the project has been downgraded from LEED Silver to LEED Certified. Even before the terms of the deal are negotiated, expectations are being lowered. At this point, there's essentially nothing left of the affordable housing benefit (but the subsidy!) and LCOR's mixed-use building will be much less "green" than DCPL's design (their architects aimed for Silver and believe they've achieved Gold).
Finally, and not surprisingly, nobody's willing to publicize the fact that what's happening here is that a nine-story apartment building is being constructed on the kids' soccer field. Let's just agree to call it "the land that lies between the library and Janney Elementary," as if it were a separate vacant lot rather than a part of the campus that is in continual use even when school isn't in session.
From DMPED:
Fenty Announces Development Partner for Tenley/Janney Site
(Washington, DC) – Mayor Adrian M. Fenty on Thursday announced the District has selected LCOR as its development partner for the 3.6 acre Tenley Library/Janney Elementary School development site.
“We’ve got a real opportunity to leverage this site to help pay for the cost of improving Janney Elementary, enhance the existing open space and add both market-rate and workforce housing – all atop a Metro station,” Mayor Fenty said. “LCOR is a highly capable developer. They know how to make public-private partnerships work.”
The District selected LCOR after issuing a competitive solicitation last fall. Three development teams responded to the solicitation. The teams were evaluated on vision, financial capacity and past performance.
LCOR has proposed building between 120 and 130 units of housing – primarily above the future Tenley library and a portion of the land that lies between the library and Janney Elementary. LCOR will work closely with the District of Columbia Public Library to ensure a quality integrated structure that will provide a vibrant, mixed-use learning and living environment that will produce an architecturally engaging, LEED certified project.
LCOR will collaborate with DCPL to ensure that any delay to the Library’s construction start will be minimized. LCOR will also work closely with the Janney Elementary School community to ensure that the Janney’s needs are met. This selection presents the opportunity to provide a tremendous financial benefit to Janney Elementary School by using a portion of the proceeds of the deal to support Janney’s modernization. The project will not result in a net loss of green space for Janney.
Keeping with the Administrations commitment to affordable housing, the project will also provide the opportunity to add workforce housing to the Tenley Friendship neighborhood.
In the coming weeks, the District and LCOR will work closely with community stakeholders such as the Advisory Neighborhood Commission and the St. Ann’s community to produce a project that creates a benefit for all involved.
From LCOR:
District of Columbia Selects LCOR as Development Partner for Library Site
LCOR’s Public/Private Development Track Record a Key Factor in District Decision
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 10, 2008) — Mayor Adrian M. Fenty today announced that the District of Columbia has selected LCOR as its development partner for the Tenley Library/Janney Elementary School site in Northwest Washington.
“We’ve got a real opportunity to leverage this site to help pay for the cost of improving Janney Elementary, enhance the existing open space and add both market-rate and workforce housing — all atop a Metro station,” Mayor Fenty said. “LCOR is a highly capable developer. They know how to make public-private partnerships work.”
The District selected LCOR after issuing a competitive solicitation in the fall of 2007. Three development teams responded to the solicitation. The teams were evaluated on vision, financial capacity and past performance.
LCOR has proposed building 174 units of market-rate and workforce housing, primarily above the future Tenley library and a portion of the land that lies between the library and Janney Elementary School. A retail component across Wisconsin Avenue from the Tenleytown/ American University Metro station also is envisioned as part of the project. LCOR will develop the school and library while developing the nearby apartments.
LCOR will work closely with the District of Columbia Public Library to ensure a quality integrated facility that provides a vibrant, mixed-use learning and living environment that is architecturally engaging and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified.
Specific terms of the agreement between the District and LCOR are still to be determined.
LCOR has a 30-year history in the Washington, D.C. region. Notably, the company designed and built another public school (James F. Oyster Elementary) in Northwest Washington as part of a public/private partnership. That project was completed in 2001.
