A growing chorus of community organizations are calling on the D.C. Council to revoke an emergency resolution adopted in July that virtually guaranteed public facilities on the West End would be dealt to a developer with interests nearby.
The deal with EastBanc Inc., proposed by Mayor Adrian Fenty and strongly backed by Ward 2 Council Member Jack Evans, infuriated advisory neighborhood commissions and other activist groups that described the process as secretive and the deal as sweetheart. From the Federation of Citizens Association to the Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan advisory neighborhood commissions, myriad resolutions have been adopted in the last two months calling on the council to reverse its decision.
The council, which returns to work next week, will be greeted Tuesday morning on the steps of the WilsonBuilding by a protest led by the Peoples Property Campaign.
“Everyone relates to the emergency resolution being totally crazy, public input being prohibited,” said Robin Diener, executive director of the D.C. Library Renaissance Project. “It’s interesting how many people have really snapped this up.”
The resolution essentially commits the District to sole-source negotiations with EastBanc, which would purchase the land around 24th and L streets Northwest, including the West End Library and Engine Co. 1, and include it as part of a mixed-use development. EastBanc would rebuild both public facilities, though the how and when remain questions.
Community leaders argue they were cut out of the process. A council committee hearing on the emergency resolution held days before its adoption was scheduled at the last minute and conducted in a room that lacked cameras.
“This is really just the beginning of a public engagement process,” said Sean Madigan, spokesman for the deputy mayor for planning and economic development. “Residents will have an opportunity to provide comments and voice concerns at the ANC level and throughout the zoning process.”
Nevertheless, many community activists are demanding that the council start over.
It is “simply irresponsible for the Council to have passed this legislation without genuine public involvement,” Joy Howell, president of the Foggy Bottom Association, wrote in an Aug. 10 letter to Evans. The Adams Morgan ANC said it “views with great distrust any loss of public space to any entity without full, transparent review, and justification by city leaders.”
Groups that want the resolution rescinded:
» Federation of Citizens Association
» Dupont Circle Citizens Association
» ANCs 1C, 2B
» Foggy Bottom Association
» Tenants’ Advocacy Coalition
