Proposed development at 901 5th Street NW (northeast corner of 5th and I)
Show your support by signing this petition now
4
signers. Almost there! Add your voice!
95%
Maxine K. signed
just now
Adam B. signed
just now
Hi all! Please note that I do NOT intend to submit this petition with signatures. If you support this view, you are welcome to copy the text below, paste (and edit as you see fit) into an email, and submit it to:
1) Deputy Mayor Hoskins -dmped.eom@dc.gov
2) Project Manager Mathews -Ivan.matthews@dc.gov
3) Council Member Wells -Twells@dccouncil.us
May the best proposal for MVT win!
------------------
Deputy Mayor Hoskins and Mr. Mathews,
I am an owner/ resident at 555 Massachusetts Avenue NW which is directly across the street from the future development site at 901 5th Street NW (northeast corner of 5th and I). I am aware that your office previously solicited requests for development of this site and subsequently narrowed the lengthy list of proposals to just four finalists; two of which proposed residential buildings, one a commercial office building, and one a boutique hotel with a minimal number of residential units. It is my understanding that your office is currently in the final stages of this difficult selection process. Due to our immediate proximity to the development site, I and the other residents of 555 Massachusetts Avenue NW will undoubtedly be the most impacted by whichever proposal is selected for development. As such, I would like to strenuously voice my support on behalf of the boutique Standard Hotel proposal.
I firmly believe the Standard Hotel proposal is the only option that will increase both night and day time foot traffic. This is a safety issue in light of the current state of 5th Street NW in between Massachusetts Avenue and K Street, which is primarily abandoned buildings with the exception of the newly opened Silo restaurant.
There are already two huge commercial office buildings under construction just one block away between 6th and 7th Streets NW, and two new residential high-rise buildings around the corner on K Street between 4th and 5th Streets NW. In fact, the developers who were previously awarded zoning adjustment approval for a residential development at 455 I Street NW --the lot adjacent to 901 5th Street NW-- recently requested support from the ANC for a two year extension due to the rapid, excessive development of residential units in this immediate area! Clearly, there is no need for additional residential or commercial office space in Mount Vernon Triangle (MVT) at this time.
I realize there is a Hampton Inn located on 6th Street NW, but that is a different class of hotel with a different customer base. Furthermore, a private office or residence building at the development site will limit availability of public space to those minimal areas specifically set aside for public usage (i.e. – a small outdoor park, couple of commercial lease spaces or YMCA 'alternate' facility). An upscale boutique hotel, however, would allow MVT residents access throughout the hotel property such as the hotel restaurant/ coffee shop and rooftop cafe/ bar, etc. I am familiar with the Standard Hotel in NYC which hosts a skating rink in the winter and outdoor beer garden/ restaurant in the summer. Such type of development would be a welcome addition to the MVT neighborhood.
Finally, there are enough generic brick monstrosities lining Massachusetts Avenue in MVT and the proposed architecture for the Standard Hotel development would be a welcome departure from the norm while serving to accentuate 5th and I as the gateway to MVT. I sincerely hope this is the development selected as it is clearly the best option for the MVT in terms of safety, viability, public usage and even architectural design.
Please note that this letter of support for the Standard Hotel is my personal opinion and not necessarily that of the 555 Massachusetts Avenue Condo Association; however, I would encourage you to visit the local neighborhood blog(http://www.mvtriangleblog.com/?p=4470#comments) and read the numerous comments concerning this proposed development. You will find that many of my neighbors feel similarly and the far majority of the posted comments overwhelmingly support the proposed Standard Hotel development.
Thank you for your consideration and for your hard work in making our MVT neighborhood a better place to live.
Sincerely,
Comment