The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) held a meeting on February 28th from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Chevy Chase Community Center to present the proposal it has selected for redeveloping our Civic Core, a project that will transform our neighborhood.
Although this is arguably one of the most important undertakings in Chevy Chase in decades, DMPED did not make provisions for recording the meeting. However, because the city’s proposal for development of the Civic Core will affect us all for many years to come, I arranged to have a recording made, which I am providing here for anyone who was not able to attend and for those who want to check out the presentation and the community comments again.
The recording is an hour and a half long. There is a transcript of the meeting for those who would prefer a written version.
Background Information
For your reference, here’s the info on the selected proposal and the renderings for the project:
The selected proposal includes:
- A new library (23,500 square feet).
- A new community center (21,600 square feet).
- 177 housing units, of which 54 will be affordable units (27 at 30% AMI and 27 at 50% AMI). This is a significant departure from the original proposal which called for much more affordable housing.
- The housing will include a range of unit sizes, including studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom homes. (How many residents can actually live on-site will depend on how many 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom units will be built. The proposal the city approved is silent on this, but there is additional info in the presentation.)
- There will be parking. (How many spaces isn’t stated other than 30 spaces above ground. The rest will be underground.)
- There will be open space with parks, play areas, an amphitheater, sports courts and an interior courtyard at the back. Some open space will be on rooftops, not accessible at ground level.
- There will be 8000 square feet of ground-floor retail space.
Elizabeth Nagy for ANC 3/4G07 