Chevy Chase Civic Core Surplus
The Chevy Chase civic core, according to DMPED (Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development) will likely advance the surplus process. The Chevy Chase Small Area Plan and some residents also support this. Surplus allows for a civic purpose to be added to the civic core in addition to the community center and library. It does not mean that any portion of the site will be sold off to private developers or groups. Affordable housing of some kind is considered by DMPED and many neighbors as a civic purpose. Fellow residents have also called for several civic options to be considered at the civic core which would require a surplus. We have an opportunity to help create a new and revitalized civic center with the community’s participation.
Fellow residents have offered several ideas we may want to include at the new civic core:
Affordable housing in a community land trust or social housing model exemplified by the Northwest Opportunity Partner’s proposal.
A senior center.
A day care, or space dedicated to Lafayette Elementary overflow.
A teen center.
Friends of the Library used book shop space.
Enhanced space for civic groups and meeting areas.
An exhibit that showcases our local history.
Support office for neighbors that need assistance.
These options should be considered alongside the current amenities already in use and enjoyed at the community center and library. Among them are an outdoor garden space, the basketball court, pickleball court, playground, and outdoor gathering spaces. Parking should also be factored into the new site as more people may want to use the space. The concerns of the residents of Northampton Street should also be respected. There is room to build alongside Connecticut Ave and McKinley St. in a reasonable fashion that will mitigate the sense of dramatic change to the homes closest to the civic core.
We should also pursue the use of neighboring sites to help ease the city’s housing crisis with affordable options. If other sites on Connecticut Ave.–with the city’s help–could be encouraged to participate in seeking affordable housing, that would be ideal. Ward 3 locations such as Wardman Park, Lord & Taylor, Mazza Gallery, Chevy Chase Pavillion, Fort Reno, and the former Intel/Whittle building should also be seriously evaluated to attain affordable housing. Future residents would have the entire civic core at their disposal. This is public space which should be used for the public good. Market rate housing on the site should be avoided and would not be an appropriate use of the site. This community has several shared points of agreement around possibilities for the civic core. DMPED should honor and encourage the continuous input from the community to help the site realize its full potential.