5785582 Resolution 21-322, Closing of a Public Alley in Square 70, S.O. 15-23283, Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2015

A RESOLUTION

                                                        

21-322

 

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

December 1, 2015         

 

 

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to order the closing of a portion of the public alley system in Square 70, bounded by 22nd Street, N.W., N Street, N.W., 21st Street, N.W., New Hampshire Avenue, N.W., and M Street, N.W., in Ward 2.

 

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Closing of a Public Alley in Square 70, S.O. 15-23283, Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2015”.

 

Sec. 2. (a) There exists an immediate need to approve emergency legislation to close a portion of the public alley system in Square 70, S.O. 15-23283.

(b) The alley is owned by the 1255 22nd Street Limited Partnership (“the Applicant”) and is located at the northeast corner of 22nd Street, N.W., and Ward Place, N.W., in Ward 2.  The Applicant’s property includes Lots 193 and 194; the alley is located along the eastern edge of Lot 193.  Lot 193 contains a seven-story office building that is vacant except for a Post Office, and Lot 193 contains a parking lot.

(c) The Applicant intends to convert the office space into residential units and build a connecting nine-story residential building on the site of the existing parking lot.  As part of the development plans, the Applicant will maintain public access over the existing 30-foot-wide alley, by way of a tunnel-like passage, created by the construction of the building, with a width of 30 feet and a height of 16 feet.

(d) The Applicant will dedicate a perpetual easement over the closed portion of the alley to allow continued access to the new residential units, as well as to the rear of two properties fronting on N Street, N.W., that abut the alley (Lots 153 and 192).

(e) A permanent version of this legislation passed first reading unanimously on November 3, 2015 and will be considered by the Council on second reading on December 1, 2015.  Making the closing effective sooner than congressional review would allow will enable the project to proceed without the risk of delay.

 

Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Closing of a Public Alley in Square 70, S.O. 15-23283, Emergency Act of 2015 be adopted after a single reading.

 

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.