Zoning commission approves Harvard’s Center for Hellenic Studies campus plan through 2045

The D.C. Zoning Commission on July 28 approved Harvard University’s Center for Hellenic Studies campus plan for 2025–2045 by a 4‑0‑1 vote, granting a 20‑year renewal with conditions recommended by the Office of Planning and the District Department of Transportation. The commission recorded no public witnesses and asked the applicant to submit a final order within two weeks.

The commission’s action allows the Center for Hellenic Studies to continue operating at 3100 Whitehaven Street NW and authorizes limited future construction and site changes described in the submitted master plan. Dennis Hughes, attorney for the applicant, said the center requests approval to “continue the current use of the property for the next 20 years.”

OP recommended approval with two specific conditions that the applicant accepted: the number of fellows shall not exceed 15 per semester and all fellows must reside on campus, and the campus plan approval is valid for 20 years. Michael Jurkovich of the Office of Planning told the commission that the plan “will allow them to continue their mission while expanding to 15 fellows.”

DDOT’s report, entered in the record as Exhibit 12, recommended approval on the condition that the applicant commit to a transportation demand management (TDM) plan. Arkin Osberg of DDOT said the agency is “supportive of the applicant’s proposal” and confirmed the applicant has agreed in writing to implement the TDM plan (Exhibit 14).

The applicant’s team said the campus has operated on its current site for more than 60 years and occupies a roughly 6‑acre, wooded campus adjacent to Dunbarton Oaks Park and the chancery buildings for Italy and Denmark. Hughes said the center currently houses about 12 fellows and employs roughly 20 people. The facilities master plan submitted with the application removes a previously proposed surface parking area and reconfigures future building locations to reduce impacts on “heritage trees,” the applicant said.

Architect Richard Williams described steps taken to protect trees during future building design, saying the project team “have identified a footprint that, is certainly not impacting heritage trees and does minimum impact to the special trees.” Williams and the applicant noted they will continue design coordination with the Ward 2 arborist and DDOT during later review and permitting.

Zoe Lapis, identified in the record as the center’s executive director, said the campus already hosts occasional public lectures and events and that the center intends to expand community‑facing programming over time: “we’ve had experiences organizing events... that can be public,” she said.

Two advisory neighborhood commissions submitted written letters of support: ANC 2E (Exhibit 7) and ANC 3C (Exhibit 15). Staff said both ANCs voted 7–0 in support. The applicant requested and the commission approved by consensus a waiver for updated plan materials submitted less than 30 days before the hearing (exhibits 11–11a2). There were no public witnesses in favor or opposition during the hearing.

Formal action was moved by Commissioner Wright and seconded; the commission voted 4–0‑1, with Commissioner Imamura absent. The commission’s approval incorporated the Office of Planning and DDOT recommendations accepted by the applicant. The applicant was asked to file the final order within two weeks.

Next steps identified by participants include continued coordination with DDOT on TDM implementation and with the Ward 2 arborist on detailed siting and design to avoid impacts to significant trees. The campus will proceed to later design and permitting phases if and when funding and detailed project proposals are submitted.