Zoning commission moves to rezone historic Grace Reformed Church site in Logan Circle

The Zoning Commission voted 5-0 on May 22 to take proposed action to rezone 1401–1405 Fifteenth Street NW (Case No. 24‑16) from RA‑5 to ARTS‑3, referring the matter to the National Capital Planning Commission for a 30‑day review and directing the applicant to file draft findings and conclusions within two weeks.

The proposed map amendment would change the zoning of the landmarked Grace Reformed Church property in the Logan Circle/Near Northwest planning area to allow more nonresidential uses while keeping the site’s historic protections in place. Office of Planning staff and the applicant said the change is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan’s future land‑use map and Generalized Policy Map; Office of Planning recommended approval and DDOT filed a report with no objection.

The matter matters locally because the site is a designated historic landmark, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and sits within the Fourteenth Street Historic District; supporters said rezoning will allow adaptive reuse to remove a long‑standing vacancy, while opponents said an active congregation is ready to buy and preserve the building as a church.

Jessica Bloomfield, attorney for the applicant, told the commission the application seeks a zoning map amendment for the parcel at 1401 to 1405 Fifteenth Street NW, currently zoned RA‑5, to rezone it to ARTS‑3 and to extend the existing ARTS‑3…