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Zoning commission approves Indiana University campus plan, allows short‑term student housing at 1619 Massachusetts Ave NW
Summary
The D.C. Zoning Commission voted 5-0-0 on March 6 to approve a 10-year campus plan for Indiana University at 1619 Massachusetts Avenue NW, allowing adaptive reuse of the existing building and new dormitory floors to house short-term students, subject to conditions from the Office of Planning and DDOT.
The D.C. Zoning Commission voted 5-0-0 March 6 to approve zoning commission case 24-17, a campus plan establishing Indiana University’s Washington, D.C. campus at 1619 Massachusetts Avenue NW.
The plan allows Indiana University to reuse the existing eight-story building and add dormitory-style housing on the sixth and seventh floors to accommodate roughly 34–40 short-term students. The Office of Planning recommended approval with two conditions, including limiting daily student enrollment to no more than 200 and granting the campus plan for a 10-year term.
Indiana University Vice President for Capital Planning and Facilities Tom Morrison described the project as an adaptive reuse that would provide classrooms, offices and short-term residential space for students “coming for an internship or for a short semester.” Morrison told the commission the university does not expect large numbers of student vehicle trips and that the building’s windows are inoperable, which the applicant said should limit noise impacts.
The applicant’s transportation witness, Daniel Solomon of Brook Slade, said the project will preserve existing short-term bike parking along Massachusetts Avenue, add long-term bicycle parking in the below‑grade garage and reserve 22 vehicular parking spaces for faculty and staff. Solomon said DDOT issued a no-objection report conditioned on the applicant enrolling in the Capital Bikeshare university membership program and implementing the agreed transportation demand management (TDM) measures for the life of the project. “DDOT finds the TDM plan to be sufficient,” Solomon said.
Eric Osborne of the District Department of Transportation reiterated DDOT’s support and its condition that the applicant join the Capital Bikeshare university membership program and distribute promotional materials to students.
Office of Planning staff noted the property’s designation on the Future Land Use Map and concluded the campus plan “would not be inconsistent” with the comprehensive plan. The ANC 2B letter in the record shows unanimous ANC support (8–0–0) for the adaptive reuse.
Commissioners asked staff and the applicant clarifying questions about dorm configurations, kitchen facilities and bicycle charging stations. Architect Joshua Vaca of SmithGroup said the two dormitory floors will be designed as co‑ed floors with a mix of single and double rooms and that kitchenettes will be provided on each floor. Vaca said a bike-charging station can be incorporated if required.
Chairman Anthony Hood and other commissioners praised the project as a straightforward adaptive reuse and commended the team’s engagement with agencies and ANC2B. With no opposition in the record, the commission approved the campus plan by roll call vote; staff recorded the final vote 5–0–0.
The commission asked the applicant to file a draft order within two weeks; staff indicated a summary order would be acceptable because there was no opposition in the record.
This record includes Office of Planning and DDOT reports and the ANC 2B letter; no other government agencies registered opposition during the hearing.
