Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the 11th Street Bridge Park topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances transfer of federal parcels to allow 11th Street Bridge Park construction
Summary
The Committee of the Whole unanimously approved a resolution to transfer jurisdiction of 17 federal parcels—about 753,000 square feet—to the District to allow construction, maintenance and operation of the 11th Street Bridge Park and placed the measure on the consent agenda for the council's legislative meeting.
Chair Phil Mendelson told the Committee of the Whole that PR26-310 would transfer jurisdiction of 17 parcels—roughly 753,000 square feet—from the General Services Administration and the National Park Service to the District to allow construction, maintenance and operation of the 11th Street Bridge Park.
Mendelson said the proposal is necessary because the District cannot construct permanent facilities on federal reservations without a transfer of jurisdiction, and he summarized the project as a regional elevated park connecting the Navy Yard and Anacostia riverfronts with performance spaces, environmental education zones, play areas and pedestrian and bicycle connections. “This resolution would approve the transfer of jurisdiction of approximately 753,000 square feet of land from the United States General Services Administration and the United States Park Service transferred to the District of Columbia,” Mendelson said.
He noted that the Army Corps of Engineers, the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts have reviewed aspects of the project and that the measure received no opposition during the committee hearing. Mendelson moved to print the resolution with leave for staff to make technical and conforming changes and then moved the report; both motions passed unanimously on voice votes.
The measure preserves federal ownership of the underlying land while giving the District the authority to maintain stormwater management and green infrastructure features under the transfer agreement, Mendelson said. He added that the District could not solicit a general contractor for certain work until the transfer was complete.
The committee placed PR26-310 on the consent agenda for the council's legislative meeting later that day. The committee record and legal sufficiency were confirmed by the general counsel and committee staff.
Next steps: PR26-310 will appear on the council's consent agenda at the legislative meeting; because it was placed on consent, the full council may adopt it without separate debate unless a member pulls it for discussion.
