Whittle School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently they have now applied for a permit --meaning one was required in the first place.

I looked at DCRA web site for permits for the 2 addresses, not sure what adress they are are using, but I don't see any permits, but I see that the site was nominated as a landmark a few years ago, but it seems to have stalled. If the preservation groups are still looking to fight about the level of protection for this site, don't pay your full tuition just yet.

These are the two addresses, no permits filed.

4000 CONNECTICUT AVE NW

3007 TILDEN ST NW

Also they are zoned residential R-1-B. Not sure if they then have to make a special application to Zoning to put a school in there. If so that will take a few month to get to a hearing.

3400 INTERNATIONAL DR NW is another address associated with the site. Which seems to be owned by "SL 4000 CONNECTICUT LLC and the United States of America".

Here is the link to the tax info,
https://www.taxpayerservicecenter.com/RP_Detail.jsp?ssl=2055%20%20%20%200806

There are no permits in process for this address either.

[Anonymous]

Pretty galling that with the amount of demolition work and then construction of a dormitory, beyond just a daytime use facility, they did not feel the need to get permits.

DC should not let this for-profit entity plow ahead but should calmly process their applications in due order so that all checks and balances are in place. Washington post should follow-up on the process and report back.

[Anonymous]

This is all so mysterious to me. They had actually begun demo and no one on the ANC said anything? All this is because some folks called 311 about noise? I wonder if the Chinese Emabssy will step in and have the State Department persuade DC to allow construction to continue.

[Anonymous]

They had been performing demolition for months already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty galling that with the amount of demolition work and then construction of a dormitory, beyond just a daytime use facility, they did not feel the need to get permits.

DC should not let this for-profit entity plow ahead but should calmly process their applications in due order so that all checks and balances are in place. Washington post should follow-up on the process and report back.

Totally agree. And the school should announce its swing space for next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty galling that with the amount of demolition work and then construction of a dormitory, beyond just a daytime use facility, they did not feel the need to get permits.

DC should not let this for-profit entity plow ahead but should calmly process their applications in due order so that all checks and balances are in place. Washington post should follow-up on the process and report back.

Totally agree. And the school should announce its swing space for next year.

+2

[Anonymous]

When do they expect to have their first class? This fall? I am found their brochures randomly left at a Carr Workspaces reception area. Any connection?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently they have now applied for a permit --meaning one was required in the first place.

I looked at DCRA web site for permits for the 2 addresses, not sure what adress they are are using, but I don't see any permits, but I see that the site was nominated as a landmark a few years ago, but it seems to have stalled. If the preservation groups are still looking to fight about the level of protection for this site, don't pay your full tuition just yet.

These are the two addresses, no permits filed.

4000 CONNECTICUT AVE NW

3007 TILDEN ST NW

Also they are zoned residential R-1-B. Not sure if they then have to make a special application to Zoning to put a school in there. If so that will take a few month to get to a hearing.

If they are R-1-B, then yes they will absolutely have to go through a BZA process to get a special exception to put a private school in a residential zone, which could take a year or more. I have gone through the process when working at a school that applied in an R-1-B. Neighbors typically rally against it and it drags on even longer.

However, Intelsat operated there for years and they were a commercial entity - so either they had a special exception or it is not an R-1-B. Or maybe something to do with it being Federal land as mentioned in the Post article that exempts them from zoning. Maybe someone who knows more about zoning laws can clarify

The old zoning classifications will clarify, perhaps it used to be non residential but the new zoning designation changed that to R. Or as you say they had a special exception.
I think they can get the approval for the private school, the student accommodations is another matter, but it will still take them months to go to BZA, and they cannot get their permits before they do that.

And a big factor, beside neighbors, is the DC Preservation League, who was pushing for Landmark Status a few years back- this designation would protect some of inside of the building, not just the outside.

[Anonymous]

Were they using all in-house construction firms? Every contractor I know knows the permitting process, includes it in their bids, and is slightly afraid of DCRA. Even if they went in house, didn't they hire any local subcontractors who would have noticed the lack of paperwork? Very odd.

[Anonymous]

Totally valid point...but they did ostensibly use a contractor as there is a Turner Construction side out front. But I agree, it's shocking that the contractor didn't run the permits like every other contractor on the planet.

[Anonymous]

This is form the Dc Zoning maps for that site

Zone District

1958 Zoning: D/R-1-B

2016 Zoning: R-1-B

I don't know what the D designation means, but the poster prior was possibly correct that an exception was required form the commercial site, depending on what the rules for that zone where at the time.

Anyway, it is very clear what the rules are now, so they need to either go to BZA or get council to pass a quick amendment to the zoning laws so they can have their school and boarding houses in this zone without a special exception or any other zoning relief.

So yes they really need a plan B to start the school year! OR start issuing some refunds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Totally valid point...but they did ostensibly use a contractor as there is a Turner Construction side out front. But I agree, it's shocking that the contractor didn't run the permits like every other contractor on the planet.

Sometimes the architect can get the permits. This is probably what happened. They told the contractor that they had permission so the contractor believed them. Not realizing that permission did not mean permits. And that there were no permits, not even for demolition.

[Anonymous]

what is the next step and how much of a delay will this likely be? A year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what is the next step and how much of a delay will this likely be? A year?

Best case: To get through BZA at least 5 month till post hearing to know if they get the required approval for the school, and the boarding facility. Only then can they can get their plans approved. Not too much resistance from neighbors concerned about traffic flow and parking. They will then pay the required fast tract $50K or whatever it is for the Velocity program, and get their plan approved in a week. So they can start demolition again in August.


Worst case: The Preservation League decides to re-invigorate the Landmark Claim. This prevents any permit application for (including demolition) for at least 6 months, this is the Historic Preservation law, and if they win they are then limited to what can be changed inside the building. So they will have to do a redesign, and still deal with going to BZA for 2 cases, 1 for the school use, 1 for the boarding house use. The first case is easier to win than the second. So at least 10 months before permits can be submitted to the Velocity program at DCRA, they then get the permits and start again in January 2020.

[Anonymous]

Landmark application would need to specify interior designation. Unless that is the case, the status of any landmarking would have zero impact on interior work.