|
Q: Besides attending the meetings, how can I provide my opinions about the project?
A: Press the “CONTACT US” link at the bottom of the pages on this website, or you can address your comments directly to:
Sharon Robinson
Public Relations Consultant
Wisconsin Avenue Giant
3421 14th Street, NW, 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20010
202-494-5338
Huesrose@aol.com
Q: How much square footage is on the site today, what is being proposed and what was agreed to in the Letter Agreement a number of years ago?
A: On the South Parcel today is the existing Giant (which is only 18,500 square feet in size), the vacant G.C. Murphy store and space once occupied by a handful of small retailers. This totals 64,900 square feet. In addition, there are 233 parking spaces.
The Letter Agreement signed in May 2002 between Giant, the Cleveland Park Citizens Association and the Office of Planning, envisioned the site occupied by a Giant supermarket of 64,760 square feet, with an undetermined number of parking spaces.
Today, a user- and neighborhood-friendly supermarket is Giant’s goal. The size of the proposed supermarket has been reduced from that envisioned in the Letter Agreement to allow other uses that address the needs of the community. Specifically, the current proposal for the South Parcel envisions a
56,000 square foot Giant supermarket along with small retail shops and “flex” office space
that add an additional 42,000 square feet. The supermarket is served by a loading area beneath the store. In total, approximately 400 parking spaces will be provided on this parcel for all of the retail uses proposed on both the South and North parcels. In addition, 8 townhouses are proposed along Idaho Avenue. The townhouses each have individual garages accessed from the alley behind.
On the North Parcel today, there is approximately 50,000 square feet of commercial development, on two levels plus a basement. The current proposal includes street level retail totaling
approximately 34,000 square feet with 124 residential units anticipated on four upper floors. Parking for the retail will be provided on the South Parcel while parking for the residential units will be provided below the building on the North Parcel.
In total, the proposed project will contain approximately 136,500 square feet of retail space and 140-150 residential units.
Q: Does Stop & Shop own both sites?
A: Stop & Shop/Giant does own both sites and will be pursuing Site Plan Approval for a project that encompasses both.
Q: Will this be a Giant or a Stop & Shop?
A: This store will continue to be a Giant supermarket when it reopens. Stop & Shop Supermarkets operates two divisions. In this region, the stores are known under the banner of Giant Food Stores. The name Stop & Shop is used for the company’s stores throughout New England and the New York tri-state area.
Q: What kind of shops do you anticipate?
A: We anticipate that the small stores in the new project will be very much like those that are in the area today: neighborhood focused service and convenience uses and restaurants. In fact, a number of the existing tenants may remain, relocated into new space.
Q: What will happen to the second floor commercial space on the North Parcel?
A: Based on input from the public earlier in the process, we added second story commercial space on the South Parcel. This will allow the project to accommodate the kinds of tenants that are part of the community fabric but that don't need prime street level shops.
Q: Is there a way you can keep rents affordable for some of the tenants?
A: As we move forward, we will explore opportunities for being able to offer lower rents to some tenants.
Q: Do you know what type of housing there will be and how many units?
A: Several sizes of housing units and price points will be offered, providing a variety of options for prospective residents. Eight townhouses and
14 residential units (above the retail on Newark Street) are proposed for the South Parcel. On the North Parcel, there are 124 dwelling units proposed on four levels above the street level retail. It has not been determined whether these will be for sale or for rent.
Q: How much parking will there be? Will the parking for the residential be reserved?
A: Approximately 400 parking spaces will be provided on the South Parcel to support the retail uses on both parcels and the
14 flats above the Newark Street retail. The 8 townhouses on the South Parcel have their own parking. On the North Parcel, parking is provided beneath the building to satisfy the parking needs of the residential units above.
Q: Will parking be free to the public?
A: The bulk of the parking on the South Parcel will be free and open to the public. Some of it will be set aside for exclusive use by residents of the proposed housing.
Q: How many vehicle entrances/exits will there be into/out of the parking area?
A: During our first meeting with members of the community in which a prior plan was discussed, we heard concern about the single entrance/exit from the parking garage that would serve customers and residents, and the trucks that service the stores. We thus modified the plan to incorporate a second vehicular access drive that aligns with 38th Street so the South Parcel will be served by two driveways in and out, one from Newark and one from 38th Street. The service/loading area has been separated entirely from customer access.
While all parking was located on the South Parcel in the original concept plan, residents on the North Parcel will park under their own building in the current plan.
Q: If you park in the garage and want to shop, where do you come out?
A: There are several ways to get from the garage to the shops and offices above. From the upper parking level, an inclinator provides access directly into the Giant supermarket. (An inclinator is like a moving sidewalk for people and carts, but it travels at an incline to make the connection to an upper level.) In addition, two elevators travel from both parking levels directly into the supermarket.
For patrons of the other shops, the “flex” office space and the housing, a vertical circulation core, which contains stairs and an elevator, connects both levels of parking to Newark Street. A second circulation core connects the lower level of parking to Wisconsin Avenue at the “flex” office space lobby.
Q: How can pedestrians access the Giant supermarket?
A: Pedestrian access to the store will occur from Newark Street, from Wisconsin Avenue, from 38th Street through the parking garage and from Idaho Avenue, via a sidewalk and stair that connect to the parking area beneath the store.
Q: What is the timeframe of this project?
A: The Site Plan Approval application was submitted to the District of Columbia Zoning Commission on May 16, 2008. The District’s review and approval process typically takes 6-9 months. Stop
& Shop/Giant plans to start construction in 2009. The total construction period is expected to last 24-36 months.
Q: Will the store continue to operate during construction?
A: Giant tries to keep stores open during expansion or rebuilding. It is unlikely, however, that it will be possible to keep the store open throughout the construction period in this case. If that proves to be true, Giant will make every effort to minimize the amount of time the store is not open and will work to provide access to other Giant stores in the area for those shoppers who rely on the easy access and proximity of this Wisconsin Avenue location.
Q: Will this be phased? What happens to the tenants on the North Parcel today?
A: While it is too early in the process to have prepared construction phasing plans, it is reasonable to assume that the South Parcel, which encompasses the new Giant, will be built out before construction of the North Parcel begins. This would potentially allow tenants of the North Parcel to be relocated – perhaps temporarily – to space on the South Parcel for the duration of construction.
Q: Will you incorporate the existing historic and character-making neon signage into the new project as previously committed by the developer?
A: We understand that the “Giant” sign represents continuity in the neighborhood and carries with it a sense of character that is viewed with affection. As we move forward, we will be exploring ways to possibly re-use the sign within the proposed project.
Q: Do you plan on incorporating quality streetscape materials such as brick pavers, pedestrian scale streetlights, benches, trash containers, bike racks, large-caliper, regularly spaced street trees around the site perimeter?
A: Absolutely! Street-Works is a firm believer in the power of quality streetscape to create a place that is appealing to the community. Our goal is to create a vibrant gathering place at the heart of the local neighborhood.
|
