Giant Development Delayed Until Who-Knows-When

The real estate blog DCMud has reported  that the Newark Street Giant development project, known as Cathedral Commons, is still searching for a financial partner, and the development is on hold until one is found. According to DCMud's article, the earliest groundbreaking would be in the beginning of 2012. In the meanwhile, the Giant supermarket will remain open. You can read the full article here.

The article alludes to the current financial climate as a cause of the delay, but the lawsuit may also play a factor: The lawsuit may be scaring away potential backers, as uncertainty and multi-million dollar projects don't go hand in hand. If that's the case, then it's a shame that just a handful of people can do so much to thwart what over 95 percent of the Giant's neighbors, the Mayor, Councilmember Cheh and most other elected officials, want. 

DDOT Meeting on Cleveland Park Giant Construction-Related Issues: April 11

Posted by ANC Commissioner Nancy MacWood on the Cleveland Park Listserv

Editor's note. This meeting has been canceled. It will be rescheduled. 

On Monday, April 11, from 6:30-8:30PM at the Second District Police Station, DDOT will conduct a design workshop. The workshop is intended to elicit neighborhood views on several issues DDOT is reviewing prior to the beginning of the Giant PUD construction. Some of the issues that DDOT is seeking more information on were prominently mentioned during the January ANC 3C meeting that Karina Ricks, Associate DDOT Director, attended. The issues include:

• The design and functioning of an Idaho/Wisconsin/Ordway curb extension to replace the striped section of that intersection
• The operation of Idaho Avenue when traffic signal is installed and when Idaho west of Wisconsin accommodates 2-way traffic
• The design of the Wisconsin Avenue crosswalk to be installed with new traffic signal
• Routing of truck traffic to and from the construction site
• The relocation of the bus station stop on Newark Street west of Wisconsin Avenue.

Typically, DDOT sets up stations with knowledgeable staff listening and writing down residents' comments. DDOT may present some options that they are considering in each of the listed areas. Giant has been asked to participate and provide whatever materials they think would be useful for the community to know and evaluate. This is an opportunity for you to engage with DDOT and Giant on some of the issues that have been prominently mentioned in previous discussions. DDOT and Giant will incorporate your views in their later meetings about how to move forward on these issues.

As I get more information from DDOT I will share it and offer some further details about the parameters of some of the topics. This is not a typical occurrence but I think it represents the commitment of DDOT and Giant to approach this major construction event with as much sensitivity to the community as possible.

For those who are wondering whether phasing of construction might be back on the table, I have been told that both blocks will be constructed simultaneously.

Update on the Giant Development Project and Soil Contamination

Here is an update on the contaminated soil found at the location where Giant will be building a modern supermarket and residential/retail complex.  This update was posted earlier today by ANC Commissioner Nancy MacWood on our companion email list, the Cleveland Park Listserv.  You can read our earlier article about the contaminated soil found at the Wisconsin Avenue and Newark Street site here. 

As many people have heard, Giant has filed an application with the District Dept. of the Environment to participate in its Voluntary Cleanup Program ("VCP"). Why? Boring samples at the site revealed that there are dry cleaning related fluids in the ground on the Newark Street side of north block. This is apparently not unusual but it does require the soil underneath the building to be removed according to prescribed standards. Once the buildings are demolished and excavation begins, there will be trained officials on site to measure the dirt as it is excavated. If the measurements require, the soil will be contained and disposed of according the EPA standards. Any dirt that is placed in open trucks (with covers) will not be contaminated.

There is also some petroleum residue in the north block from an old underground fuel tank that was removed earlier. The process for removing the soil that has this contamination will be similar. It is possible that there could be a discernible gasoline smell for a few days during excavation. I am told that this is not dangerous and that it will be gone within days.

At this point, DDOE has asked Giant to do some more boring sampling. When that is completed, Giant will develop a Clean Up Action Plan that will be reviewed by DDOE. When the clean up is complete, there will be additional sampling to determine that all contaminated soil has been removed. Giant will submit a closure report and if its findings are verified DDOE will issue a Certificate of Completion. At each stage of this process, the receipt of submissions will be noticed in the D.C. Register and to the ANC for comment.

The DC law requiring the clean up has been in effect since 2002. There have been approximately 20 clean ups with the baseball stadium requiring the largest clean up.

The above information is based on a conversation I had with the chief of the Land Remediation and Development Branch of DDOE.