Newark Street Giant Construction Moving Forward

The wait is over. It looks like construction on the Newark Street Giant will be starting soon, with work expected to begin this summer. The project has been besieged with lawsuits and zoning battles; it's been the epicenter of an eleven year battle among Cleveland Park neighbors.

According to DC Mud, "Last July, the Zoning Commission gave their unanimous approval of the project, to which WNNC responded by filing an appeal, claiming that the Zoning Commission does not have the power under the PUD (zoning change approval) to eliminate a neighborhood commercial zone designation on the subject lots." (Thanks to Greater Greater Washington for spotting this.)

The still-pending lawsuit has not stopped or slowed down the project. You can view an artist's conception of what the project will look like on Giant's website.

There will be a workshop and presentation about the project on Wednesday, April 27 at 6:30pm. Giant and DC Department of Transportation representatives will be on hand to answer questions about the project and to discuss the construction. The workshop will be held at Sidwell Friends School. There's more information about this workshop on the Cleveland Park Listserv. 

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.

A Brief History of the Battle Over the Cleveland Park Giant Supermarket

The Giant supermarket and residential/retail development has been on and off again in Cleveland Park since 2000. On one side are neighbors who oppose the size and scale of the project that Giant has proposed (some neighbors oppose a larger supermarket itself.) On the other side is the vast majority of neighbors who have been longing for a new supermarket at Wisconsin Avenue and Newark Street, NW for over a decade.

It's been a pitched and at times bitter battle, and our companion email list, the Cleveland Park Listserv, has had a front row seat to the fight. We thought that it might be interesting to reprint some messages about the Giant that were posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv in late 2000 and early 2001. The proposed project was different back then, but these messages provide a snapshot of part of the history of this epic neighborhood battle.

What the Giant initially proposed, as described on the Cleveland Park Listserv in 2000:

Giant has applied to the Zoning Commission for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) to redevelop the parcel of property fronting Wisconsin Avenue from (and not including) Cactus Cantina to Newark Street and extending back over some of the parking lot. The plan in its present form, in my view, provides an attractive streetscape on Wisconsin Avenue, consisting of retail and a market with a pharmacy fronting Wisconsin. The bulk of the market extends back over much of the parking lot along Newark Street. The primary issue is whether the market as proposed is too big (approximately the size of the Georgetown Safeway).

The first zoning arguments against the Giant:

This "PUD vs. Special Exception" issue is far more important than it may seem. As Giant recognizes the desirability of coming back to the city to build new stores, the District needs to ask what size, scale and design are appropriate for an urban grocery store in the heart of an attractive urban residential area. The Macomb/Wisconsin special exception hearing allows these questions to be raised even for a matter of right proposal. This means that's there's a potential for creative, sensitive design instead of cookie-cutter suburban supermarket.

Giant would rather switch than fight: Notes from an ANC Meeting in 2000:

The Giant officials appeared and informed the ANC that they had changed their plans and were no longer interested in building a mini mall around an expanded supermarket. Instead, they were just going to gut the Murphy's and build a simple (but larger) store with the existing footprint, parking and frontage. This they could do as a matter of right and did not need any approvals beyond simple building permits. The audience was divided between those who lived adjacent to the property who saw it as a victory and most of the others who saw it as a loss to the community. I saw it as another example of how much easier to destroy than to create since the Giant people mentioned that the prospect of a long court fight helped motivate them to abandon their much better plan. The commissioners were obviously disappointed that the original proposal was withdrawn instead of being negotiated. Many members of the audience expressed gratitude that Giant was not just abandoning the expansion (and ultimately closing the store).

Soil Contaminants at Giant Development Site Won't Deter the Cathedral Commons Project

As a indication of how important the Cathedral Commons project is, Giant is preparing to remove chemicals found in the soil and groundwater where the development will be, reports the Washington Business Journal. Chlorinated organic solvents, used in dry cleaning, were found, though a Giant spokesperson says that they are not from any current or recent tenants. The Wisconsin Avenue and Newark Street site is one of a dozen locations in the District where chemicals have been found and are being cleaned up.

Cleveland Park residents have been looking forward to large, modern supermarket to replace the dilapidated 1950's style Giant that is currently in operation. The project also includes a residential and retail complex, and an estimated 500 parking spaces.

Despite lawsuits and the decade-plus long battle among neighbors, the supermarket, residential and retail complex has not been derailed. The great majority of Cleveland Park's residents couldn't be happier...and more relieved.

The Giant Supermarket Saga Continues...In Court

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals heard oral arguments yesterday in the lawsuit to block the Giant supermarket development at Wisconsin Avenue and Newark Street, NW.  The case is Wisconsin-Newark Neighborhood Coalition (WNNC) and 3300 Idaho Neighbors versus the DC Zoning Commission and Friendship-Macomb SC.)

According to DC Mud, WNNC is asking the court to overturn the Zoning Commission's unanimous approval of the Giant development project on the grounds that height and density are inconsistent with the neighborhood commercial overlay zoning.  DC Mud further reports that the petitioners want the city "to revise the PUD as a two-stage application," and declare that the Zoning Commission "lacked authority" to grant a PUD [planned unit development] within a neighborhood commercial overlay zone.

The battle over the Giant supermarket and residential-retail-office complex has been going on for over a decade. The lawsuit to thwart the Giant was filed last August. Most observers give the chance that a lawsuit will block the project near-zero odds of success. Indeed, plans are already underway to replace the dilapidated, 1950's supermarket with a modern store.

The project is supported by Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh, the local ANC, former Mayor Fenty, current Mayor Gray, other elected officials, the Zoning Commission, and the vast majority of people who live in the Cleveland Park neighborhood, where the Giant is located.

Newark Street Giant Update (Yes, It's Still Happening)

Here is the latest update on the status of the Giant supermarket and residential/retail complex, which will be located at Wisconsin Avenue and Newark Street. To briefly recap, the modernization of the Giant supermarket has been the focus of a decade long battle in the Cleveland Park neighborhood. Now, after numerous hearings, lawsuits and debate, Cleveland Park will be getting a new, modern supermarket. You can read about the history of the battle here.

Without further ado, here is the update from ANC-3C Commissioner Trudy Reeves:

I have received the following information from Giant's representative:

"Giant is in the pre-development stage for its Wisconsin Avenue site, Cathedral Commons, and does not have a construction start date or schedule at this time. The company's consulting engineering team will be conducting a number of borings as part of its pre-construction geo-technical due diligence. To do this, there will be at least one drill rig on site for about one month beginning in March taking samples at both the north and the south parcels."

Their web site, www.WisconsinAveGiant.com, has not yet been updated with construction information, but they have told us that when they have information, they will post it.

Here Comes Cleveland Park's New Giant Supermarket (Finally)

Finally. After 11 years of contentious neighborhood squabbling, all the ducks are in a row for the construction of a new supermarket and residential/retail development at Wisconsin Avenue and Newark Street.

If you're not familiar with the story, here's the very, very condensed version: On one side are neighbors who want a modern supermarket to replace the 1950s style supermarket that Giant current operates at Wisconsin and Newark. This group constitutes the vast majority of Cleveland Park neighbors. On the other side are a handful of neighbors who have used a variety of tactics, including lawsuits, to delay for over a decade the Giant's redevelopment.

But now, reports ANC Commissioner Trudy Reeves on the Cleveland Park Listserv: "The project is definitely going forward. [The Giant has] already had several preliminary design review meetings with the various agencies of the DC government that have jurisdiction over the project...During the summer they will file for demolition permits and begin demolition in the late summer."

You can see what the project will look like here.

Bomb Scare Tuesday in Cleveland Park

There was an apparent bomb scare in Cleveland Park Tuesday evening at the Giant supermarket at Wisconsin and Newark Street. Here are the three reports from the Cleveland Park Listserv:

As of 5 pm [Tuesday] police are blocking off the first block of Newark west of Wisconsin and telling everyone in no uncertain terms to get out of the area, but wouldn't explain why. Any idea what's going on?

One neighbor tells me that a policeman told him he couldn't go towards it, "unless you want to get blown up," so he thinks it was a bomb scare.

There was a bomb scare at the Giant yesterday evening. Someone I know parked in the lot, ran in the store without her coat just to grab something and then couldn't get back to her car. The bomb squad truck arrived about 5:25pm.

An Open Invitation to the Parties to the Giant-Zoning Appeal Lawsuit

I'd like to invite anyone who is a party to the appeal of the Zoning Board decision regarding the Giant development project to write a guest column for All Life Is Local about what the court filing hopes to accomplish.

There has been a lot of rumor, innuendo, and accusations posted in the comments section on All Life Is Local about the Giant, and I think that it would benefit everyone to know the facts. While a guest column describing the reasons and objectives of this lawsuit won't end the controversy, it may end some of the speculation. 

I'm a strong supporter of the Giant's project, and I haven't been shy about expressing my views. And there's no doubt that this column will generate sharp comments, as my columns have. As have columns on other forums and email lists. But I would very much like to give all sides a chance to offer their opinions. 

If you're interested in writing this column, please contact me at the email address to the right or via the Cleveland Park Listserv's contact page.

Bill Adler

Publisher

All Life Is Local

Cleveland Park's Giant Supermarket Saga Continues

The Cleveland Park Listserv is hopping again over the Giant. To recap, there's been an epic battle over whether or not the Giant supermarket at Wisconsin Avenue and Newark Street should be modernized. Small is good, big is bad, and giant is even worse in the eyes of the Giant's opponents.

The battle raged for 11 years, an almost biblical length of time, but now a modern supermarket and accompanying residential and retail development is assured.

The minority of neighbors who've opposed the Giant development threw everything they had, including lawsuits, to thwart the Giant's plans, and have lost. There's even one remaining lawsuit, but almost nobody expects that to succeed.

But the issue de jour is: What about the stores that will be displaced during construction? What will happen to them -- the toy store, the barber shop, the yoga studio, even Starbucks? Will they return? Will they be able to afford to return?

Now that the Giant development is close to a certainty, the anti-Giant community continues to portray big as bad and small as good, and wants to blame Giant and the pro-Giant forces for displacing these stores. But it can be claimed with equal conviction that it was the anti-Giant side that caused the smaller stores to have to leave. At one point Giant had planned to do phased construction, but is now going to demolish everything and build the project all at once. Had the opposition focused their rather considerable energies on ensuring that the construction cause as little disruption to the existing stores as possible, instead of digging in their heels and opposing Giant at every opportunity, things could have been different.

Grand Opening of the Newark Street Dog Park on Saturday

Update: the opening time has been moved to11am.

The grand opening of the Newark Street Dog Park at 39th and Newark Streets, NW will take place this Saturday, September 11 at 9:30 AM 11 AM. Mayor Adrian Fenty, officials from DC Parks and Recreation, and other elected and administrative officials are scheduled to be on hand to officially open the park. Everyone --whether you have four legs or two-- is welcome to attend.

Giant Launch Postponed

Posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv:

We want to give all the members of the community an opportunity to join us for a launch of the new project to redevelop the Wisconsin Avenue Giant and Friendship Shopping Center, which will be known as Cathedral Commons. To honor the High Holy Day, Rosh Hashanah, we will postpone the previously announced launch event.

For additional information, go to Wisconsin Avenue Giant.

Rose Jackson
Giant Development Team
www.wisconsinavegiant.com