Today the Washington Business Journal is reporting that a developer has been chosen, but many involved—-neighbors in the West End, local civic leaders, Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans—-are angry about the decision. And that’s why the news ended up in a newspaper first, as opposed to being announced by the mayor’s office.
The selection is Equity Residential, which is proposing multi-family housing, courtyards, and ground floor retail on the site, plus a “Memory Wall, reflecting the history of the Stevens School.”
A top aide to Evans, Jeff Coudriet, said the councilman was indeed unhappy with the choice and was exploring alternatives.
A hotel “clearly seemed to be the preference of the ANC and the neighborhood association. And the word on the street is that that the selection is not,” Coudriet said…
Another ANC, Rebecca Coder, said all three plans were viable but that the community preferred having a hotel in the neighborhood rather than a housing development that seemed catered to college students and not long-term residents.