Late yesterday afternoon, the city announced it had once again narrowed its list of developers competing to redevelop Hine Junior High School’s site near Eastern Market. 

From four finalists, only one group got the axe: The National Leadership Campus, a non-profit concept, backed by billionaire Peter B. Lewis, chairman of the  Progressive Corporation.

At a June public meeting, the NLC group didn’t present a proposal, so much as an idea. While other developers showed off elaborate renderings and, in one case, brought along a restauranteur and hotel chain representative interested in the site, the NLC group  unveiled an image with some blob-like building shapes, and invited the community to help with further planning.

Many Capitol Hillers called the presentation half-baked.

The remaining three groups will be submitting final proposals by early August to the DC government. “A selection could be made as soon as the end of the month,” states the city press release.

“Each of these teams presented great ideas for this important site,” said Deputy Mayor Valerie Santos in the press release. “These three proposals were the closest in line with the Capitol Hill community’s preferences for redevelopment because they all called for a mix of neighborhood-serving retail, new housing and great public spaces.”