Lincoln-Westmoreland Housing, Inc. made a presentation to ANC 2G on their plans for an affordable housing project at 801-811 R Street NW. The nonprofit corporation, which has been involved in providing affordable housing to Shaw since 1967 and owns the nearby Lincoln-Westmoreland Apartments (1730 Seventh Street NW) and Channing E. Phillips Homes (1710 Seventh Street NW), acquired the project through the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) process. Under TOPA, when a building is sold, its tenants have the right to make a matching offer. In this case, the tenants chose Lincoln-Westmoreland to redevelop their group of garden apartment buildings. Lincoln-Westmoreland has hired the Key Urban group to manage the development project.
The project involves demolishing the current buildings on the site and replacing them with a single apartment building with a courtyard facing Ninth Street NW. The project will have between 200 and 230 units, with a number of them being family-sized apartments. All the units will be affordable.
A Notice of Intent has been filed, as the site is proposed to be rezoned to MU-10 for the project. It may incorporate some ground floor retail space in the building. The developers also hope to get funding support from the District’s Department of Housing and Community Development.
Commissioner Berry wanted to ensure that the developers conduct more community outreach in publicizing their plans. Commissioner Padro commented that he thought that the proposed building, as shown, did not provide sufficient green space for the community, suggesting that there should be more green space on the Ninth and R Street sides of the project, like the existing development. He argued that the proposed courtyard is a tenant amenity, not a community amenity. Padro also suggested that public art be incorporated into the project, like other major projects in the neighborhood, and that the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities could help pay for the art.
The developers are required to come back to the ANC when they formally file for rezoning with the Zoning Commission.
Third Police District
Captain McHauley Murphy of the Third Police District reported on current crimes in the ANC for the past month. There had been significant drops in both violent and property crimes compared with the same period in the previous year. The biggest problems were property crimes, including general thefts and thefts from autos.
Alcohol License
Genika Café (1400 Ninth Street NW) is applying for a new Class C Tavern license. The applicant also requested a stipulated license to allow them to serve alcohol during the process of getting a permanent license. Commissioner Padro described the settlement agreement that he had worked out with the establishment. A motion to support a new tavern license, a stipulated license and the settlement agreement between the café and the ANC passed unanimously.
Central Cell Block, 501 New York Avenue NW
Commissioner Nigro presented two motions for the commission to oppose the renovations to 501 New York Avenue NW needed to convert it to a new temporary Central Cell Block for the District. The first motion was to recommend that the District Department of Transportation’s Public Space Committee not approve the District’s application for public space permits for the cell block. The motion passed unanimously. Nigro also made a motion recommending that the Board of Zoning Adjustment revoke the approval of the project and that the Department of Buildings (DoB) revoke permits issued by DoB, based on the fact that the Department of General Services had violated their obligations under a BZA order to make regular appearances at ANC meetings. That motion also passed unanimously.
Public Litter Cans
Commissioner McCarty asked the commission to issue a request to the Department of Public Works for five new public litter cans in his single member district. His resolution specified that the cans should be at the southeast corner of Massachusetts Avenue and 10th Street, the northwest corner of Massachusetts and Ninth Street and the west side of the 1000 block of Ninth Street. The resolution also specifically called for cans at specific locations on the 1100 and 1200 blocks on the west side of Ninth Street. Commissioner Padro noted that the sidewalk on the west side of Ninth Street was very narrow, so the resolution was modified to take out the specific locations of the two cans there. The final resolution passed unanimously.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2G held its monthly meeting for February on Thursday evening, February 12, 2026. The meeting was held as a virtual conference. Commission Chair Steven McCarty (2G04) called the meeting to order. Commissioners Howard Garrett (2G01, Vice Chair), Alexander M. “Alex” Padro (2G02), Sheena Berry (2G05) and Rachelle Nigro (2G06, Treasurer) were in attendance.
ANC 2G will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, a change from the commission’s normal meeting day of the month. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. Plans are to hold this meeting as a virtual conference. Visit www.anc2g.org for more information.
