Federal Real Property: Property Conveyances between the District of Columbia and the Federal Government Await Completion, and Development Will Take Many Years
Published: 2008-06-13T00:00:00

Fast Facts:

Highlights:
section_title: Why GAO Did This Study
paragraphs: The Federal and District of Columbia Government Real Property Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-396) mandated GAO's review of the property exchange between the District and the federal government. None of the conveyances had occurred by the beginning of GAO's audit phase. After consulting with the congressional committees specified in the law, GAO developed research questions that reflect an assessment of property exchanges and development progress to date. GAO's objectives were to determine (1) the status of the conveyances and transfers of the properties identified in the law; (2) what steps the District and the federal government have taken toward completing the conveyances, what factors have affected their completion, and what additional steps remain; (3)what preliminary development has occurred on the properties exchanged between the District and the federal government, and what are the current plans for use of these properties; and (4)what development challenges the District and federal government face going forward. GAO analyzed planning and property documents; conducted site visits; and interviewed senior officials from the District and the Department of the Interior (DOI) among others. DOI and the General Services Administration agreed with our findings, while the District and the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) did not comment on our overall findings. All provided technical clarifications which we incorporated as appropriate.
section_title: What GAO Found
paragraphs: No property conveyances between the District and the federal government have occurred as of June 6, 2008. All transfers of administrative jurisdiction, which do not involve the transfer of title, became effective the day (Dec. 15, 2006) that the President signed the Federal and District of Columbia Government Real Property Act of 2006. Nine conveyances between the Secretary of the Interior and the District, excluding Poplar Point, are planned to be completed by the end of summer 2008. The District intends to complete the conveyance of Poplar Point by the fall of 2009, if it is able to meet several conditions in the law, including developing a Secretary of the Interior approved land-use plan. The date for the completion of the conveyances of title between the General Services Administration and the District is uncertain and depends on an agreement between the District and the AOC on the District conveying not more than 12 acres of District property to the AOC. Although the District and the federal government have taken several steps to complete the conveyances, several factors have affected their efforts, and additional steps must be taken to complete the conveyances. The District and the National Park Service formed working groups as a first step toward completing the conveyances. However, negotiations about cleanup; testing properties for contamination; disagreement over land to be conveyed as part of the Boathouse Row properties, two properties along the western shores of the Anacostia River; and decision changes about environmental impact statement development for Poplar Point have slowed the completion of the conveyances between the District and Secretary of the Interior. Limited development has occurred on property already transferred or to be conveyed between the District and the federal government. Development will take many years to complete because the District must first develop plans for most of these sites. For example, commercial and residential development of Poplar Point is not likely to begin until 2011 because of the steps, such as the development of a land-use plan, which must be completed before the conveyance can occur. Development may take over a decade to complete at Poplar Point. The District and the federal government face several challenges as they move forward to develop or manage the exchanged properties. For example, some cleanup and development uncertainties, such as the extent and location of the cleanup required, will likely affect the timeliness of property development at Poplar Point. Other challenges facing the District include (1) transitioning the Deputy Mayor's Office from policymaking and oversight roles to the lead in coordinating development, a function that has not been the Deputy Mayor's Office core business, and (2) reaching community agreement about development at Poplar Point.

section_title: Letter
paragraphs: On December 15, 2006, Congress directed the conveyances of title or  transfers of administrative jurisdiction of 30 properties within the District  of Columbia between the federal government and the District of Columbia  government. The exchange was primarily intended to provide the District  with property for economic development to help expand its tax base and  reduce the District’s structural fiscal imbalance—that is, the difference  between the District’s costs to provide services and its ability to raise  revenue. The exchange was also intended to decrease the District’s  financial dependence on the federal government. In May 2003, we reported  that the District’s structural imbalance, which stems partly from the  District’s public service costs that far exceeded that of the average state  fiscal system, likely exceeded $470 million annually and could have been  as high as $1.1 billion, depending on the assumptions used. The two  largest properties to be conveyed—both to the District—are Poplar Point,  a 110-acre property east of the Anacostia River administered by the  Department of the Interior’s (DOI) National Park Service (NPS), and  Reservation 13 (Hill East), a 67-acre property along the western shores of  the Anacostia River at the southeastern end of Capitol Hill administered by  the General Services Administration (GSA). As the largest properties to be  conveyed, Poplar Point and Reservation 13 are planned to have the most  development and, thus, are likely to generate most of the new tax revenue  that would be available to reduce the District’s structural fiscal imbalance.  Some of the property conveyances and transfers involve underutilized  federal and District property, thus potentially providing management and  efficiency benefits to both governments. Although the statute conveys the  largest properties to the District, the federal government, including  agencies such as NPS, GSA, and the Architect of the Capitol (AOC),  receives some property. For example, as part of the exchange, GSA  receives property that includes buildings on the West Campus of St.  Elizabeths, facilitating plans to consolidate the Department of Homeland  Security’s headquarters on the property.
The law authorizing the conveyances and transfers of the properties  mandates that we report periodically over a 10-year period about (1) how the  properties are used and developed and (2) how this use and development  comply with the Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan, which is the  District’s guiding document for the Anacostia River’s restoration and  revitalization. None of the conveyances had occurred by the beginning of our  audit phase. After consulting with the congressional committees specified in  the law, we developed research questions that reflect an assessment of land  conveyances and development progress to date. In the future, we plan to  report periodically on the questions mandated in the law. The research  questions for this report are as follows:  1.  What is the status of the conveyances and transfers of the properties  identified in Public Law 109-396?  2.  What steps have the District and the federal government taken toward  completing the conveyances, what factors have affected their  completion, and what additional steps remain?  3.  What preliminary development has occurred on the properties to be  exchanged between the District and the federal government, and what  are the current plans for use of these properties?  4.  What development challenges do the District and federal government  face going forward?
To answer each of the four questions, we reviewed and analyzed  documents showing basic property data—such as maps, agency reports  and Public Law 109-396—and conducted site visits to key properties. We  also reviewed and analyzed planning documents, such as a summary of the  properties created by the District government; area master plans; and  development proposals. We interviewed senior officials from the District  government, NPS, the U.S. Park Police (USPP), GSA, and the AOC as well  as members of stakeholder groups, including Advisory Neighborhood  Commission 6, the Capitol Hill Restoration Society, the Earth  Conservation Corps, the Anacostia Economic Development Corporation,  the National Capital Planning Commission, and the U.S. Commission of  Fine Arts. We conducted this performance audit from August 2007 through  June 2008 in accordance with generally accepted government auditing  standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to  obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence to provide a reasonable basis for  our findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives. We believe  that the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for our findings  and conclusions based on our audit objectives.
subsections: section_title: Background
paragraphs: The Federal and District of Columbia Government Real Property Act of  2006 was intended to provide the District with property for economic  development to help expand its tax base and decrease the District’s  financial dependence on the federal government. Expanding the District’s  tax base should help reduce the District’s structural fiscal imbalance. A  structural fiscal imbalance exists when the cost of providing an average  level of public services exceeds the amount of revenue a government  raises by applying average tax rates. We highlighted this structural  imbalance in a 2003 report, finding that the District’s public service costs  far exceeded that of the average state fiscal system, and these costs were  largely beyond its control, due to factors such as its large low-income  population. The report estimated that the imbalance likely exceeded $470  million annually and could have been as high as $1.1 billion, depending on  the assumptions used. Our analysis indicated that the cost of delivering an  average level of services per capita in the District exceeded that of the  average state fiscal system by approximately 75 percent (or $2.3 billion  more annually than if it faced average cost circumstances) and was over  one third more than the second-highest cost fiscal system, New York. We  found that even if the District addressed its underlying management  problems, such as inadequate financial management, billing systems, and  internal controls, such actions would not be enough to offset the  structural imbalance because the imbalance is determined by other  factors, as previously mentioned, largely beyond the District’s direct  control. We also stated that addressing the imbalance may require changes  to federal policies to expand the District’s tax base or to provide  additional financial support. If the assumptions underlying this structural  imbalance analysis change, then estimates of the amount of the structural  imbalance could change in either direction. Development of the properties  conveyed or transferred from the federal government to the District  through Public Law 109-396 is intended to enable the District to expand its  tax base.
The federal government and the District must comply with environmental  laws when completing the transfers and conveyances. Two environmental  laws relevant to the properties involved are the National Environmental  Policy Act (NEPA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response,  Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). NEPA requires federal  agencies to assess the likely environmental effects of the projects that they  propose. Federal agencies must prepare EISs for proposed major actions  significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. Upon  completing the EIS, a federal agency prepares a public record of its  decision addressing how it incorporated the findings of the EIS, including  consideration of alternatives into its decision-making process. The NEPA  process is designed to involve the public and gather the best available  information so that decision makers can be fully informed when making  their choices. The public may participate in the NEPA process by  attending NEPA-related hearings or public meetings and by submitting  comments directly to the lead agency. The lead agency must take into  consideration all comments received from the public and other parties on  NEPA documents during the comment period. The entire NEPA process  can take several years to complete.
CERCLA was enacted in 1980 to clean up highly contaminated hazardous  waste sites across the country. CERCLA requires that parties statutorily  responsible for cleaning up pollution bear the costs of cleaning up  contaminated sites. CERCLA established that past owners or operators of  contaminated property, including the U.S. government, may be held  responsible for the contamination.
section_title: No Property Conveyances between the District of Columbia and the Federal Government Have Occurred to Date
paragraphs: No property conveyances between the District, GSA, and NPS had  occurred as of June 6, 2008. However, all transfers of administrative  jurisdiction, which do not involve the transfer of title, became effective the  day (Dec. 15, 2006) that the President signed the Federal and District of  Columbia Government Real Property Act of 2006. (See fig. 1 and table 1 for  information on all conveyances of title and transfers of administrative  jurisdiction.) The legislation directs the following exchanges:  Property to the District government:    Conveyances of eight NPS properties.
Conveyances of two GSA properties.
Transfers of administrative jurisdiction of seven NPS properties.
Property to the federal government:   Conveyances of two District properties to the Secretary of the Interior.
Conveyances of five buildings on the West Campus of St. Elizabeths  from the District to the Administrator of General Services.
Conveyance of up to 12 acres from the District to AOC.
Transfers of administrative jurisdiction of nine District-controlled  properties to the Secretary of the Interior for administration by the  NPS Director (a portion of one property (land over I-395) transfers to  the AOC).
All conveyances between the District and the Secretary of the Interior,  except for Poplar Point, are expected to be completed by the end of  summer 2008. For the conveyance of Poplar Point to occur in the fall of  2009 as intended, the District must complete a number of tasks to meet  conditions in the law including development of a Secretary-approved land- use plan (see fig. 2.). The date for the completion of conveyances of title  between GSA and the District is uncertain and depends on agreement  between the District and the AOC on not more than 12 acres of District  property for the AOC. The AOC’s current proposed use for the up to 12  acre property is an offsite delivery facility.
section_title: Although the District of Columbia and the Federal Government Have Taken Several Steps toward Completing the Conveyances, Additional Steps Remain
paragraphs: Although the District and the federal government have taken several steps  toward completing the conveyances, several factors have affected their  efforts, and additional steps must be taken to complete the conveyances.  The District and NPS formed working groups as a first step toward  completing the conveyances. However, negotiations about cleanup, testing  properties for contamination, and disagreement over land to be conveyed  as part of the Boathouse Row properties have slowed the completion of  District and NPS conveyances. The District and GSA have completed a  property exchange agreement, but the agreement is contingent on the key  step of conveying up to 12 acres of District property to the AOC. In  addition, the District must complete several steps to complete the  conveyance of Poplar Point by the fall of 2009.
subsections: section_title: The District and NPS Formed Working Groups as a First Step toward Completing the Conveyances
paragraphs: According to District and NPS officials, the two parties are working  cooperatively and formed four working groups to complete the  conveyances.
A NPS and USPP Facilities Replacement team has been established to  discuss various aspects of the pending relocation of existing facilities at  Poplar Point.
A Planning for Poplar Point team has been established to develop a land- use plan for the site and produce this plan as a document in accordance  with NEPA as a way for (1) the District to consider a variety of options for  developing Poplar Point and satisfying the District’s Environmental Policy  Act and (2) the District and NPS to use in making decisions about NPS and  USPP facilities at Poplar Point and their possible relocation.
A Environmental Compliance team has been established to ensure  compliance with the provisions of CERCLA that govern the transfer of  property by federal agencies.
A Conveyance Documents team has been established to complete the  deeds by which the District and United States will convey properties.
The staffs of the District government and NPS also cooperated to  complete preparatory work, including drafting conveyance documents,  assessing property conditions, completing land-use plans, and identifying  potential new facilities for NPS and USPP. In addition, both the District  and NPS independently conducted environmental site characterizations  for each of the conveyed properties. GSA and District staffs also worked  cooperatively to complete preparatory work, including drafting  conveyance documents.
section_title: Several Factors Have Slowed District and NPS Conveyances
paragraphs: Several factors have affected efforts to complete the conveyances between  the District and NPS. For example, the time frame for conveying Poplar  Point was extended when the District and NPS determined in summer  2007 to develop an EIS for this property to (1) avert potential lawsuits and  (2) address the concern that decisions made by the Secretary of the  Interior about Poplar Point might be considered a major federal action.  According to District and NPS officials, they had mutually agreed in early  discussions that a full NEPA process involving development of an EIS  would not be required before the conveyance; however, once they moved  into more details of the transfer and proposed development of Poplar  Point, both parties agreed that meeting NEPA requirements by developing  an EIS appeared to be the most prudent course.
Despite the extended time frame for Poplar Point, the District and NPS  originally hoped to have the other conveyances completed by the fall of  2007. However, NPS’s desire to conduct soil sample tests to determine  property contamination levels, as well as negotiations over environmental  elements of the exchange agreement for Boathouse Row, have lengthened  the time needed to complete these conveyances. In October 2007, NPS  tested soil and groundwater samples taken from Waterside Mall  (Reservations 721, 722, and 723) and Virginia Avenue properties  (Reservations 128, 129, 130, and 299) for potential contamination. The  analysis of the collected samples did not indicate the presence of  contamination as defined by CERCLA.
The District and Secretary of the Interior have completed agreements  called a Finding of Suitability for Early Transfer (FOSET) and a Site  Specific Memorandum of Agreement for Reservations 343D and 343E (the  Boathouse Row properties) and Reservation 298. According to senior  District and NPS officials, the agreements for Reservations 298 and 343D  outline how the Washington Gas remediation plan for Reservations 343D  and 298 will be modified to meet the requirements of applicable law and  take into account the District’s proposed changes in land use. According  to senior District and NPS officials, the District and NPS agreed to identify  a new cleanup plan before going jointly to Washington Gas to negotiate its  agreement (or compel it) to undertake the necessary cleanup. These  officials also stated that Reservation 343E, which is contaminated as a  result of the prior operations of a NPS concessioner, is covered in the  FOSET agreement. The District and NPS will identify and agree on a  remediation plan for portions of Reservations 343D and 343E and  Reservation 298 after completion of a land use plan, the development of  which began in the spring of 2008 and is scheduled to be complete by the  fall of 2008. In short, the District and DOI have come to an agreement  about the process for reaching cleanup agreements for these properties.  The District and DOI agree that in doing so they are meeting the  requirements of CERCLA, Section 120(h) applicable to property  transferred by federal agencies, including use of a “deferral” of certain  actions until after the properties are transferred to the District.
An additional factor affecting the exchange agreement between the  District and NPS involves disagreement between the District and the U.S.  Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) over a small land parcel currently  administered by the Corps on the Boathouse Row property. From a  docking area within Reservation 343D, the Corps operates a debris  removal facility that helps remove trash from the Anacostia River.  According to NPS and the Corps, although this property was mistakenly  included in an aerial photograph sent to the District at one point, this land  was never intended to be part of the conveyance. Prior to the enactment of  Public Law 109-396, the Corps and NPS attempted to complete a transfer  of jurisdiction through the District of Columbia Office of the Surveyor  transferring a small parcel of additional land from NPS to the Corps to  facilitate their existing operation. However, according to a senior District  official, NPS and the Corps were unable to secure the approval for the  proposed transfer from the District Office of the Surveyor. The Corps will  have to be temporarily relocated from the existing site during part of the  Washington Gas cleanup efforts. The District disagrees with NPS’s and the  Corps’ position and has stated (1) that there is no documentary evidence  showing that the Corps has interest in the property and (2) that, therefore,  it should be conveyed to the District. The District and the Corps are  currently negotiating to devise a solution that is acceptable to both parties.  According to the District, the Corps’ current location is not a good spot  because it would disrupt the Riverwalk Trail, a proposed trail that runs  along the Anacostia River and passes through the Boathouse Row  property, hinder the value and desirability of surrounding boathouses and  marinas, and is incompatible with the planned use of the site.
section_title: A Change in Mayoral Administrations and Dissolution of the District’s Development Corporations Are Other Factors That Have Affected Conveyance Timelines
paragraphs: Other factors affecting the completion of the conveyances between the  District and the Secretary of the Interior, according to stakeholders, was  the change in mayoral administrations in the District at the beginning of  2007 and the dissolution of the District’s development corporations later  that year. The change of mayoral administrations brought new personnel  into city departments and put interaction with the federal agencies briefly  on hold, according to senior NPS officials. Also, the new administration  dissolved the Anacostia Waterfront Corporation (AWC) and the National  Capital Revitalization Corporation (NCRC) and transferred their duties to  the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development  (DMPED) in September 2007. AWC and NCRC were quasigovernment  entities tasked with managing a variety of economic development projects,  with AWC focusing on the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative area and NCRC  covering the rest of the city. The mayor and D.C. Council cited a number  of reasons for the dissolution. The mayor and D.C. Council wanted more  direct control of development activities, because the quasigovernment  entities were seen as less accountable. In particular, city officials were  frustrated by the disagreement between the two corporations over control  of properties along the Southwest Waterfront. In addition, the District  wanted to improve management by reducing redundancies in staff and  improving effectiveness. The ultimate goal of direct control and  streamlined management is to speed-up delivery of the projects, while  reducing costs, according to District officials. The dissolution resulted in  staff changes and attrition. According to a senior District official, the staff  of DMPED has increased from 33 full-time equivalents (FTEs) in  September 2007 to 63 FTEs in June 2008 and is expected to grow to a total  of 73 FTEs by August 2008 which is allowing the agency to increase its  capacity and more effectively respond to its increased mission. According  to senior NPS officials, the inevitable transition time that the District  needed for restructuring and reorganization appears to have resulted in  delays to the process of completing the conveyances.
section_title: The District and GSA Have Completed a Property Exchange Agreement, but the Agreement Is Contingent on the Key Step of Conveying Not More Than 12 Acres of District Property to the AOC
paragraphs: On January 17, 2008, the District government and GSA executed an  agreement that established the terms and conditions of the property  conveyance between the two parties. Under the terms of the agreement,  GSA will convey Reservation 13 and the Old Naval Hospital to the District  in exchange for five buildings on the West Campus of St. Elizabeths.  However, the conveyance of Reservation 13 from GSA to the District  government is conditioned on the District’s conveyance of not more than  12 acres of District property to the AOC, which the AOC currently intends  to use for an offsite delivery facility. The completion of the District–GSA  exchange agreement was slightly delayed by negotiations over conditions  for the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA)  remaining on Reservation 13. The issues concerning the length of an  extended CSOSA lease and the location of parking spaces were resolved in  a supplemental lease agreement signed on January 8, 2008.
According to District and GSA officials, the conveyance of properties  between the District and GSA has been delayed by the need to agree upon  this site of not more than 12 acres for the AOC. After months of  researching possible sites, the District proposed four options in August  2007. The two parties met in October 2007 to further discuss these options:  that is, three options in the D.C Village area at the extreme southern tip of  the District of Columbia and one option in Beltsville, Maryland. In May  2008, an AOC letter to the District stated that three of these options did  not meet the AOC’s needs, while a fourth option is still subject to further  investigation as the AOC requested geotechnical, utility, and other  information on the District’s 12 acre wooded parcel at the southernmost  edge of the DC village complex. According to AOC officials, the Beltsville  site is too far away and has entry through small roads that will make  access by large trucks difficult. These officials said that two options at  D.C. Village will not work because the AOC already has plans for the 10.8  unused acres at their current interim location that the District suggested  be combined with additional land offered by the District. Negotiations to  find agreement on a property of not more than 12 acres are ongoing. As  part of the exchange agreement signed with GSA on January 17, the  District must use its best efforts to complete the conveyance within 6  months. According to AOC officials, the identification and conveyance of a  12-acre District property to the AOC is not close to completion, and  therefore the date of the District-GSA property conveyances is uncertain.
section_title: The District and the Federal Government Must Complete Several Steps to Complete the Conveyances
subsections: section_title: The District Must Complete a Poplar Point Land-Use Plan before Conveyance
paragraphs: For the conveyance of Poplar Point to occur by the fall of 2009 as planned,  the District must complete several steps to meet conditions in Public Law  109-396. For example, before Poplar Point can be conveyed, the District  must complete a land-use plan that receives the approval of the Secretary  of the Interior. The statute requires a land-use plan that  reserves no fewer than 70 acres for park purposes;  identifies existing facilities and related property used by NPS, and  provides for relocation to other suitable facilities and related property;    sets aside at least two sites within the designated parkland for  is consistent with the Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan, to the  greatest extent practicable.
The District must consult with the NPS Director about the identification of  existing and replacement facilities and properties for NPS. The Secretary  of the Interior must certify that the statute’s requirements for the land-use  plan are met.
section_title: The District and DOI Must Meet the Environmental Requirements of NEPA and CERCLA
paragraphs: The District and DOI must also meet all requirements of NEPA by  considering the environmental impacts of their proposed actions at Poplar  Point and reasonable alternatives to those actions. The NEPA process is  designed to involve the public and gather the best available information so  that decision makers can be fully informed when making their choices. At  the end of the NEPA process, DOI will issue a record of decision selecting  a preferred alternative at Poplar Point. District officials said that meeting  NEPA requirements will likely take 12 to15 months, which means that this  process will not be completed until about the fall of 2009. In addition, the  District anticipates that all CERCLA requirements will be fully explored  during the NEPA process. The District issued a request for proposal (RFP)  for NEPA consultants in the fall of 2007 and received three proposals on  November 30. The District selected a NEPA consultant in February 2008.
The District and the federal government must also meet the requirements  of CERCLA. For contaminated DOI property, such as Reservations 343D,  343E, and 298, the District and DOI have come to agreement about the  process for reaching cleanup agreements for these properties, which they  believe meets applicable requirements set forth in CERCLA governing the  transfer of property by federal agencies. According to a senior NPS official  and a senior District official, these cleanup agreements, once completed,  will allow conveyances of the property from the Secretary of the Interior  to the District before the property is remediated pursuant to the use of the  so-called “deferral” or “early transfer alternative” set forth in CERCLA at  42 U.S.C. §9620(h)(3)(C). According to these officials, use of this option  requires that the transferring federal agency, here the DOI, remain  responsible for cleanup costs incurred post transfer. In addition, these  officials also say that the District may recoup cleanup costs from other  responsible parties, where appropriate, in the future.
section_title: Property Currently Used by NPS Will Not Be Conveyed Until the NPS Director Certifies That Replacement Facilities Are Ready to Be Occupied
paragraphs: The facilities and related property currently used by NPS will not be  conveyed until the NPS Director certifies that replacement facilities and  related property are ready to be occupied or used by NPS. The NEPA and  relocation processes together could take almost 3 years, according to the  District government, NPS, and USPP, in part because construction of these  facilities must wait for the aforementioned Secretary-approved land-use  plan for the site. The current facilities encompass 100,000 square feet; sit  on approximately 18 acres; and include NPS National Capital Parks East  Headquarters, the USPP Anacostia Operations Facility, and the USPP  Aviation Unit. The District and NPS are still determining relocation plans  for the facilities. Perhaps the most likely option, according to District and  NPS officials, is to relocate the NPS offices; the offices for USPP District 5;  and the other USPP facilities, including the canine unit and shooting range  to the northern end of Poplar Point near the 11th Street Bridge. The USPP  aviation unit would move to a yet-to-be identified site that meets the 5-acre  landing area and 10-acre safety zone requirement for their helicopter pad.  The District reissued a request for proposals (RFP) for architecture and  engineering firms for the facilities on December 3, 2007, after an initial  RFP in November received no responses. The District selected a firm in  March 2008 to begin the design process. The selected contractor will work  with NPS and USPP to design replacements for the NPS and USPP  facilities currently located at Poplar Point. The District anticipates  construction will take at least 18 to 24 months after the site is secured.  Therefore, the relocation will not likely be complete until 2011. The  District is restricted from initiating other construction until the NPS  Director certifies that the facilities and associated property to which NPS  is to be relocated are ready to occupy. Therefore, private development of  Poplar Point is not likely to begin until 2011. NPS was evaluating the  definition of what constitutes a “construction project” under the statute to  determine which types of preconstruction work may be done prior to the  completion of the replacement facilities.
section_title: Limited Development Has Occurred on Properties Exchanged between the District of Columbia and the Federal Government
paragraphs: Limited development has occurred on property transferred or to be  conveyed between the District and the federal government. Development  of the two largest properties, Poplar Point and Reservation 13, to be  conveyed between the District and the federal government is in its early  stages and will likely take up to a decade to complete. As the largest  properties to be conveyed, Poplar Point and Reservation 13 are planned to  have the most development and, thus, are likely to generate most of the  tax revenue to reduce the District’s structural fiscal imbalance.  Development of the other exchanged properties, to the extent applicable,  is also in its early stages and will take many years to complete as the  District and the federal government develop plans for use of each  property.
subsections: section_title: Commercial and Residential Development of Poplar Point Will Not Likely Begin until 2011
paragraphs: Poplar Point is the most significant development opportunity involved in  the land exchange with the federal government and on the District’s  waterfront. The District government envisions Poplar Point, which is a  110-acre DOI/NPS property east of the Anacostia River (see fig. 2), as a  mixed-use development that features a 70-acre waterfront park serving as  a green gateway to the Anacostia River and a series of river parks. District  plans envision residential development at Poplar Point to help reconnect  the historic Anacostia neighborhood back to the river that shares its name.  The District says that the Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan guides its  vision for the site. As we have previously discussed, Poplar Point’s  conveyance is not likely to occur until the fall of 2009 because a number of  conditions, such as the development of a Secretary-approved land-use  plan, must be met before the entire conveyance can occur.
To develop the vision for Poplar Point’s future and help devise alternative  development scenarios for the NEPA process, the District selected a  Master Developer for the site in February 2008. The Master Developer’s  vision for Poplar Point includes 1.5 million square feet of office space, 3.8  million square feet of residential units, 405,000 square feet of retail space,  70 acres of parks, a waterfront entertainment district, a deck over I-295 to  connect the site with Historic Downtown Anacostia, and an option for a  soccer stadium (see fig. 3). The District has required that at least 51  percent of the new jobs created as a part of the development go to District  residents. In addition, the project must include affordable housing, and 35  percent of the contracting dollars must be awarded to small and local  businesses. This Master Developer will be part of a long-term collaborative  planning and development process with the community, according to the  District. An EIS consultant will work with the District, the Master  Developer, and NPS to create a stakeholder engagement process that will  comply with the requirements of NEPA. The District worked with NPS and  USPP to select an architectural and engineering firm in March 2008 to  design replacement facilities for the NPS and USPP facilities located on  Poplar Point. According to a senior District official, commercial and  residential construction will not likely begin on the site until 2011, and  development will take many years, perhaps up to a decade.
section_title: The District Envisions Mixed-Use Development for Reservation 13 in Accordance with the Master Plan for the Site
paragraphs: Current plans call for Reservation 13, a 67-acre property along the shores  of the Anacostia River at the southeastern end of Capitol Hill, to be  transformed into an urban multiuse waterfront district that is in  accordance with the Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan and the Hill  East Master Plan approved by the D.C. Council in 2002 (see fig. 4). Once  complete, DMPED expects that the site can accommodate about 3,000 new  units of housing for residents at all income levels, nearly 5.5 million square  feet of mixed-use development, new public park spaces, and more than  $80 million in new infrastructure upgrades. The District intends for the  project to create thousands of new permanent jobs and construction jobs.  The District’s correctional facilities will remain on the site, along with  Anne Archbold Hall, which was recently made a historic landmark.
The District has completed or is in the process of completing a number of  development activities at Reservation 13, even though the site has yet to  convey. For example, the District has completed several design activities  for the site, including 100 percent of the interim plaza and 90 percent of  Phase I infrastructure design drawings. Over the last few months, the  District has begun construction on an interim plaza adjacent to the  southern Stadium/Armory Metrorail Station and planning for the extension  of Massachusetts Avenue. The District has remediated and selected a  contractor to demolish Building 25, but the bulk of the buildings will be  remediated and demolished by the Master Developer. The District issued a  request for expressions of interest (RFEI) for a Master Developer in May  2008 and expects to select one for Reservation 13 by the end of 2008.  Completion of 100 percent of Phase I infrastructure design is expected by  August 2008, and construction should begin in the fall of 2008.  Development of Reservation 13 may take as long as a decade.
section_title: The District Plans to Develop Other Exchanged Properties Commercially and Residentially, While Using Some of These Properties for Parks, Recreation, or Other Public Uses
paragraphs: Development of the other exchanged properties, to the extent applicable,  is also in its early stages. The District has commercial or residential  redevelopment plans for at least part of two conveyed NPS and GSA  properties beyond Poplar Point and Reservation 13 (see table 2). For  example, some of the Potomac Avenue triangles (Reservations 243, 244,  and 245) are properties targeted for commercial and residential  development in conjunction with the baseball stadium, while Reservation  247 is part of the new baseball stadium. Also, Reservation 248, just east of  the Nationals baseball stadium, will be developed by the group currently  redeveloping the Southeast Federal Center and will include the proposed  Diamond Teague Park, which is part of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail (see  fig. 5). Construction of residential and office space is expected to begin  within 2 years of the conveyance of this property.
Twelve properties will be used as open space, parks, or for recreational  uses. For example, the Boathouse Row properties (portions of  Reservations 343D and 343E), 12- and 6- acre properties located on the  western shores of the Anacostia River, will be used for recreational uses  (see fig. 6). Currently classified as land with a light industrial use,  according to District and NPS officials, portions of Reservation 334D  required a more stringent cleanup agreement than previously existed  between Washington Gas and NPS because the District intends to change  the land use from light industrial to recreational. The District issued a  request for proposals in December 2007 to select a firm to assist in the  creation of a master plan for these properties with the goal of increasing  use of and access to the Anacostia River, while expanding opportunities  for maritime development. The District selected a planning firm in April  2008. This planning effort is under way and expected to be completed by  the end of September 2008. In addition, construction of the Riverwalk Trail  is under way and the portions along Boathouse Row are expected to be  completed in late 2008.
In addition, the Eastern Market properties (Reservations 44 to 49), located  next to the Eastern Market metro station, will be rehabilitated and  enhanced to create a gateway and link to a recently renovated commercial  strip along 8th Street, SE, called Barracks Row (see fig. 7). Reservations  721, 722, and 723 will be reconfigured as parks or streets for the Waterside  Mall redevelopment, which is currently under way. Reservation 174 is a  0.25 acre property located at New York Avenue and 11th Street, NW, to be  conveyed from the Secretary of the Interior to the District, whose  conveyance is conditioned on the District’s enacting a final plan for the  development of the former Convention Center Site. The plan must be  developed through a public process and set aside no fewer than 1.25 acres  of the former Convention Center Site as open space. The Reservation 174  triangle will remain open space to complement the surrounding residential  and commercial development. Reservations 128, 129, 130, 298, and 299 are  triangles located on Virginia Avenue that will be reconfigured into usable  open space in conjunction with the redevelopment of adjacent private  property, in accordance with the Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan.
The District will use at least part of four conveyed properties for other  public uses. For example, the Old Naval Hospital, an almost 0.75 acre  property in southeast D.C. near Capitol Hill conveyed from GSA to the  District, will be developed into a community center to be used for  educational classes, lectures, recitals, art shows, and community events  and will be operated by the Hill Center/Old Naval Hospital Foundation  (see fig. 8).
The community center is scheduled for opening in early 2010. Also, GSA  plans to use the five buildings on the St. Elizabeths campus for federal use,  as part of the proposed Department of Homeland Security (DHS)  headquarters. For example, Building 37 Hitchcock Hall, will be used as a  DHS conference center. All of the exchanged properties are discussed in  more detail in appendix II.
section_title: Efficiency Benefits to b the District and the Federal Government
paragraphs: The transfer of many properties between the District and the federal  government provided management efficiencies for both parties. The  77A  Secretary of the Interior transferred the jurisdiction of Reservations 2 and 277C (North Capitol, Florida, and Lincoln Streets); 404 (Canal Road);  portions of 470 (Fort Reno Park); and 8 (Mount Vernon Square), which  were underutilized properties under NPS management, to provide the  District with continuity of management benefits or the interest to prop maintain them. For example, Reservation 8, which the United States  continues to own although jurisdiction has been transferred to the Di surrounds the City Museum (Carnegie Library), which the District owns  (see fig. 9). This transfer provides uniform administration and more  efficient management of the entire square by the District. The Distric the other hand, transferred properties, such as portions of Audubon  Terrace, NW (Reservation 402), and Barnaby Street, NW (Reservation 545), to the Secretary of the Interior for administration by the NPS  Director to ensure that planned streets that were originally contemp to bisect NPS parkland will never be built (see fig. 10). Senior NPS officials commented that these transfers can be seen as improving management  efficiency, since most surrounding land is NPS parkland and NPS would no longer have to be concerned about the construction of new streets.
section_title: The District of Columbia and th e Federal Governme Face Challenges Going Forward as the District Begins Development
paragraphs: The District and the federal government face challenges as the District  moves forward to develop or manage the transferred or to be conveyed  properties. For example, cleanup and development uncertainties will  likely affect the timeliness of property development at Poplar Point. Other  challenges facing the District include (1) transitioning the Deputy Mayor’s  Office from policymaking and oversight roles to the lead in coordinating  development, a function that has not been the Deputy Mayor’s Office core  business, and (2) reaching community agreement about development at  Poplar Point.
subsections: section_title: Cleanup and Development Uncertainties May Affect the Timeliness of the Development of Poplar Point
paragraphs: Cleanup and development uncertainties may affect the timeliness of the  development of Poplar Point. These uncertainties include the    extent and location of cleanup required,   cost of environmental cleanup,   determination of responsibility for paying for the environmental    potential complications of relocating U.S. Park Police facilities on    amount of construction that is allowed prior to the Secretary of the  Interior’s determination that NPS facilities are ready to be occupied.
The District is conducting a series of environmental assessments on the  Poplar Point site, the completion of which should begin to clarify the  cleanup issues. One senior NPS official said that multiple government  agencies could be responsible for contamination on the site. The District’s  current plan is to complete the necessary cleanup and then seek  reimbursement from the responsible federal agencies. According to  District and NPS officials, the federal government is potentially  responsible for the majority of the costs of the cleanup on Poplar Point,  the scope of which is still in the process of being determined. Any  contamination that is found in areas where residential construction is  planned could delay the progress of construction until the cleanup is  finished or construction plans are modified. If cleanup costs for the site  are higher than expected, delays could result if funding is not available. In  addition, if significant federal funding is needed by the District to  complete the cleanup, a negative impact on future agency budgets is  possible. The quicker the District is able to develop property such as  Poplar Point, the more quickly the District will potentially be able to  reduce the structural fiscal imbalance that it faces.
According to a senior NPS official and a senior USPP official, replacing  U.S. Park Police facilities may be complicated and might affect the  timeliness of the conveyance of the Poplar Point site to the District, which  in turn will affect when development on the site begins. Replacing the NPS  National Capital Parks Headquarters East facilities should be relatively  straightforward because the building is an ordinary office building, but the  replacement of USPP facilities will be more challenging. For example,  according to a senior NPS official and a senior USPP official, USPP needs  space for helicopter landings and a firing range. These facilities have flight  space, noise, and safety implications that will affect neighbors  substantially, therefore the District and DOI will require community input.  The process could make identifying a site difficult and delay the  conveyance. In addition, a senior USPP official said that USPP prefers that  the motorcycle and special event units remain close to downtown because  even a mile or two difference can affect response times. USPP’s  preference could complicate site identification.
The timeliness of the conveyance of the Poplar Point site to the District for  development may also be affected by the legal interpretation of the  statute’s restriction on the initiation of construction projects on Poplar  Point. Under the statute, existing NPS facilities and properties must be  withheld from conveyance until the NPS Director certifies that the  facilities and related property to which NPS is to be relocated are ready to  be used and occupied by NPS. The District may not initiate any  construction project on Poplar Point, except for any required to prepare  facilities for occupation by NPS, until the NPS Director makes this  certification. However, what qualifies as a “construction project” and what  various types of preconstruction work, utility relocation, soil-boring, or  environmental remediation would be allowed, is unclear, according to a  senior NPS official. NPS lawyers were examining this issue at the time of  our review. Therefore, the definition of “construction project” that is  ultimately decided upon will impact the speed of development and what  could be completed concurrently. A senior NPS official stated that NPS  wants to ensure that NPS and USPP have no disruption of operations  while they remain at their current facilities, which may further limit  activities on-site before the relocation. For example, he said that he would  not be comfortable with the District’s working on the utilities on which  NPS and USPP currently rely.
section_title: The Office of Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development is Transitioning from Policy-making and Oversight Roles to the Lead in Coordinating Development
paragraphs: With the dissolution of AWC and NCRC and the transfer of their functions  to DMPED, this office faces the challenge of moving from policy-making  and oversight roles to the lead in coordinating development—taking on  responsibilities that had not been DMPED’s core business. For example,  DMPED is moving from overseeing the activities of AWC and NCRC to  actually being responsible for hiring master developers, NEPA  consultants, and architecture and engineering firms and for managing their  work. District officials told us that they believe they can succeed because  the transition has included the integration of many former AWC and NCRC  employees. NPS officials also spoke positively about interactions with  senior District officials and their seeming ability to achieve results. Some  stakeholders, including local community groups, one D.C. Council  member, and a Ward 8 economic development organization, have  expressed concern about whether the District has enough personnel to  efficiently manage the District’s development projects given all of the  construction projects under way throughout the city. For example, a  community group and an economic development organization said that  DMPED, as a result of the AWC dissolution, has over 100 development  projects to manage across the city, and they expressed concern that some  projects would end up receiving less priority and be delayed as other  development projects progressed. A D.C. Council member expressed  concern that putting $10 billion worth of development under the direct  purview of the mayor may be overwhelming, given all of the mayor’s other  responsibilities. Other stakeholders, including a representative for a D.C.  Council member and an environmental community group, noted that the  District had recently dissolved two development authorities, AWC and  NCRC, because they were generally considered to be ineffective. These  stakeholders maintained that it was probably too early to tell whether the  District’s current structure to manage development and construction  throughout the city would be effective.
section_title: Reaching Community Agreement about How to Develop Poplar Point and Other Properties Could Be a Challenge
paragraphs: Another challenge could be reaching community agreement about how to  develop some of the properties. Reaching community agreement at any of  the sites could be a challenge, but particularly at Poplar Point because of  the size of the potential development and the millions of dollars at stake.  According to most stakeholders, including several community groups and  the D.C. Council’s Ward 8 representative, Ward 8 residents want affordable  housing; commercial amenities, such as retail stores, restaurants, and  grocery stores; and community benefit packages for Ward 8, such as jobs  and business preferences. However, opinion is divided on whether a  soccer stadium should be a part of Poplar Point’s development. Some  stakeholders, including the District community groups One D.C. and the  D.C. Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, believe  that the stadium is not a priority for members of the Ward 8 community.  Others, including the Ward 7 and Ward 8 D.C. Council members and a  President of an Anacostia economic development organization, disagree  and believe that the survey is not indicative of the true sentiment of Ward  8 residents. Some maintain that a stadium has community support and  could transform Anacostia in a way that retail amenities could not, by  bringing in citizens who would not otherwise travel to and spend money in  the area. As a result of these varying views, incorporating community  input such that development at Poplar Point meets the needs and concerns  of much of the community in an equitable and timely manner will be a  challenge as the District develops the largest unimproved property  currently remaining in the District.
section_title: Agency Comments and Our Evaluation
paragraphs: We provided a draft of this report to the District of Columbia, DOI, GSA,  and the AOC for review and comment. DOI and GSA agreed with our  major findings and provided technical comments and clarifications, which  we incorporated as appropriate. DOI’s comments are contained in  appendix III. The District and AOC did not comment on our overall  findings, but provided technical comments and clarifications via e-mail  which we incorporated as appropriate. AOC officials also expressed  concern that even though all transfers of administrative jurisdiction  occurred on December 15, 2006, the AOC has not received supporting  instruments (deeds) of transfer, including surveys and legal descriptions,  from the District.
We are sending copies of this report to the congressional committees  identified in the mandate, the Administrator of General Services, the  Architect of the Capitol, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Mayor of the  District of Columbia. We will also make copies available to others upon  request. In addition, the report will be available at no charge on GAO’s  Web site at http://www.gao.gov.
If you or your staffs have any questions about this report, please contact  me at (202) 512-6923 or dornt@gao.gov. Contact points for our Offices of  Congressional Relations and Public Affairs may be found on the last page  of this report. GAO staff who made key contributions to this report are  listed in appendix IV.
section_title: Appendix I: The Federal Government and the District of Columbia Property Conveyances and Transfers in Public Law 109-396
paragraphs: Conveyances from the General Services Administration (GSA) to  the District of Columbia (District) (Section 101(a)(1))  1.  U.S. Reservation 13  2.  Old Naval Hospital Conveyance from the District to GSA (Section 101(c))  1.  Building Numbers 16, 37, 38, 118, and 118A (and underlying real  property) on the West Campus of St. Elizabeths  Transfers of Administrative Jurisdiction from the District to the  Secretary of the Interior (Section 201(a)(1))  1.  An unimproved portion of Audubon Terrace, NW (within U.S.
Reservation 402)  2.  An unimproved portion of Barnaby Street, NW (abuts U.S. Reservation  545)  3.  A portion of Canal Street, SW, and V St., SW (abuts U.S. Reservation  467)  4.  Unimproved streets and Alleys at Fort Circle Park (within U.S.
Reservation 497)  5.  An unimproved portion of Western Avenue, NW (abuts U.S.
Reservation 339)  6.  An unimproved portion of 17th Street, NW (abuts U.S. Reservation  339)  7.  An unimproved portion of 30th Street, NW (within U.S. Reservation  515)  8.  Land over I-395 bounded by Washington Avenue, SW, 2nd Street, SW,  and the C Street, SW, ramps to I-295 (for Memorial to Disabled  Veterans)  9.  A portion of U.S. Reservation 357 at Whitehaven Parkway, NW Transfer of Administrative Jurisdiction from the District to the  Architect of the Capitol (AOC) (Section 201(a)(3)(A))  1.  Additional land over I-395 (see #8 above)  a.  Northernmost 0.249 acres to NPS with approval of the AOC (for         special needs parking)  b.  Remaining portion to the AOC  Transfers of Administrative Jurisdiction from the Secretary of the  Interior to the District (Section 201(b))  1.  A portion of U.S. Reservation 451  2.  A portion of U.S. Reservation 404  3.  U.S. Reservations 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, and 49  4.  U.S. Reservation 251  5.  U.S. Reservation 8  6.  U.S. Reservations 277A and 277C  7.  Portions of U.S. Reservation 470  Conveyances from the District to the Secretary of the Interior  (Section 202(b))  1.  Lovers Lane, NW (abuts U.S. Reservation 324)  2.  Needwood, Niagara, and Pitt Sts., NW (within C&O Canal National  Historic Park)
Conveyances from the Secretary of the Interior to the District  (Section 202(c)(1-6), 203, and 301))  1.  U.S. Reservation 17A  2.  U.S. Reservation 484  3.  U.S. Reservations 243, 244, 245, 247, and 248  4.  U.S. Reservations 128, 129, 130, 298, and 299  5.  Portions of U.S. Reservations 343D and 343E  6.  U.S. Reservations 721, 722, and 723  7.  U.S. Reservation 174 (former Convention Center Site)  8.  Poplar Point (The District must find new sites for NPS facilities or  those facilities stay)
section_title: Appendix II: Description of Properties to Be Conveyed and Transferred between the District of Columbia and Federal Government
paragraphs: Property Name: Poplar Point  Type of Exchange: Conveyance of title  Entity Receiving Property: District of Columbia Government  Entity Conveying Property: National Park Service (NPS)
Property Acreage: Approximately 110 acres  Property Location: East side of the Anacostia River across from the  Washington Naval Yard and the site of the new baseball stadium. The  property is bounded on the north by the Anacostia River, on the northeast  by and inclusive of the southeast approaches of the 11th Street bridges, on  the southeast by and inclusive of I-295, and on the northwest by and  inclusive of the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge approaches to  Suitland Parkway.
Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: Yes  Section of Public Law 109-396: 301  Property Status: Conveyance awaits completion  Property Description: NPS currently manages this property as part of  Anacostia Park. In addition to 60 acres of managed meadow and several  sports fields, the site also includes the U.S .Park Police Aviation Section  Facility, the U.S. Park Police Anacostia Operations Facility, and the  National Capital Parks-East Headquarters. Poplar Point also contains an  area formerly occupied from 1927 to1993 by two nurseries, the D.C.  Lanham Tree Nursery and the Architect of the Capitol Nursery, which left  behind pesticides and other pollutants. Lastly, infrastructure for the 11th  Street and Frederick Douglass bridges covers portions of the site on the  perimeter of Poplar Point. The District has a long-range plan to move the  Frederick Douglass Bridge, freeing-up additional land on Poplar Point, by  about 2015. Conveyance of title to the District will permit redevelopment  of the property by the District consistent with the November 2003  Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan. The conveyance is subject to a  number of terms, including those related to a deed restriction that 70 acres  be used for park purposes, the completion of a land-use plan, the setting  aside of sites for potential memorials, and the relocation of existing NPS  and USPP facilities.
Estimated Conveyance Completion: Fall 2009 (excluding NPS and  USPP facilities)
Proposed Use: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space; Local Public  Facilities; High Density Residential and Commercial  Estimated Development Completion: Yet to be determined, but likely  up to a decade Property Name: U.S. Reservation 13 (Hill East Waterfront)
Type of Exchange: Conveyance of title  Entity Receiving Property: District of Columbia Government  Entity Conveying Property: General Services Administration (GSA)
Property Acreage: Approximately 67 acres  Property Location: Along western shore of Anacostia River, south of  RFK stadium. This property is bounded by Independence Avenue, SE, to  the north; 19th Street, SE, to the west; G Street, SE, to the south; and U.S.  Reservation 343 to the east.
Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: Yes  Section of Public Law 109-396: 101(a)(1)(A)
Property Status: Conveyance awaits completion  Property Description: Reservation 13 has been occupied by District of  Columbia institutional uses since the 1850s and currently includes the D.C.  Jail, the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA), the  remains of D.C. General Hospital, and several active health-care agency  functions. GSA transferred administrative jurisdiction to the District in  2002 with a number of conditions, including reserving the right-of-way to  continue Massachusetts Avenue to the waterfront; maintaining the  presence of CSOSA; and stipulating that if the District wanted to lease a  portion of land for 15 years or longer, the city must verify the lease with  GSA. Conveyance of title will give the District flexibility that it does not  presently have, in land use and multi-use development, as well as private  development. Over the last few months, the District has begun  construction on an interim plaza adjacent to the southern Stadium/Armory  Metrorail Station and planning for the extension of Massachusetts Avenue.  The District has also remediated and selected a contractor to demolish  Building 25; however, the other buildings will be remediated and  demolished by the Master Developer. The District expects to issue a  request for expressions of interest for a Master Developer in May 2008 and  select one by the end of 2008. While initial construction on Reservation 13  may begin by the end of 2008, construction may not be completed until  2018. The conveyance is included in the exchange agreement signed by the  District and GSA on January 17, 2008, and awaits resolution of the AOC  conveyance for the deal to be complete.
Estimated Conveyance Completion: Uncertain  Proposed Use: Medium Density Commercial; Local Public Facilities;  Road Extension  Estimated Development Completion: Approximately 2018 Property Name: Old Naval Hospital (Lot 802, Square 948)
Type of Exchange: Conveyance of title  Entity Receiving Property: District of Columbia Government  Entity Conveying Property: General Services Administration  Property Acreage: 0.705 acres  Property Location: 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE  Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: No  Section of Public Law 109-396: 101(a)(1)(B)
Property Description: Built in 1864, this site, known as Old Naval  Hospital served as a Navy hospital until 1911, then a boarding house for  veterans pursuing pension claims. GSA transferred administrative  jurisdiction of the property, together with the 15,187 square foot  antebellum brick house and 2,200 square foot carriage house to the  District in 1962. The District neglected the building to the point of decay.  Conveyance of title will allow the District to obtain capital investment to  renovate the property for adaptive reuse. In August 2007, the District  selected the Old Naval Hospital Foundation’s plan for the Hill Center, a  community center that will offer a variety of lifelong learning  opportunities, as well as providing meeting and performance space for  community groups and office space for neighborhood nonprofits. The D.C.  Office of Property Management is currently negotiating a long-term ground  lease with the Hill Center/Old Naval Hospital Foundation, and the center is  scheduled to open in early 2010. Community groups have expressed  support for the project. The conveyance is included in the exchange  agreement signed by the District and GSA on January 17, 2008, and awaits  resolution of the AOC conveyance for the deal to be complete.
Estimated Conveyance Completion: Uncertain date in 2008  Proposed Use: Community Center  Estimated Development Completion: 2010 - Hill Center opens  Property Name: St. Elizabeths West Campus: Buildings Numbers 16, 37,  38, 118, and 118A  Type of Exchange: Conveyance of title  Entity Receiving Property: General Services Administration  Entity Conveying Property: District of Columbia Government  Property Acreage: 6.55 acres  Property Location: Buildings are scattered throughout the site. St.  Elizabeths is bounded by Martin Luther King Avenue on the east, South  Capitol Street and I- 295 on the west, the Barry Farm residential  community on the north, and National Park Service Shepherd Parkway  land and the Congress Heights residential community on the south.
Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: No  Section of Public Law 109-396: 101(c)
Property Status: Conveyance pending  Property Description: Building numbers 16, 37, 38, 118, and 118A, located  on the 176-acre, 61 building, St. Elizabeths West Campus in Anacostia are to  be conveyed from the District to the Administrator of GSA. Ownership of the  five buildings will give GSA the ability to comprehensively reuse and develop  the site for the planned Department of Homeland Security (DHS)  headquarters consolidation. The District vacated the buildings in 2004.  Building 16, the Pumping Station, will be needed until the water service is  upgraded, after which it will likely be demolished to fit the needs of the site  master plan. Building 37, Hitchcock Hall, will be renovated and used as a DHS  conference center. Building 38, Hagen Hall, will also be renovated for  campus-wide use, likely related to the conference and training center at  neighboring Building 37. Buildings 118 and 118a, known as the Warehouse,  are to be demolished as part of the site for a new Coast Guard Headquarters  building. The conveyance of title is included in the exchange agreement  signed by the District and GSA on January 17, 2008, and awaits resolution of  the Architect of the Capitol conveyance for the deal to be complete.
Estimated Conveyance Completion: Uncertain  Proposed Use: Part of proposed Department of Homeland Security  Headquarters  Estimated Development Completion: 2015  Property Name: U.S. Reservation 17A (Trash Transfer Station)
Type of Exchange: Conveyance of title  Entity Receiving Property: District of Columbia Government  Entity Conveying Property: National Park Service  Property Acreage: 1.273 acres  Property Location: This property is bounded by New Jersey Avenue,  Canal Street and 2nd Street SE  Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: Yes  Section of Public Law 109-396: 202(c)(1)
Property Status: Conveyance awaits completion  Property Description: The site was transferred to the District for trash  disposal purposes in 1947. Conveyance of title will permit the District to  implement redevelopment plans for a high density commercial and  residential use, as well as reinstitute the street grid of I Street. This  development would complement the neighboring redevelopment of the  former Capper/Carrollsburg public housing project. The District plans to  complete all underground storm drainage and utilities work within 12  months after conveyance and commence construction of residential and  office space within 24 months after conveyance.
Estimated Conveyance Completion: End of summer 2008  Proposed Use: High Density Commercial; Road Realignment  Estimated Development Completion: Yet to be determined  Property Name: U.S. Reservation 484 (Randall Recreation Center)
Type of Exchange: Conveyance of title  Entity Receiving Property: District of Columbia Government  Entity Conveying Property: National Park Service  Property Acreage: 8.508 acres  Property Location: 65 I Street, SW  Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: Yes  Section of Public Law 109-396: 202(c)(2)
Property Status: Conveyance awaits completion  Property Description: This property at Randall Recreation Center and  park was transferred to the District for recreation purposes in 1973. The  District intends to use the land for park, recreation, and open space uses.  The property adjoins the Randall School purchased by the Corcoran  Gallery of Art for development of art studios, classrooms, and residential  units.
Estimated Conveyance Completion: End of summer 2008  Proposed Use: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space  Estimated Development Completion: Yet to be determined  Property Name: U.S. Reservations 243, 244, 245, 247, and 248 (Potomac  Avenue Triangles)
Type of Exchange: Conveyance of title  Entity Receiving Property: District of Columbia Government  Entity Conveying Property: National Park Service  Property Acreage: 2.69 acres (243 - 0.47; 244 - 0.48; 245 – 0.55; 247 - 0.51;  248 – 0.68)
Property Location: Along Potomac Avenue, SW and SE, between 2nd  Street, SW, and 2nd Street, SE  Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: Yes  Section of Public Law 109-396: 202(c)(3)
Property Status: Conveyance awaits completion  Property Description: These five triangles along Potomac Avenue were  transferred to the District for highway purposes in 1944. Reservations 243  and 245 are currently open space. A salt dome currently occupies  Reservation 244. A WASA storage facility occupies Reservation 248.  Reservation 247 is under the new baseball stadium and, thus, has already  been redeveloped. According to D.C. government plans, the rest of the  triangles will be part of the commercial and residential redevelopment  around the baseball stadium. Reservation 248 will include part of the  Anacostia Riverwalk.
Estimated Conveyance Completion: End of summer 2008  Proposed Use: High and Medium Density Commercial and Residential;  Local Public Facilities (Baseball Stadium)
Estimated Development Estimated Development Completion: In  March 2008, Nationals’ Baseball Stadium, partly located on Reservation  247, opened. Development completion dates on the other reservations are  yet to be determined.
Property Name: U.S. Reservations 128, 129, 130, 298, and 299 (Virginia  Avenue Triangles)
Type of Exchange: Conveyance of title  Entity Receiving Property: District of Columbia Government  Entity Conveying Property: National Park Service  Property Acreage: 0.96 acre (128 - 0.21; 129 - 0.35; 130 - 0.12; 298 - 0.10;  299 - 0.18)
Property Location: Along M Street and Water Street, SE, where Virginia  Avenue would extend  Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: Yes  Section of Public Law 109-396: 202(c)(4)
Property Status: Conveyance awaits completion  Property Description: Conveyance of title will allow the District to  reconfigure these small triangles into useable open space in conjunction  with the redevelopment of adjacent private property in accordance with  the Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan. Reservation 298 contains  contamination from a neighboring property formerly occupied by a coal to  liquid facility operated by Washington Gas. Because the District desires a  future recreational use requiring a more stringent clean-up, the District  and NPS recently agreed on the process of how to come to a cleanup  agreement with Washington Gas to modify the previous environmental  remediation efforts.
Estimated Conveyance Completion: End of summer 2008  Proposed Use: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (in conjunction with  adjacent development)
Estimated Development Completion: Yet to be determined  Property Name: Portions of U.S. Reservations 343D and 343E  (Boathouse Row)
Type of Exchange: Conveyance of title  Entity Receiving Property: District of Columbia Government  Entity Conveying Property: National Park Service  Property Acreage: Approximately 19 acres (343D – 13 acres; 343E - 6.34  acres)
Property Location: This property is bordered by the Anacostia River on  the east; Water Street, SE, and M Street, SE, to the west; 11th Street, SE,  and 11th Street Bridges to the south; and the Anacostia River and CSX  Railroad Bridge to the north.
Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: Yes  Section of Public Law 109-396: 202(c)(5)
Property Status: Conveyance awaits completion  Property Description: A narrow stretch of Anacostia Park along the  western shore of the Anacostia River, these properties are currently occupied  by District Public Works facilities; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)  facilities; District Water and Sewer facilities; Anacostia Community  Boathouse Association, Inc.; Washington Yacht Club; District Yacht Club;  Eastern Power Boat Club; Seafarers Boat Club; and the Anacostia Marina.  The District plans to enhance the park qualities of the properties to become a  “Boathouse Row,” which would accommodate various waterfront recreation  activities, including boating, and a portion of the Anacostia Riverwalk trail.  Conveyance of title to the District will provide the opportunity for the District  to redevelop and enhance the marina, which cannot be achieved under NPS  authorities. Portions of both parcels contain environmental contamination,  343D from a neighboring property formerly occupied by a coal-to-liquid  facility operated by Washington Gas and Reservation 343E as a result of the  prior operations of the Anacostia Marina. Because the District wants a future  recreational use requiring a more stringent cleanup, recent District and NPS  agreements for Reservations 298 and 343D outline how the Washington  Gas remediation plan for Reservations 343D and 298 will be modified to  meet the requirements of applicable law and take into account the  District’s proposed changes in land use.  The inclusion in the conveyance of  a small notch within Reservation 343D, occupied by the Corps facilities is the  subject of disagreement between the District, NPS, and the Corps.
Estimated Conveyance Completion: End of summer 2008  Proposed Use: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space  Estimated Development Completion: 2011 Property Name: U.S. Reservations 721, 722, and 723 (Waterside Mall)
Type of Exchange: Conveyance of title  Entity Receiving Property: District of Columbia Government  Entity Conveying Property: National Park Service  Property Acreage: 3.248 acres (721 - 1.132; 722 - 1.490; 723 - 0.626)
Property Location: This property is bordered by I Street, SW, to the  north; 3rd Street, SW, to the east: K Street, SW, to the south; and 6th  Street, SW, to the west.
Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: Yes  Section of Public Law 109-396: 202(c)(6)
Property Status: Conveyance awaits completion  Property Description: Three reservations at Waterside Mall were  created as urban parks as part of the southwest urban renewal in the  1970s. Conveyance of title will provide the District with an opportunity to  reconfigure the property in association with the private redevelopment of  Waterside Mall. Reservations 721 and 723 will be used as parks, while  Reservation 722 will include the extension of 4th Street, SW.
Estimated Conveyance Completion: End of summer 2008  Proposed Use: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space; Road Realignment  Estimated Development Completion: Yet to be determined  Property Name: U.S. Reservation 174 (Old Convention Center; Lot 849,  Square 374)
Type of Exchange: Conveyance of title  Entity Receiving Property: District of Columbia Government  Entity Conveying Property: National Park Service  Property Acreage: 0.31 acre  Property Location: Northwest corner of the Old Convention Center site.  This property is bordered by New York Avenue, NW, to the north; 10th St.,  NW, (to be built) to the east; I Street, NW, (to be built) to the south; and  11th St., NW, to the west.
Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: No  Section of Public Law 109-396: 203  Property Status: Conveyance awaits completion  Property Description: A 13,500 square foot reservation at New York  Avenue and 11th Street, NW, NPS transferred Reservation 174 to the  District in the 1970s as part of the site for the Old Convention Center, with  the condition that it was to remain as open space adjacent to the structure.  The law conditions conveyance of title to the District upon completion of  a final plan for the Old Convention Center site through a public planning  process, the consideration of an alternative that maintains Reservation 174  as open space, and the final plans inclusion of 1.25 acres of open space. In  compliance with these conditions, the District proposed a triangular- shaped park on Reservation 174. This new park will be created in  conjunction with the reopening of 10th and I Streets which border the  property. In May 2007, the National Capital Planning Commission  commented favorably on the concept design for the new park. The District  expects conveyance of this property to occur shortly and separately, as  permitted under the law, from the other conveyances between the District  and DOI.
Estimated Conveyance Completion: June 2008  Proposed Use: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (part of High Density  Development)
Estimated Development Completion: Yet to be determined  Property Name: Lovers Lane, NW  Type of Exchange: Conveyance of title  Entity Receiving Property: National Park Service  Entity Conveying Property: District of Columbia Government  Property Acreage: 0.52 acre  Property Location: North of R Street, NW; between Dumbarton Oaks  and Reservation 324 (Montrose Park)
Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: No  Section of Public Law 109-396: 202(b)(1)
Property Status: Conveyance awaits completion  Property Description: This property is a one-block-long former roadway  located adjacent to Montrose Park and Dumbarton Oaks, owned by  Harvard University. The conveyance will facilitate elimination of the  unused roadbed and would provide NPS and Dumbarton Oaks with  sufficient interests to perform maintenance along walls and other park  facilities adjacent to the roadway.
Estimated Conveyance Completion: End of summer 2008  Proposed Use: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space  Estimated Development Completion: No development planned  Property Name: Needwood, Niagara, and Pitt Streets, NW (C&O Canal  National Historic Park)
Type of Exchange: Conveyance of title  Entity Receiving Property: National Park Service  Entity Conveying Property: District of Columbia Government  Property Acreage: 1.350 acres (Needwood - 0.670; Niagara - 0.449; Pitt –  0.231)
Property Location: North side of the C&O Canal in Georgetown;  Needwood is at 29th Street, NW; Niagara is between 31st and Wisconsin  Avenue, NW; and Pitt is at 33rd Street, NW  Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: No  Section of Public Law 109-396: 202(b)(2)
Property Status: Conveyance awaits completion  Property Description: These properties include three former street  rights-of-way and have been occupied by the C&O Canal since the 19th  century. The conveyance will provide NPS with sufficient interests to  manage these heretofore District-owned portions of the C&O Canal  National Historical Park in Georgetown.
Estimated Conveyance Completion: End of summer 2008  Proposed Use: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space  Estimated Development Completion: No development planned  Property Name: A portion of U.S. Reservation 451  Type of Exchange: Transfer of administrative jurisdiction  Entity Receiving Property: District of Columbia Government  Entity Transferring Property: National Park Service  Property Acreage: 0.475 acre  Property Location: Along the north edge of Gallatin Street, NE, west of  South Dakota Avenue  Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: No  Section of Public Law 109-396: 201(b)(1)
Property Status: Transfer completed December 15, 2006  Property Description: This parkland was encumbered with a one-block  section of Gallatin Street, NW, which provides access to an existing  District public works facility.
Proposed Use: Road/Access to local public facilities  Estimated Development Completion: No development planned  Property Name: A portion of U.S. Reservation 404 (Canal Road, NW)
Type of Exchange: Transfer of administrative jurisdiction  Entity Receiving Property: District of Columbia Government  Entity Transferring Property: National Park Service  Property Acreage: Survey pending  Property Location: Canal Road, NW, from Foxhall Road to the Chain  Bridge (North Glebe Road)
Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: No  Section of Public Law 109-396: 201(b)(2)
Property Status: Transfer completed December 15, 2006  Property Description: This property is beneath Canal Road, NW, and  was the subject of a right-of-way permit to the District. This transfer  provides the District with the requisite interest to adequately operate and  maintain the existing roadway.
Proposed Use: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space  Estimated Development Completion: No development planned  Property Name: U.S. Reservations 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, and 49 (Eastern  Market)
Type of Exchange: Transfer of administrative jurisdiction  Entity Receiving Property: District of Columbia Government  Entity Transferring Property: National Park Service  Property Acreage: 1.114 acres (44: 0.243; 45: 0.186; 46: 0.032; 47: 0.020;  48: 0.261; 49: 0.372)
Property Location: Along Pennsylvania Avenue between 7th and 9th  Streets, SE  Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: No  Section of Public Law 109-396: 201(b)(3)
Property Status: Transfer completed December 15, 2006  Property Description: This transfer includes six reservations of parkland  around the Eastern Market Metro stop. Community leaders, led by  Barracks Row Main Street (BRMS) and backed by local businesses, want  to redesign the parks into a town center square for Capitol Hill. According  to a member of Barracks Row Main Street’s Board of Directors, the plans  have the support of District officials and the financial backing of BRMS  and the local businesses. These redesigned parks would link the  revitalized areas of 8th Street, SE; “Barracks Row”; and 7th Street, SE,  “Market Row,” and would serve as a gateway to the community with  unique neighborhood markers and kiosks around the Metro. A  complementary gateway park will also be created at the southern end of  8th Street, SE, on Reservation 251. The transfer of administrative  jurisdiction was needed to allow the kiosks, since commercial  transactions are not allowed on NPS land, as well as to facilitate the  redesign of the parks. BRMS has commissioned a design study, which  should be completed by August or September 2008, and will provide  design alternatives for community input. BRMS anticipates that  construction could begin by the end of 2008.
Proposed Use: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space  Estimated Development Completion: 2009 - 2010  Property Name: U.S. Reservation 251  Type of Exchange: Transfer of administrative jurisdiction  Entity Receiving Property: District of Columbia Government  Entity Transferring Property: National Park Service  Property Acreage: 0.151 acre  Property Location: M Street, SE, between 8th and 9th Streets, SE  Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: Yes  Section of Public Law 109-396: 201(b)(4)
Property Status: Transfer completed December 15, 2006  Property Description: This property is a triangle at the southern end of  the Barracks Row commercial strip. Community leaders and local  businesses want to redevelop it as an urban park to serve as a gateway to  the commercial strip known as Barracks Row and to complement similar  development at the northern end around the Eastern Market Metro. The  park will likely feature a sculpture.
Proposed Use: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space  Estimated Development Completion: 2009 - 2010  Property Name: U.S. Reservation 8 (Mount Vernon Square)
Type of Exchange: Transfer of administrative jurisdiction  Entity Receiving Property: District of Columbia Government  Entity Transferring Property: National Park Service  Property Acreage: 2.748 acres  Property Location: Mount Vernon Square; between 7th and   9th Streets, NW  Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: No  Section of Public Law 109-396: 201(b)(5)
Property Status: Transfer completed December 15, 2006  Property Description: This park property at Mount Vernon Square  surrounds the City Museum (Carnegie Library), which is owned by the  District. The transfer provides uniform administration and more efficient  management of the entire square by the District.
Proposed Use: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space  Estimated Development Completion: No development planned  Property Name: U.S. Reservations 277A and 277C  Type of Exchange: Transfer of administrative jurisdiction  Entity Receiving Property: District of Columbia Government  Entity Transferring Property: National Park Service  Property Acreage: 0.131 acre  Property Location: Reservation 277A at North Capitol Street and Florida  Avenue, NW; and Reservation 277C at North Capitol Street and Lincoln  Road, NE  Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: No  Section of Public Law 109-396: 201(b)(6)
Property Status: Transfer completed December 15, 2006  Property Description: These two properties are located along North  Capitol Street. Through a misunderstanding, the District issued permits to  local community groups authorizing the landscaping of these properties.  The transfer provides continuity of management for the District.
Proposed Use: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space  Estimated Development Completion: No development planned  Property Name: Portions of U.S. Reservation 470 (Fort Reno Park)
Type of Exchange: Transfer of administrative jurisdiction  Entity Receiving Property: District of Columbia Government  Entity Transferring Property: National Park Service  Property Acreage: 1.556 acres  Property Location: In Fort Reno Park along Donaldson Place, NW  Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: No  Section of Public Law 109-396: 201(b)(7)
Property Status: Transfer completed December 15, 2006  Property Description: This property contains a salt dome and leaf  collection and storage operation that the District has operated under  permits from NPS for many years. The transfer provides the District with  the proper interest in the property to administer and maintain new  facilities at this location.
Proposed Use: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space  Estimated Development Completion: No development planned  Property Name: Audubon Terrace, NW  Type of Exchange: Transfer of administrative jurisdiction  Entity Receiving Property: National Park Service  Entity Transferring Property: District of Columbia Government  Property Acreage: 0.381 acre  Property Location: East of Linnean Avenue, NW, within Reservation 402  Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: No  Section of Public Law 109-396: 201(a)(1)(A)
Property Status: Transfer completed December 15, 2006  Property Description: This unimproved wooded property was  encumbered by an unbuilt street right-of-way surrounded by NPS  parkland. The transfer provides continuity of management by NPS. The  property will remain parkland.
Proposed Use: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space  Estimated Development Completion: No development planned  Property Name: Barnaby Street, NW  Type of Exchange: Transfer of administrative jurisdiction  Entity Receiving Property: National Park Service  Entity Transferring Property: District of Columbia Government  Property Acreage: 0.436 acre  Property Location: North of Aberfoyle Place, NW; abuts Reservation 545  Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: No  Section of Public Law 109-396: 201(a)(1)(B)
Property Status: Transfer completed December 15, 2006  Property Description: This unimproved wooded property was  encumbered by an unbuilt street right-of-way surrounded by NPS  parkland. The transfer provides continuity of management by NPS. The  property will remain parkland.
Proposed Use: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space  Estimated Development Completion: No development planned  Property Name: Canal Street, SW, and V Street, SW  Type of Exchange: Transfer of administrative jurisdiction  Entity Receiving Property: National Park Service  Entity Transferring Property: District of Columbia Government  Property Acreage: 3.732 acres  Property Location: Portions of Canal Street, SW and V Street, SW, each  of which abuts Reservation 467 along the Anacostia River  Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: Yes  Section of Public Law 109-396: 201(a)(1)(C)
Property Status: Transfer completed December 15, 2006  Property Description: This unimproved property is comprised of  portions of unbuilt street rights-of-way that abut NPS parkland. The  transfer facilitates implementation of an approved plan to enhance an  existing NPS concession-operated marina.
Proposed Use: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space  Estimated Development Completion: Yet to be determined  Property Name: Streets and Alleys at Fort Circle Park  Type of Exchange: Transfer of administrative jurisdiction  Entity Receiving Property: National Park Service  Entity Transferring Property: District of Columbia Government  Property Acreage: 4.35 acres  Property Location: Within Fort Circle Park/Reservation 497  Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: No  Section of Public Law 109-396: 201(a)(1)(D)
Property Status: Transfer completed December 15, 2006  Property Description: This unimproved wooded property was  encumbered by several contiguous unbuilt street rights-of-way within NPS  parkland. The transfer provides continuity of management by NPS. The  property will remain parkland.
Proposed Use: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space  Estimated Development Completion: No development planned  Property Name: Western Avenue, NW  Type of Exchange: Transfer of administrative jurisdiction  Entity Receiving Property: National Park Service  Entity Transferring Property: District of Columbia Government  Property Acreage: 1.081 acres  Property Location: Western Avenue, NW, north of Oregon Avenue, NW,  abuts Reservation 339  Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: No  Section of Public Law 109-396: 201(a)(1)(E)
Property Status: Transfer completed December 15, 2006  Property Description: This unimproved property was encumbered by an  unbuilt street right-of-way surrounded by NPS parkland. The transfer  provides continuity of management by NPS. The property will remain  parkland.
Proposed Use: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space  Estimated Development Completion: No development planned  Property Name: 17th Street, NW  Type of Exchange: Transfer of administrative jurisdiction  Entity Receiving Property: National Park Service  Entity Transferring Property: District of Columbia Government  Property Acreage: 0.268 acre  Property Location: 17th Street, NW, south of Shepherd Street, NW, abuts  Reservation 339  Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: No  Section of Public Law 109-396: 201(a)(1)(F)
Property Status: Transfer completed December 15, 2006  Property Description: This unimproved wooded property was  encumbered by an unbuilt street right-of-way abutting NPS parkland. The  transfer provides continuity of management by NPS. The property will  remain parkland.
Proposed Use: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space  Estimated Development Completion: No development planned  Property Name: 30th Street, NW  Type of Exchange: Transfer of administrative jurisdiction  Entity Receiving Property: National Park Service  Entity Transferring Property: District of Columbia Government  Property Acreage: 0.343 acre  Property Location: 30th Street, NW, north of Broad Branch Road, NW,  within Reservation 515  Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: No  Section of Public Law 109-396: 201(a)(1)(G)
Property Status: Transfer completed December 15, 2006  Property Description: This unimproved wooded property was  encumbered by an unbuilt street right-of-way surrounded by NPS  parkland. The transfer provides continuity of management by NPS. The  property will remain parkland.
Proposed Use: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space  Estimated Development Completion: No development planned  Property Name: Land over I-395 (Including additional land along/above   I-395)
Type of Exchange: Transfer of administrative jurisdiction  Entity Receiving Property: National Park Service  Entity Transferring Property: District of Columbia Government  Property Acreage: 1.69 acres  Property Location: This property is bounded by Washington Avenue,  SW, 2nd Street, SW; and the C Street, SW, ramps to I-295.
Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: No  Section of Public Law 109-396: 201(a)(1)(H)
Property Status: Transfer completed December 15, 2006  Property Description: This property includes landscaped traffic islands  and ramps above I-395 in the vicinity of the Rayburn House Office  Building. The transfer provides for the establishment of the Memorial to  American Veterans Disabled for Life, which will be managed by NPS. The  District retains jurisdiction of the subsurface area beneath the memorial  for the tunnel, walls, footings and related facilities. An additional 0.249  acre of an adjoining parcel was transferred to NPS and, subject to AOC  approval, will be landscaped or used for special-needs parking associated  with the proposed memorial. The Disabled Veterans Life Memorial  Foundation, which is responsible for developing and fund-raising and  constructing the memorial, hopes to seek preliminary design approval  from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning  Commission this summer, with final approval following in early 2009.  Some street realignments and utilities relocation will be involved. The  street realignment will take about 12 months and the Memorial  construction will take 18 months. Currently, the memorial foundation  anticipates a possible dedication on Memorial Day 2011.
Proposed Use: Memorial for Disabled Veterans; Parking for Memorial  Estimated Development Completion: May 2011  Property Name: Whitehaven Parkway, NW  Type of Exchange: Transfer of administrative jurisdiction  Entity Receiving Property: National Park Service  Entity Transferring Property: District of Columbia Government  Property Acreage: 1.80 acres  Property Location: Portion of Reservation 357 at Whitehaven Parkway,  NW, and Foxhall Road, NW  Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: No  Section of Public Law 109-396: 201(a)(1)(I)
Property Status: Transfer completed December 15, 2006  Property Description: This property was previously transferred to the  District for a proposed mayoral residence at this location, which was  never built. The transfer provides continuity of management by NPS. The  property will remain parkland.
Proposed Use: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space  Estimated Development Completion: No development planned  Property Name: Remaining land over I-395 (AOC)
Type of Exchange: Transfer of administrative jurisdiction  Entity Receiving Property: Architect of the Capitol, National Park  Service  Entity Transferring Property: District of Columbia Government  Property Acreage: 0.504 acre  Property Location: This property is bounded by 2nd Street, SW; C Street,  SW, ramp to I-295; the D Street, SW ramp to I-395; and I-295.
Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan Area: No  Section of Public Law 109-396: 201(a)(3)(A)
Property Status: Transfer completed December 15, 2006  Property Description: These additional lands above and along I-395 are  next to the site for the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. The  northernmost 0.249 acre was transferred to NPS and is subject to AOC  approval as to whether the property is landscaped or used for special- needs parking associated with the memorial. The remaining portion was  transferred to the AOC. (See “Lands over I-395 (for Memorial to Disabled  Veterans)” to NPS). The District retains jurisdiction of the subsurface area  beneath the memorial for the tunnel, walls, footings, and related facilities.
section_title: Appendix III: Comments from the Department of the Interior
section_title: Appendix IV: GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgments
subsections: section_title: GAO Contact
section_title: Staff Acknowledgments
paragraphs: In addition to the individual listed above, David Sausville, Assistant  Director; Colin Fallon; Ryan Gottschall; Kathleen Gilhooly; Kieran  McCarthy; and Joshua Ormond made significant contributions to this  report.