Eventually, the J. Edgar Hoover building, which houses the FBI headquarters, will be demolished, which will allow the opportunity to house over 2 million square feet of mixed-use development, making it one of the largest development projects in the city.
After months of meetings, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) unanimously approved the final square guidelines for the site this Thursday. Now that the square guidelines have been approved, the NCPC will transmit them to the General Services Administration (GSA), according to a press release.
By March, the GSA will then determine a partner to build a new FBI headquarters. The location of the new headquarters has yet to be determined.
There are over 15 topics when it comes to the guidelines that will inform how the site, located at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW on Squares 378 and 379, will be redeveloped. First, D Street, NW between the two squares will be reestablished, thereby minimizing vehicular and pedestrian conflicts. The 1974 Pennsylvania Avenue Plan’s mixed-use goals will also be reinforced by encouraging residential, cultural, and office uses.
Additionally, a build-to-line a minimum distance of 30 feet north of the Pennsylvania Avenue property line will be established that results in a minimum 57-foot sidewalk that can accommodate the public space program necessary to retain the avenue’s important civic functions and character; and
Finally, the maximum building height limit of 135 feet will be provided on Square 379, while Square 378 will have a building height limit of 160 feet.
Since NCPC’s preliminary approval in October 2016, there have been two major changes. First, the D.C. Zoning Commission will be required to review the design of future site redevelopment proposals. Next, when it comes to stormwater design and management, the future developer must work closely with regulatory agencies.