Dupont Circle church-to-housing project stalled by Appeals Court

In August 2016, the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) approved a zoning variance for developer CAS Riegler’s plans to redevelop the 120-year-old Dupont Circle church, St. Thomas Episcopal Parish. While in mid-construction, Washington City Paper reports that the D.C. Court of Appeals has halted the project, thanks to a challenge by the Dupont Circle Citizens Association that argued that the first floor of the planned building will exceed by 6.7 percent the maximum lot occupancy of 80 percent. For now, the project will return to the BZA for consideration.

The plans for the building, located at 1772 Church Street NW, is to construct a seven-story, 50,000-square-foot building with 56 residential units and a four-story church element with a sanctuary, classrooms, meeting space, and a “ruins gallery” with the remains of the original church. There are also plans for an underground parking garage.

• Appeals Court Nixes Dupont Church, Housing Project [Washington City Paper]

• Ruling [D.C. Court of Appeals]

• Dupont Circle church redevelopment granted zoning variance [Curbed DC]