Updated July 12th to add the Zoning Commission hearing date.
UDC’s Building 41, as viewed from Van Ness Street (Forest Hills Connection photo).
by Mary Beth Tinker and Kesh Ladduwahetty
The next two years may see the demolition of one of the largest buildings on UDC’s Van Ness campus. In place of the demolished building, it has been proposed that a new building be built for the DC Archives.
We first learned of the change of plans regarding Building 41 in April. Mary Beth received a “notice of intent” to file a zoning application that would amend the UDC Campus Master Plan to include the demolition of Building 41 and the construction of a new DC Archives building. To us, the notice indicated a failure of campus and community engagement that is mandated by the District. And this is why.
In June, 2021, Mary Beth testified at the Zoning Commission’s public hearing on the Campus Master Plan, raising concerns about UDC’s green space. At that time, there were three proposals for Building 41, none involving demolition: 1) DC Archives, 2) student housing, or 3) academic space.
In her testimony, Mary Beth asked that the UDC Garden Club be included in plans. ANC 3F also passed a resolution calling for more community involvement in the UDC campus plan. UDC General Counsel Avis Russell stated at that time that Juanita Gray, UDC’s community liaison, would contact Mary Beth.
A UDC Garden Club project with Building 41 in the background. (authors’ photo)
In July 2021, the Zoning Commission approved the master plan with the conditions that a university-community task force would meet quarterly (Zoning Commission order, page 22), and, at the university’s own suggestion, the task force would include a representative of the UDC Garden Club (Zoning Commission order, page 19).
Mary Beth was never contacted to join the task force and her inquiry went unanswered.
At a May 23rd meeting that we requested with Ms. Gray to talk about the archives plans, she said, “The Mayor wants this.” When we asked about the university-community task force, we learned that it is not a task force in the usual sense, nor does it meet quarterly. Instead, Ms. Gray said that occasional public meetings are held, most recently last August.
We do not know if UDC’s internal rules for amending the master plan were followed. But we do know that the Zoning Commission’s conditions for approval were not met.
A decision with significant impact to the university community and neighborhood should be made with meaningful community engagement. Dr. Elizabeth Gearin, Professor of Urban Land Use Planning at UDC, responding on June 8th to our concerns about the proposal for Building 41, stressed that, “Local stakeholders should have the opportunity to influence local development.”
Student opinions in particular should be front and center. On June 9th, Brent Thigpen, the president of the UDC Student Government Association, spoke with Mary Beth about proposed changes to Building 41, saying, “Students are the reason this university is open, and we should have a say about these issues. Student housing, for example, is something that students need.”
This is about more than Building 41. The gap between how government is supposed to work – and how it actually does – leads to cynicism and a lack of civic engagement by the public, particularly young people.
It is vital to close this “democracy gap” and demand government function as it is supposed to. Decisions regarding UDC’s resources should be made with the meaningful input of students, faculty, staff and the larger community. The mayor should weigh in, but the decision should also consider the input of all the major stakeholders of the university and community.
The Zoning Commission’s hearing to amend the campus plan to allow the demolition of Building 41 has been scheduled for September 21st. The case number is 20-33B. To get involved and learn more, email keshinil@gmail.com.
Mary Beth Tinker and Kesh Ladduwahetty are volunteers with the UDC Garden Club, a project associated with UDC’s College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES). The club maintains organic gardens on the Van Ness campus as part of UDC’s network of food hubs across the District.
Paul Pearlstein says
Almost no building at UDC Is Handicap accessible. Elevators are usually broken and most classes are not onthe first floor. The doors in the parking lot are very heavy and can not be opened with a walker or in a wheelchair.
Raze all buildings and rebuild to do it right.
Michael Walker says
The new DC Archives is going to transform the UDC campus into an even more beautiful space for the full Van Ness community. As an alumnus, I am happy about this.
Ellen Pskowski says
Thank you for your article, keeping us informed both on the plans and the efforts the community has made and is making to have a chance for timely communication with UDC and DC.
Krystal says
Building the DC Archives on the campus does nothing for the students of the university. UDC needs housing and updated classrooms. The people making these discussions never talk to students, staff or faculty members. It is sad how outside can just take the university apart piece by piece. This feel like one step closer to closing the campus. Then what will the students do?
Mike says
“A decision with significant impact to the university community and neighborhood should be made with meaningful community engagement.”
UDC and DC officials must be held to the Zoning Commission’s condition that a university-community task force have the opportunity to influence this new development on campus and in the neighborhood. Students, faculty, neighbors and, yes, the UDC Garden Club, which maintains scarce green space on campus and serves as a healthy food source and educational project, all deserve to be heard in the process.
Daphne Humphrey says
I am a UDC student and an active member of the UDC Garden Club. Building 41 should be preserved and renovated instead of demolished. It should be used for student housing and other student needs.
Students like me should have a say in decisions about the building and other decisions concerning the appearance of the campus.
Lina Braude says
We live across the street from the UDC campus and my nine-year old son and myself are recent members of the UDC Garden Club. The gardens created by the UDC Garden members are essential part of the community and are unique lesson in community involvement and urban gardening for both adults and children. We simply can’t afford to lose them. Demolition of Building 41 will lead to loss of the vast majority of the gardens. We can’t afford that! Community and student input must be part of the decision making process.
My son has food allergies and is a picky and cautious eater. Since we joined the garden club he started eating tomatoes because he wanted to try what he grew! He is eager to come to the gardens every Saturday where he is treated as a full-fledged member of the club. There is no substitute for this life lesson for us. Beth, Naomi, Daphne and Kesh and many others are wonderful community leaders who deserve to weigh on this decision.
Karen Breslin says
I live in the neighborhood, am a master gardener, member of the UDC Garden Club and a former DCPS teacher, a resident here for over 20 years. How come we’re just hearing about this project that if implemented will have implications for the environment & public health for the students at UDC, faculty, staff as well as for everyone in & around the campus? The project will disrupt the students & faculty during class time And it will have implications for commute & travel on all the roads surrounding the campus. The community should be given the option to weigh in on a project of this scale. And were students & faculty asked if they want an archives building? How will this project service the students? And what is a project like this costing when we don’t even know if students would make use of this? Where are the funds coming from?
Julia Smyth-Pinney says
Obviously, the process that led to this proposal for an archives building has been woefully flawed by lack of input and involvement from the communities who live and work and study here. Adding one more question: why is it necessary to demolish the library building, rather than retrofit it? Where is the data that supports that decision? Who made the proposal and created the budget, and who reviewed the paperwork? When and where were these processes carried out? So many questions.
Scott says
I remember when Mayor Bowser ran for her position the very first time. As soon as she won the Democratic primary, she stopped campaigning altogether. I mean she stop to the point that she did not even respond to a community wide mayoral candidate debate at held Dumbarton House to say if she would participate. Now, 8 yrs later she still refuses to communicate with her constituents and goes on doing what she wants.
I strongly encourage everybody to be involved in helping to stop our local government from taking our voice away from us. Sign up to voice your opinion at the Zoning Commission’s Sept. 21st meeting. Again, the case number is 20-33B. ALSO, tell your mayor, our mayor, that DC is made up of 8 Wards and she needs to represent, listen to, and support the ideas and desires of all 8 Wards – not just her ideas and desires. Email, telephone calls, go to meetings, call the press, do your part.
Kai Hu says
Many universities in the US have the similar challenges like UDC, the buildings built in 1960’s-1970’s do not meet the current ADA requirements and needs some kind of renovations ( not demolition :). Towson university did a series of site improvement projects to make sure those buildings to meet the standards. Towson University did demo the old CLA building to build the new CLA building, but not for other organization. UDC campus need to be regenerative for the real campus life, for both faculty & the students. The new sports field is an ongoing project, it suppose to serve to the faculties & students, if the campus could not attract enough students/ faculties, the sports field will be come a dog park someday in the future.