Gamble Rogers says: (8/21/12 10:59 PM)
This is good news, JD. No matter where the Marines decide to build, this development will only improve Lower Eighth Street. The new setback requirement could make the former Exxon site more attractive as a residential tower, especially if the Marines buy out the animal control clinic and businesses on 10th Street SE. The Marines could also request more land and security by asking the city to close the intersection of Potomac Avenue SE and 11th Street SE. Right now, Potomac Avenue is a speedway for folks cutting between 8th and 11th. If the Marines asked the city to cede one block of Potomac between 10th and 11th, and even the "non-dog-park-dog-park," perhaps they could compensate by funding improvements to Virginia Avenue park, including a larger, official dog park. That's one possibility that would have minimal impact on the neighborhood, would fall outside the Capitol Hill overlay, and could provide benefits to all parties.

Of course, the CDPs would go crazy -- but a man can dream, can't he?

Andrew in DC says: (8/24/12 10:59 AM)
"this development will only improve Lower Eighth Street"

I don't understand this assertion. Roping off more land to shuffle around existing bodies in the area will somehow "improve" lower 8th by evicting current residents and eliminating any future potential for additional near-term development?

This is not a benefit. Especially with the Marines asserting they're going to hold on to their old building and not yield _that_ back to the city, either. All it means is that a chunk of land becomes indefinitely off limits to the resident population. It is, at best, net-neutral.