District Gets 2 West End Development Offers

Plans to redevelop three West End parcels including the West End Library, fire station, and special operations police unit were due to The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development last Friday at 3 PM, and DMPED Communications Director Sean Madigan tells DCMud that "at least two packages" came in before the deadline. "We’ll have to start vetting them now to see if they are responsive." No news yet on the timeline for selection, nor would DC reveal the identity of the bidders, but given the recent flap over Mayor Fenty's procedures for choosing development partners, you can bet the Council will vet this carefully.

DMPED originally issued its Solicitation for Offers back in July. When offers didn't start pouring in by mid-September, DMPED extended its due date from Oct. 2nd to Oct. 30th. The District sought proposals that could effectively address issues such as coming up with interim library facilities during construction, developing housing for Metropolitan Police and Fire Departments, and figuring out how to gain support for the projects from the Department of Homeland Security. Local residents became incensed over the lack of BID competition in July when the District attempted to sell to Eastbanc Development, which developed the Ritz Carlton hotel and condo and 22 West condos, but which the community viewed as not arms-length.

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