701 Kennedy Street remains boarded up and vacant.

by Cesse Ip

It’s been over a year since Petworth News last provided an update on 701 Kennedy Street NW. Back in September 2021, we reported that the chances of Rotonda Pizza opening have decreased to near zero. And after some digging through tax records, the tax code, court documents, and talking to the Department of Building (DOB) Records, we can confirm again that the chances of Rotonda Pizza opening are still at or near zero.

While any observer can see 701 Kennedy Street has been vacant since at least 2017, it is not marked vacant per the Department of Buildings. It had been, as of on September 15, 2021 – but the DOB says that was incorrect and will be corrected.

DOB said it is not vacant, because “Whenever a lot within a square is occupied, the entire square is deemed occupied.” Instead in this case, “701 Kennedy Street NW is one of several commercial units owned by Bonnett Group, LLC shown under the consolidated address of 705 Kennedy Street NW.”

Under the DC Tax Code, if at least one of a multi-unit commercial building is occupied, the entire lot is deemed “occupied” and will pay the relevant, lower commercial tax rate.

A view of the full building along the 700 block of Kennedy Street NW.

This means that the owner of the building has no tax consequences for having a vacant unit in their multi-unit commercial property. It can be true in many situations that it is not the building owner’s fault if their unit is not able to be leased, and it would not be fair to tax them at a vacant rate. Additionally, there are no penalties for a tenant for not opening if they are up-to-date on their rent. Thus, it seems as if rented units in multi-unit commercial properties could in theory remain vacant forever.

It seems like Brightwood Park residents are going to have to wait even longer for something to happen at 701 Kennedy Street according to court documents. In March 2022, of this year a case was filed against the tenant, JOLO LLC, by The Bonnet Group, the owners of the building. The mediation session is not slated until March 8, 2023.

Looking inside 701 Kennedy, which hasn’t been touched in a long time.

Residents still have ANXO’s Brightwood Pizza at 711 Kennedy Street to get their pizza fix. Earlier this year, ANXO owner Sam Fitz told Petworth News that he was exploring the possibility of taking over the 701 Kennedy Street property and using it to expand their Brightwood Pizza concept. However, since then, Fitz has told us that he is no longer pursuing the property, and instead is focusing on working on their current property down the street at 711 Kennedy.

It’s sad to see empty but viable spaces on Kennedy Street. This area deserves to feel and be vibrant.