Shining a light on the development at 1st and Kennedy Streets NW

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Shining a light on the development at 1st and Kennedy Streets NW

Long reported and long awaited, the property on the northeast corner of 1st and Kennedy Streets NW in the Manor Park neighborhood – the now-called “71 Kennedy” – will soon be developed. This is despite community concerns about the proposed development changes, such as the developer’s decision to remove the promised first-floor retail component. The lack of transparency, along with apparent obfuscation of prior business relationships and no longer keeping to stated commitments, has residents angered.

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A Neighborhood Nuisance: the ongoing saga of 433 Kennedy Street NW

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A Neighborhood Nuisance: the ongoing saga of 433 Kennedy Street NW

A blighted property at 433 Kennedy St NW has been vacant for over four years and has become a nuisance to the neighborhood, as reported last year by Petworth News. Moreover, it has been paying the vacant tax rate for the past four years, according to DC Tax records, even though DCRA has labeled it as blighted. That difference impacts how much the owner pays in taxes, with blighted incurring a higher cost.

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Vacant/blighted buildings are languishing and hurting the vibrancy of the Kennedy Street community

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Vacant/blighted buildings are languishing and hurting the vibrancy of the Kennedy Street community

Vacant/blighted properties clustered on the 400 block of Kennedy Street NW owned by the same development company are an eyesore for the neighborhood, rodent havens and trash-dumping grounds. These properties have been labeled vacant and/or blighted for years, but those designations and DCRA have done nothing to encourage the owner to take action. At this point, it seems only legislation and more residential complaints are needed to get something done.

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