2026-10-28 - Committee on Human Services

[GAVEL] CHAIR FRUMIN: GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM MATT FRUMAN, WARD 2 COUNCILMEMBER, AND CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES. TODAY IS OCTOBER 28, 2026. WE ARE MEETING IN ROOM 412 AND ON ZOOM, THE

VIRTUAL PLATFORM. THE TIME IS ONE: 10:00 P.M. TODAY WE ARE CONDUCTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THREE MEASURES, B26-0845, THE POPLAR POINT ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION APPROVAL ACT OF 2026. B26-0846, THE

POPLAR POINT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANCHOR DISPOSITION ACT OF 2026. AND B26-0834, THE REEVES CENTER SURPLUS DECLARATION AND DISPOSITION APPROVAL ACT OF 2026 . ALL THREE OF THESE WERE INTRODUCED BY

CHAIRMAN MENDELSON AT THE REQUEST OF THE MAYOR ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 AND REFER SEQUENTIALLY TO THE COMMITTEE ON FACILITIES AND THE COMMITTEE OF HUMAN SERVICES ON OCTOBER 6, 2026. THE FIRST BILL ON THE

DOCKET IS B26-0845, THE POPLAR POINT ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION APPROVAL ACT OF 2026. POPLAR POINT IS THE DISTRICT'S LAST MAJOR UNDEVELOPED WATERFRONT PROPERTY. THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN WORKING TO

ACQUIRE IT FOR DECADES. IN 2006, CONGRESS ENACTED THE FEDERAL AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA REAL PROPERTY ACT OF 2006 WHICH DIRECTED THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO TRANSFER POPLAR POINT TO THE DISTRICT AFTER

THE DISTRICT IDENTIFIED A NEW LOCATION FOR THE NPS FACILITIES THERE. THIS LEGISLATION AUTHORIZES A SERIES OF TRANSACTIONS THAT WILL ALLOW THE DISTRICT TO TAKE TITLE TO A LARGE PART OF POPLAR POINT. IT

FINALIZES A LAND SWAP INVOLVING THE DISTRICT, THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY AND TWO DEVELOPERS RBWNY LLC., AND CQ METRO LAND LLC. THIS DEAL WILL GIVE THE DISTRICT JURISDICTION OVER MORE THAN 70 ACRES OF

RIVERFRONT PARKLAND AND ALLOW FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE THAN 40 OF THOSE ACRES. THE SECOND BILL ON THE DOCKET, B26-0846, THE POPLAR POINT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANCHOR DISPOSITION ACT OF 2026. THIS

ALLOWS THE MAYOR TO DISPOSE OF 15 ACRES AT POPLAR POINT TO THERMAL WHO SEEKS TO ACQUIRE THE LAND TO BUILD A 400,000-600 THOUSAND SQUARE-FOOT HEALTH AND WELLNESS FACILITY. THEY INTEND FOR THIS PROJECT

TO SPUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES EAST OF THE ANACOSTIA RIVER WHILE MAINTAINING PUBLIC ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE, PAVED PATHS, AND CONNECTIONS TO BRIDGES, WATERFRONT, AND STREETS. THE FINAL

BILL ON THE DOCKET TODAY IS B26-0834, THE REEVES CENTER SURPLUS DECLARATION AND DISPOSITION APPROVAL ACT OF 2026 . THE LEGISLATION AUTHORIZES THE MAYOR TO DECLARE SURPLUS AND DISPOSE OF THOSE THAT

CURRENTLY HOUSE THE REEVES CENTER. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WOULD REPLACE THE CURRENT BUILDING WITH TWO NEW BUILDINGS, ONE PROVIDING 320 TWO NEW UNITS OF HOUSING AND ONE PROVIDING 40,000 SQUARE FEET OF

OFFICE AND RETAIL SPACE. THE SITE WILL ALSO INCLUDE A NEW HEADQUARTERS FOR THE NAACP, DELIVERING THE ANCHOR FOR THE HISTORIC U STREET CORRIDOR THAT WAS ORIGINALLY ENVISIONED BY LATE MAYOR MARION

BARRY. I WILL JOIN NOW BY MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER WHITE. IF YOU HAVE AN OPENING STATEMENT. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN FRUMAN FOR HOLDING TODAY'S HEARING I WANT TO SPEAK TO ONE PART OF THE DISCUSSION

TODAY. FOR DECADES PEOPLE ABOARD EIGHT HAVE BEEN PROMISED THE KIND OF INVESTMENT THAT HAS TRANSFORMED ACROSS THE CITY WITHOUT DISPLACING PEOPLE. WE WATCHED SEVERAL PARTS OF IMPORTANT CORRIDORS GET

REDEVELOPED AND LOOKING BEAUTIFUL AND WELCOMING WHERE PEOPLE CAN GROW, SHOP, AND LIVE WHERE THEY WORK AND PLAY. FOR WARD EIGHT, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED EQUITY. FOR ME IT IS NOT A NEW CONVERSATION. I

REMEMBER ATTENDING A PRESS CONFERENCE AT 21 OR 22 WITH ARIAN BERRY AT POPLAR POINT. I'M 42, SO YOU DO THE MATH. WE CANNOT KEEP GOING, WE REMAIN OPEN TO THE FEDERAL LAND SWAP MY PARTY IS MAKING SURE

CONCERNS OF RESIDENTS ARE HEARD. I HAVE PERSONALLY BEEN HOSTING LISTENING SITES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THURMAN ABOUT NOT JUST A JOB AND MAKE SURE THERE ARE JOBS IF THIS COMES TO FRUITION. THERE HAS BEEN

A LOT OF ENVELOPMENT TO THIS. I DO SAY THERME HAS BEEN LISTENING AND GRADING CONCESSIONS FOR THOSE BUSINESSES TO GET INVOLVED. IN 20 25, UNEMPLOYMENT WAS WARD 8 AT 10% COMPARED TO 6% IN D.C.. JOBS,

WAGES, OPPORTUNITIES, BUSINESS OWNERSHIP. FOR THE PAST YEAR AND HAST WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF POPLAR POINT AND NOT JUST WITH THERME, BUT THE SURROUNDING AREAS OF

THERME TO ENSURE THAT IS A COMPLETE SITE WITH OTHER AMENITIES. AS FAR AS WHAT IT CAN ACCOMPLISH WHEN IT COMMITS TO TRANSFORMING AN AREA LIKE WATERFRONT OR NAVY YARD OR OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY. WHEN

THE DISTRICT DEVELOP THE WHARF IT COMMITTED 51 PERCENT D.C. RESIDENT HIRING AND 20% HIRING TARGET FOR RESIDENTS. COMMITMENTS LIKE THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO MAKING PROJECTS LIKE THIS POPULAR. NOT JUST

TALKING ABOUT MONEY BECAUSE IT IS AMOUNT OF PRIORITIES AND PARTNERSHIPS. I HAVE MET WITH COMMUNITY SO ARE EXCITED ABOUT THERME AND THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE EXCITED, IT IS IMPORTANT WE HEAR THOSE VOICES TO

MOVE WARD 8 FORWARD. I'M EXCITED ABOUT OPPORTUNITY. I HAVE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO WORK THERE, SHOPPED THERE PLAY THERE FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD BUT ALSO WANT TO DO BUSINESS THERE. I KNOW

THIS WILL BE THE FIRST OF MANY CONVERSATIONS BUT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM WITNESS TESTIMONY TODAY. I'M ALSO EXCITED REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE

D.C. MANY FRONT-LINE WORKERS AND UNIONS ARE GATHERED OUTSIDE ADVOCATING FOR EQUITY AND INCLUSION. THEY HAVE BEEN KEEPING THEIR COMMUNITIES AFLOAT. OUR BUDGET WAS ORIGINALLY $4.5 BILLION IN THAT WE ARE

OVER $21 BILLION. I WANT TO THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER FRUMIN, FOR HOLDING THE HEARING, I WILL BE IN AND OUT BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A FAIR PROCESS SO THANK

YOU. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER WHITE. WE HAVE BEEN JOINED BY WARD 1 WINS THE AWARD FOR EFFICIENCY AND TIME MANAGEMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN OPENING STATEMENT? THANK YOU

YOU AND I APPRECIATE YOU BESTOWING THIS ON ME -- AWARD ON ME. THERE ARE A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT BEFORE YOUR COMMITTEE SO I TRULY APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR STAFF'S WORK TO GIVE THEM PROPER

CONSIDERATION AND ENSURE WE REMAIN GOOD STEWARDS OF PUBLIC LAND. I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE THE REEVES CENTER REDEVELOPMENT MOVING FORWARD. WE HELD MANY PUBLIC MEETINGS AND ENGAGED WITH THE UPFRONT RFP

DRAFTING AND REVIEW OF THE DEVELOPMENT TEAMS AND I THINK THAT WORK REALLY SHOWS IN THE PROJECTS THAT HAS MOVED FORWARD AND I ALSO APPRECIATE THE DEPUTY MAYOR'S WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH ME TO ENSURE A

HOTEL IS INCLUDED IN THE RFP. I STRONGLY BELIEVE IT HAS LONG BEEN A MISSING PIECE OF THE PUZZLE. SOMETHING I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN SINCE I WAS ON ANC 1B AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT FINISH MY TENURE WITH

THIS PROJECT SET UP FOR SUCCESS. I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO REJOIN THE HEARING IN TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TESTIMONY ON THE REEVES CENTER SO I DO WANT TO SHARE QUESTIONS I HAVE IS THE LEGISLATION MOVES

FORWARD. WANT TO ENSURE IT IS NOT JUST POSSIBLE THAT IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE SPLIT INTO TWO SEPARATE PHASES. IF THERE ARE ANY ZONING CHANGES NEEDED IN THE SITE THERE IS NO REASON IT SHOULD BE PURSUED

AS A SEPARATE UNIT DEVELOPMENT. THAT WOULD DELAY HOUSING BY TWO YEARS OR MORE. COMMUNITY BENEFITS ARE ALREADY FACTORED INTO THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE DISTRICT. THERE WERE STILL A PARK

PROJECT, THIS IS STILL A PUBLIC PROJECT AFTER ALL AND I WOULD LIKE THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE MORE LEADERSHIP IN THE ENTITLEMENTS. ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS HOW THE REEVES CENTER AND ITS FUTURE TENANTS

INCLUDING THE NAACP INTERACT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC PROCESS PLACES ARE WELL MAINTAINED. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING ON OF THE PLANS FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SITE BETWEEN

NOW AND WHEN THE REDEVELOPMENT IS FINISHED. ME AND MY TEAM HAD MANAGED SEVERAL CONSTITUENT ISSUES CAUSED BY THEIR LACK OF CLARITY IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS SO I LOOK FORWARD TO TODAY'S TESTIMONY AND

THANKS AGAIN, MR. CHAIRMAN, IT SHOULD BE AN EXCITING, EXCITING SET OF DISCUSSIONS. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER NADEAU. FOR B26-0845, THE POPLAR POINT LAND SWAP, AND B26-0846, THE

DISPOSITION TO THERME, WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FIRST FROM OUR GOVERNMENT WITNESS AND THEN FROM OUR PUBLIC WITNESSES. FOR THE THIRD BILL, WE WILL HEAR FIRST FROM THE PUBLIC WITNESSES AND THEN FROM THE

GOVERNMENT WITNESSES. WE WILL TRY TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ACCOMMODATE SCHEDULES AND IT IS A BUSY TIME SO I APPRECIATE FOLKS PATIENTS WITH THAT. IN THAT SPIRIT WE ARE NOW JOINED BY DEPUTY MAYOR AND

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NINA ALBERT. DEPUTY MAYOR, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE JOIN US IN FRONT OF ME. OK, IT IS THE PRACTICE OF THIS COMMITTEE TO PLACE OUR GOVERNMENT WITNESSES UNDER OATH. IF YOU COULD BOTH

PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, DO YOU SWEAR OR AFFIRM UNDER PENALTY OF LAW THAT THE TESTIMONY YOU ARE ABOUT TO PROVIDE TO THE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT

THE TRUTH? I DO. YOU --CHAIR FRUMIN: YOU MAY BEGIN. DEP. MAYOR ALBERT: GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRPERSON FRUMAN, COUNCILMEMBER WHITE, COUNCILMEMBER NADEAU, AS WELL AS STAFF WHO ARE HERE AT ONE OF THE

COMMITTEE OF HUMAN SERVICES, MY NAME IS NINA ALBERT, I SERVE AS THE DEPUTY MAYOR FOR PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I'M HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF B26-0845, THE POPLAR POINT ACQUISITION AND

DISPOSITION APPROVAL ACT OF 2026. AS WELL AS TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF B26-0846, THE POPLAR POINT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANCHOR DISPOSITION ACT OF 2026. AT THE ONSET, I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT THESE

ARE TWO SEPARATE BILLS. THE FIRST FACILITATES A MULTIPARTY LAND SWAP THAT ENABLES THE DISTRICT TO GAIN CONTROL OF POPLAR POINT. THIS BILL IS IMPERATIVE TO THE DISTRICT'S ABILITY TO DEVELOP POPLAR

POINT BECAUSE WITHOUT OWNING THE PROPERTY WE CANNOT DEVELOP IT. THE SECOND BILL, WHICH IS THE POPLAR POINT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANCHOR DISPOSITION ACT OF 2026, AUTHORIZES THE DISPOSITION OF 15 ACRES

OF POPLAR POINT ONCE THE DISTRICT GAINS CONTROL OF IT TO THERME D.C. THIS IS ALSO IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT HELPS THE DISTRICT PAY FOR THE COST OF INFRASTRUCTURE AT POPLAR POINT AS WELL AS SATISFY THE NEED

TO REPLACE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE POLICE HEADQUARTERS CURRENTLY LOCATED AT POPLAR POINT AND I WILL GO INTO THAT IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL SHORTLY. WHILE BOTH OF THESE BILLS REPRESENT AN OPPORTUNITY

TO TRANSFORM D.C.'S LAST REMAINING WATERFRONT PROPERTY INTO A VIBRANT DESTINATION, THEY ARE INDEED SEPARATE AND CAN BE MOVED INDEPENDENT OF EACH OTHER. FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT BILL B26-0845,

THE ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION APPROVAL ACT, OTHERWISE WHAT I CALL THE LAND SWAP BILL. POPLAR POINT IS IT 164 ACRE PROPERTY ON THE ANACOSTIA RIVER, BETWEEN THE FREDERICK DOUGLASS BRIDGE AND THE 11TH

STREET BRIDGE. IT IS OWNED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT CURRENTLY AND IT WAS AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS IN 2006 TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PER A CONGRESSIONAL BILL OR ACT CALLED THE FEDERAL

D.C. LANDS ACT. THE FEDERAL D.C. LANDS ACT DIRECTS THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR TO CONVEY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE OR MPS, PROPERTY AT POPLAR POINT TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ONCE THE DISTRICT HAS

SATISFIED CONDITIONS. THESE CONDITIONS INCLUDE THE REPLACEMENT OF MPS'S EXISTING PARK SERVICE HEADQUARTERS AND HELIPAD AMONG OTHERS. THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH MPS FOR OVER A DECADE TO IDENTIFY A NEW

LOCATION SATISFACTORY TO THESE PURPOSES AND UNTIL NOW WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY AND FIND ONE THAT WORKS. WE NOW HAVE A MUTUALLY AGREED TO SOLUTION THAT WILL FACILITATE THE RELOCATION OF

FACILITIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY LOCATED AT POPLAR POINT AND IN THE FUTURE THEY WOULD BE RELOCATED TO JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA. AS WITH EVERYTHING INVOLVING THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY, THE SOLUTION IS

COMPLICATED AND REQUIRES AGREEMENT FROM MULTIPLE PARTIES. TODAY I'M HERE TO PROUDLY SHARE THAT WE HAVE REACHED AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, THE U.S. NAVY, RED BRICK DEVELOPMENT, AND

THE DISTRICT. TWO SWAP LAND. SPECIFICALLY I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THE TRANSACTIONS ARE. THERE IS FIRST AN ACQUISITION OF THE NORTH PARCEL TO BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE U.S. NAVY WHO HAS AN INTEREST

TRANSFERRED TO THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR THE PURPOSE OF BEING HOME TO THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND THEIR NEW FACILITIES. THEN THERE ARE TWO OTHER TRANSACTIONS WHICH ARE TO ACQUIRE, THE

ACQUISITION OF HALF AN ACRE AT THE BRIDGE DISTRICT FROM RED BRICK BY THE DISTRICT BEGAN DISPOSITION OF 13 ACRES OF POPLAR POINT FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WHO CURRENTLY OWNS POPLAR POINT TO RED

BRICK GIVING UP THEIR PROPERTY AT JBAB. THIS IS IN ESSENCE AN ACRE FOR ACRE OF PROPERTY INTERESTS BETWEEN JBAB AND POPLAR POINT AND IT ALLOWS THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO HAVE THEIR NEW HEADQUARTERS

AND AVIATION DIVISION MOVED OFF OF POPLAR POINT. THIS ALSO, JUST FOR EVERYBODY WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH POPLAR POINT AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT, FREEZE UP THE CENTER MOST AREA OF POPLAR POINT. THE NATIONAL

PARK SERVICE IS CURRENTLY BASICALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF POPLAR POINT. IT ALSO ALLOWS RED BRICK WHO WILL BE GIVING UP THEIR INTEREST AT JBAB TO DEVELOP RIGHT NEXT TO THE BRIDGE DISTRICT AND AT ALLOWS THEM

TO CONTINUE BUILDING THE MIXED-USE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY BEGUN. THE DISTRICT, IN THE MEANTIME, HAS BEEN ADVANCING TO SATISFY THE OTHER REQUIREMENTS OF THE FEDERAL D.C. LANDS ACT. THIS

INCLUDES COMPLETING A MASTER PLAN AND LAND USE PLAN WHICH SATISFY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S REQUIREMENTS. FOR MANY YEARS WE HAVE HAD MORE THAN FOUR HUNDRED 50 TOUCH POINTS WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE

PROJECT AND THAT INCLUDES HOSTING OR ATTENDING. THE PROPOSED PLAN COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED WITHOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE WARD 8 AND WARD 7 COMMUNITIES. THIS IS NOT LIMITED TO PARTICIPATION FROM

THE ANACOSTIA COORDINATING COUNCIL, THE HEALTH COUNCIL, FAITH-BASED LEADERS AWARD 8, THE CITIZENS WORKING GROUP, ANACOSTIA RIVER KEEPER, THE SOUL OF THE CITY BID, BUILDING BRIDGES ACROSS THE RIVER,

THE ANACOSTIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, AND MORE. WARD 8 HAS WAITED 20 YEARS TO UNLOCK THE PROMISE OF POPLAR POINT AND NOW WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DELIVER IT. PASSING THE POPLAR POINT

ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION ACT IS NECESSARY FOR ANY DEVELOPMENT TO OCCUR AND WE URGE THE COUNTY TO MOVE THIS LEGISLATION FORWARD AND ALLOW THE DISTRICT TO GAIN CONTROL AND ACTIVATE THIS LAST PIECE OF

UNDERDEVELOPED WATERFRONT PROPERTY IN THE DISTRICT. NOW, ONTO THE SECOND PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND I WILL BE A LITTLE BIT FASTER. BILL B26-0846, POPLAR POINT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANCHOR DISPOSITION

ACT. IN AUGUST OF 2024, DEMPED ISSUED A REQUEST FOR DESTINATION ANCHORS IS TO CREATE A DESTINATION AT THE EAST SIDE OF THE RIVER THAT MIRRORS THE WEST SIDE OF THE RIVER. WE KNOW THE COMMUNITY AS WELL

NAVY YARD, BUZZARD POINT AND SOON TO BE RFK. ALL OF THESE HAVE SPORTS AS ANCHORS. IT WAS BROADER THAN THAT, IT DID NOT SPECIFY SPORTS. IT WANTED A JOBS GENERATOR AND A USE THAT WOULD ACCELERATE

DEVELOPMENT. THE RFP I RESULTED IN A SINGLE QUALIFIED DESTINATION ANCHOR. DMPED HAS REACHED AN AGREEMENT THAT AUTHORIZES THE MAYOR TO DISPOSE OF PROPERTY AT POPLAR POINT TO THERME. THEY WILL CONSTRUCT

A STATE-OF-THE-ART HEALTH AND WELL-BEING DESTINATION TO CONSTRUCT AN ADDITIONAL 400,000 TO 600 THOUSAND SQUARE-FOOT HEALTH FACILITY AND RELATED AMENITIES. AS I SAID, THE PURPOSE WAS TO SPUR NEW

ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN WARD EIGHT. THE DEAL IS THAT THERME WILL INVEST PRIVATE MONEY IN ITS ENTIRETY TO CONSTRUCT AN 800 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT AND FACILITY, AND THEY WILL NOT

SEEK PUBLIC SUBSIDY FOR THAT PRIVATE FACILITY. THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE 5000 CONSTRUCTION JOBS, AND EQUALLY IMPORTANT IS 700 20 OPERATING JOBS. THESE ARE JOBS THAT LIVE FAR BEYOND THE LIFE

OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. THE TAX REVENUE FROM THIS PARTICULAR USE COULD BE USED TO PAY FOR THE SITE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS NEEDED AT POPLAR POINT, FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP THAT WE ANTICIPATE

BEING NEEDED AT POPLAR POINT, AND THE MUCH TALKED ABOUT RELOCATION OF MPS FACILITIES. ALL OF THESE ARE THE DISTRICT'S OBLIGATION TO PAY FOR TYPICALLY. THE REASON TO PASS THIS BILL NOW AND NOT DELAY IS

THAT WE HAVE A USE THAT GENERATE SIGNIFICANT TAX REVENUE FOR THE DISTRICT. IT IS A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF NEW JOBS. AND IT COULD SOLVE FOR THE DISTRICT'S REQUIREMENT TO PAY FOR ALL OF WHAT I JUST

MENTIONED , AND SPECIFICALLY THE REPLACEMENT OF MPS FACILITIES IS A REQUIREMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE SATISFIED IN ORDER FOR US TO EVEN GET THE LAND. SO ALL OF THESE PIECES ARE NOW IN PLACE TO EFFECTUATE

THE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY WITH A FINANCIAL SOLUTION TO MAKE IT HAPPEN QUICKLY. WE BELIEVE THERME IS THE RIGHT ANCHOR TO RESTART THE REDEVELOPMENT OF POPLAR POINT. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH

THE COUNCIL TO MOVE THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION FORWARD AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I'M JOINED BY THE DIRECTOR OF REAL ESTATE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR. I WANT

TO LEVEL SET AND MAKE SURE I AM FAIR TO EVERYONE. DO YOU NEED TO LEAVE AT SOME POINT? DO YOU HAVE A TIME YOU NEED TO LEAVE BY? 2:00 P.M., SO WE HAVE 28 MINUTES. AND WILL YOU STILL BE AT THE TABLE AND

ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IN A SECOND ROUND? OK. WITH THAT, LET'S SET THE CLOCK FOR SIX MINUTES. AND GIVE A FEW EXTRA MINUTES TO COUNCILMEMBER PARKER TO DO AN OPENING STATEMENT, SHOULD HE SO CHOOSE.

AND THEN EVERYBODY WILL GET A CHANCE AND THEN WE WILL GET A SECOND ROUND. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HOW MANY ACRES OF LAND WITH THE DISTRICT RECEIVE AT POPLAR POINT? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: THIS IS A GOOD

QUESTION. 164 ACRES. RIGHT NOW, 50 OF THOSE ACRES ARE FOR TRANSPORTATION USES. FOR EXAMPLE, THE OVAL RIGHT WHEN YOU GET OFF OF THE FREDERICK DOUGLAS BRIDGE IS SITTING ON POPLAR POINT LAND THAT IS

OWNED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. THAT IS A BIG PORTION OF LAND. THERE IS A BUNCH OF LAND UNDERNEATH THE 11TH STREET BRIDGE, WHERE IT IS ANCHORED. SO THAT IS 50 ACRES ALREADY SPOKEN FOR THAT ALREADY HAS

USES ON IT. THE REMAINDER, 110 ACRES, IS WHAT WOULD BE DEVELOPED. THE DISTRICT WOULD RECEIVE 164 ACRES, 110 OF WHICH IS WHAT MOST OF THE COMMUNITY ANTICIPATES BEING DEVELOPED. CHAIR FRUMIN: AND HOW

MUCH NEEDS TO BE SET ASIDE AS PARKLAND? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: 70 ACRES OF THE 110 NEEDS TO BE SET ASIDE AS PARKLAND INTO PERPETUITY. AND THAT LEAVES ABOUT 40 ACRES FOR DEVELOPMENT. WE RIGHT NOW ARE

ANTICIPATING THAT 12 OR 13 OF THOSE ACRES WOULD GO TO RED BRICK, OF THE 40. 15 WOULD GO TO THERME. AND THAT WOULD LEAVE ANOTHER 15 OR SO FOR ANOTHER DEVELOPER. IN THAT 40 ACRES, IT WOULD ACCOMMODATE

THE FOUR TO 600,000 SQUARE-FOOT FACILITY FOR THERME AND WOULD INCLUDE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 4500 TO 55 HUNDRED NEW UNITS OF HOUSING, BETWEEN WHAT RED BRICK COULD DEVELOP AND THE REST OF THE DEVELOPMENT.

CHAIR FRUMIN: THAT IS WITH -- WITH THE OTHER PARCEL, THE REMAINING -- HOW MANY DID YOU SAY? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: WE ARE ESTIMATING. WE ARE NOT AT THAT STAGE OF DESIGN. BUT BETWEEN 4500 AND 5500 UNITS

OF HOUSING. CHAIR FRUMIN: AND IT IS MULTIPLE PARCELS. WHAT IS THE CONTEMPLATED TIMELINE FOR THE REMAINDER? HOW ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT THAT OTHER 15 ACRES? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO

-- THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE ARE FOCUSED ON THAT IS SQUARELY IN OUR SITES IS THE LAND DISPOSITION. WE NEED TO SATISFY ALL OF THE CONDITIONS. WE ARE ANTICIPATING THIS COULD TAKE US BETWEEN FIVE TO 10

YEARS TO SATISFY AND FINALIZE THE LAND SWAP, AS WELL AS BEGIN CONSTRUCTION ON THERME. WE HAVE SOME TIME. THAT WILL BE A FUTURE DEPARTMENT HEAD THAT HAS TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE. I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT

IF YOU WOULD ISSUE THE RFP FOR THE REST OF THE LAND, AFTER YOU HAVE SECURED THE LAND. BECAUSE THAT TYPE OF UNCERTAINTY FOR ANY DEVELOPER, WHETHER THERME OR RED BRICK, WOULD BE TOO LONG. CHAIR FRUMIN:

SO THIS IS A COUPLE OF YEARS OUT THAT YOU WOULD FOCUS ON THE OTHER 15 ACRES. DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: I WOULD NOT DO THAT AT THIS TIME. CHAIR FRUMIN: CONGRESS TOOK JURISDICTION AND GAVE US THE PATH IN

2006. WHY IF IT IS 2026 HAPPEN? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAPPENED. IN 2008, WE HAD A MAJOR RECESSION IN THE COUNTRY AND WE NEEDED TO FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THAT THE WORK

MOVE FORWARD, AND OTHER PROJECTS. THAT IS WHAT WAS GOING ON IN 2008. SO THERE WAS A NATURAL PAUSE. THEN, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO FIND SITES THAT ARE SUITABLE FOR MPS REPLACEMENT FACILITIES FOR OVER 10

YEARS NOW. THOSE COMBINATION OF THINGS HAS LED TO A VERY PROTRACTED PERIOD OF TIME. CHAIR FRUMIN: OK. WHAT RESTRAINTS -- WHAT OTHER RESTRAINTS BESIDES FINDING ANOTHER LOCATION TO THE FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT PLACE, OR HAVE THEY PLACED, ON HOW THE MONEY COULD BE USED? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: THE MAJOR ONE ON HOW THE LAND COULD BE USED IN THE FUTURE IS THAT THE 70 ACRES THAT HAVE TO BE USED FOR

PARKLAND IS THE PRIMARY ONE. OTHER THAN THAT, THE PROJECT PLAN HAS TO GO THROUGH MEPA. SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW. THE PLAN IS TO SATISFY THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REQUIRED. SO THOSE

ALTERNATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY AND ARE AWAITING FINAL COMMENTS BY THE -- WELL, WE HAVE TO POST THEM FIRST. AND WE ARE WORKING WITH MPS TO GET THAT POSTED ON THE FEDERAL

REGISTRY. BUT IT IS THAT MASTER PLAN THAT IS APPROVED THAT WILL BE PERMITTED USES ON THE PROPERTY. CHAIR FRUMIN: I SET STRICT TIME LIMITS AND I'M GOING TO DO THE BAD THING AND ASK YOU A QUESTION WITH

10 SECONDS LEFT. CAN A LAND SWAP HAPPEN WITHOUT THE THERME DISPOSITION? WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF ONLY PASSING THE LAND SWAP AND NOT THE DISPOSITION? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: I WOULD SAY THAT WE HAVE

TO DO THE LAND SWAP. IT IS VERY RARE TO GET FOUR PARTIES AT A TABLE WHO AGREE ON SOMETHING THIS COMPLEX. I WOULD ASK THE COUNTY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE LAND SWAP. THERME CAN MOVE SEPARATELY, BUT THE

REASON IT IS IMPORTANT TO PASS IT IS BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE AND JOBS THAT IT GENERATES. THE REVENUE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT ALLOWS US TO HAVE A SOURCE OF REVENUE TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT

PARK SERVICE POLICE. OTHERWISE, THE DISTRICT IS GOING TO HAVE TO FIND BUDGET TO PAY FOR THAT REPLACEMENT FACILITY, AND THAT IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE DISTRICT GAINING CONTROL OF THE LAND. IT ALL RELATES

TO GAINING CONTROL OF THE LAND. CHAIR FRUMIN: IN THE REVENUE STREAM IS A KEY THING FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE IT ENABLES THE FACILITIES. WITH THAT, I WILL TURN TO COUNCILMEMBER WHITE. COUNCILMEMBER

WHITE: I DON'T THINK I KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS MASTER PLAN. IT WAS 40 ACRES AVAILABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT. AND THE THERME PROPOSAL WOULD GIVE 15? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: THE NUMBERS ARE -- THESE ARE

APPROXIMATE. 15 FOR THERME, 13 FOR REDBRICK, AND 12 FOR ANOTHER DEVELOPER. COUNCILMEMBER WHITE: I HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT FUTURE PAYING MOVEMENTS WITH THIS PROJECT. HAVE WE HEARD FROM OTHER INTERESTED

PARTIES ABOUT THE OTHER PARCELS? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM OTHER DEVELOPERS EXPRESSING INTEREST IN DEVELOPING THOSE PROPERTIES YET, BECAUSE IT IS SO FAR INTO THE FUTURE.

COUNCILMEMBER WHITE: WHAT THOUGHTS DO YOU HAVE, HOW THIS CORRELATES WITH THE BRIDGE PROJECTS PROPOSED TO HAPPEN PRETTY MUCH AT THE SAME TIME AS THIS PROJECT? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: I THINK THIS IS

COMPLEMENTARY AND PERFECT TIMING. WHEN THE 11TH STREET BRIDGE PARK OPENS, IT IS GOING TO LET PEOPLE GET OFF OF THE BRIDGE PART. THEY WILL LAND IN HISTORIC ANACOSTIA. AND AT THE NORTHERNMOST PART OF

POPLAR POINT. WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT OF 70 ACRES OF PARKLAND, YOU CAN IMAGINE PEOPLE REALLY ENJOYING AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF BEING ABLE TO ACCESS BEAUTIFUL GREEN SPACE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER.

COUNCILMEMBER WHITE: ONE OF THE THINGS I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHEN WE DO THESE LARGE PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE 11TH STREET BRIDGE PROJECT, IS THE TAXES GO UP AROUND THESE PROPERTIES. IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL

AND IT LOOKS LIKE A GREAT FIT, BUT PEOPLE LIVING AROUND THOSE SPACES MOVE OUT BECAUSE IT SPURS GENTRIFICATION. WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S THOUGHTS ON HOW TO KEEP THE AREA MORE AFFORDABLE AROUND MASSIVE

PROJECTS LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY IN ANACOSTIA? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: IT IS VERY HARD TO STOP APPRECIATION OF LAND JUST IN GENERAL, ANYWHERE, OVER TIME. IT APPRECIATES BECAUSE THERE IS LESS AND LESS OF

IT. THERE ARE DIFFERENT ANTI-DISPLACEMENT STRATEGIES. I HAVE NOT SEEN, IN THE UNITED STATES, ANTIDISPLACEMENT STRATEGIES THAT WORK AT SCALE OR CAN GUARANTEE THAT LAND VALUE DOES NOT GO UP. BUT WE HAVE

A HOMESTEAD ACT IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND THERE HAS BEEN A VARIETY OF TOOLS THAT WE COULD SPEAK MORE INTENTIONALLY ABOUT BEFORE THE PROJECT DEVELOPS THAT WOULD MANAGE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HOMES NOW ,

SO THAT THEY CAN KEEP THEIR HOMES IN THE FUTURE. BUT COUNCILMEMBER WHITE, THIS IS JUST MY GOAL IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS TO GIVE PEOPLE JOBS THAT ALLOW THEM TO STAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND

CONTINUE TO AFFORD MORE. COUNCILMEMBER WHITE: I HAVE SEEN THOSE TALKING POINTS BUT I HAVE NOT SEEN IT MATRICULATE. DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: WE HAVE TO KEEP WORKING AT IT. THERE IS NO DOUBT. COUNCILMEMBER

WHITE: I EVEN HEARD SOME OF THE CONVERSATION ABOUT REQUIRING THAT THEY HIRED D.C. RESIDENTS. A LOT OF TIMES WHEN I GO TO THESE CONSTRUCTION SITES, MOST OF THOSE WHO WORK THERE DO NOT LIVE IN D.C., SO

WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB WITH DES AND ENSURING THAT AS THE PROJECT PROGRESSES -- WE SEE A FEW. AND THEN SLIM TO NONE IN MY VIEW. WE HAVE DONE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS IN MY WARD LATELY, AND IT HAS BEEN

NOT EQUITY. WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB AS A GOVERNMENT. BUT I DID SEE THAT I BELIEVE THERME COMMITTED TO INVESTING $550 MILLION INTO THAT PROJECT. IS THAT ACCURATE? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: I HAVE NOT

SEEN THOSE NUMBERS. MAYBE THAT WAS FROM A NEWS ARTICLE SOME TIME AGO. WHAT THERME HAS COMMITTED TO IS TO PRIVATELY PAY FOR THE FACILITY, WHATEVER THE COST MAY BE. COUNCILMEMBER WHITE: CORRECT ME IF I

AM WRONG. D.C. HAS ALREADY ALLOCATED AROUND $10 MILLION IN 2025 FOR THIS PROJECT. WHAT IS D.C.'S COMMITMENT TO SEE THIS FULL PROJECT COME TO FRUITION? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: IF WE ARE ABLE TO GET THE

LAND SWAP AND EVEN THE DISPOSITION AGREEMENT -- SORRY. THE DISPOSITION APPROVED, IN THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW IS APPROXIMATELY $35 MILLION, AND THAT WAS EXPLICITLY PUT IN THERE SO THAT WE COULD START

DESIGN WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, BECAUSE THAT WILL BE AN IMPORTANT EXERCISE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE AND ESTIMATE WHAT THE COSTS ARE. COUNCILMEMBER WHITE: SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS

GOING TO BE? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPLACEMENT FACILITIES ARE BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT GONE THROUGH DESIGN. COUNCILMEMBER WHITE: BUT WE KNOW WE NEED PARK POLICE AND

THE HELIPAD MOVED. DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: WE HAVE TO MOVE THOSE FACILITIES AND HAVE $35 MILLION IN THE BUDGET TODAY TO BE ABLE TO START DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, OR DESIGN SPECIFICALLY. COUNCILMEMBER

WHITE: I HEARD YOU SAY THAT POTENTIAL JOBS WILL BE AVAILABLE. WHAT DO WE HAVE IN WRITING SO FAR? I KNOW IT IS EARLY ON. WHAT WILL WE HAVE IN WRITING TO ENSURE THESE CAREERS -- CONSTRUCTION IS

TEMPORARY. THAT THESE ARE FOR D.C. RESIDENTS. WE HAVE ANYTHING CONCRETE? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: WE HAVE SOMETHING IMPORTANT, WHICH IS THE ANACOSTIA FRAMEWORK REQUIREMENTS, WHICH HAVE A HIGHER AFFORDABLE

HOUSING REQUIREMENT AND A HIGHER JOB HIRING REQUIREMENT THAN WHAT WE HAVE STANDARD. AND POPLAR POINT IS PART OF THE ANACOSTIA WATERFRONT ZONE. COUNCILMEMBER WHITE: THANK YOU. MY TIME EXPIRED. I

DIGRESS. THANK YOU. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHITE. COUNCILMEMBER NADEAU: I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, SO YOU CAN HAVE MY MINUTES. I'M GOING TO BYPASS THE INTRO

STATEMENT SO WE CAN GET TO ANOTHER ROUND. DEPUTY MAYOR, WHAT LEGALLY BINDING OR MEASURABLE BENEFITS ARE GUARANTEED SPECIFICALLY TO WARD EIGHT RESIDENTS IN EXCHANGE FOR THIS 15 ACRES OF LAND GIVEN TO

THERME? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: THE ANACOSTIA WATERFRONT ZONE IS SUBJECT TO REQUIREMENTS BY LAW FOR CBE, FIRST SOURCE HIRING, AS WELL AS A HIGHER LEVEL OF AFFORDABLE HIRING. CONNECTED TO THAT, WILL THE

USE COVENANT AND OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS INCORPORATE A WARD EIGHT HIRING TARGET OR OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT WILL COME TO THE COUNCIL? OR WILL THAT BE TREATED SEPARATELY? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT:

RIGHT NOW, THE LAW REQUIRES FOR ANY PROPERTY WITHIN THE ANACOSTIA WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT ZONE TO INCLUDE SPECIFICALLY -- I WANT TO VERIFY THE NUMBERS. BUT IT INCLUDES A WARD HIRING REQUIREMENT. THAT

COMES TO THE COUNCIL? IT IS IN THE LAW TODAY. IT DOES NOT NEED TO COME TO THE COUNCIL. HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT, SHOULD THURMONT RECEIVE -- SHOULD THERME RECEIVE THE LAND, THAT THEY LIVE UP TO IT?

TIFFANY MAYOR ALBERT: THE AGREEMENT WOULD REQUIRE COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW. -- COUNCIL MEMBER PARKER: I KNOW WARD EIGHT MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SHARING THAT

WARD EIGHT RESIDENTS FURTHEST FROM OPPORTUNITY ARE MOST OFTEN LEFT OUT OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE EVERYONE IS TO BENEFIT. I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO STRESS. WHY DOESN'T THE TERM SHEET

EXPRESSLY REQUIRE PROJECT LABOR, GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT SIZE OF THIS PROJECT? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: FIRST, BECAUSE THE PROJECT IS BEING PRIVATELY FUNDED. COUNCILMEMBER PARKER: WOULD DMPED SUPPORT A

PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT ON THIS PROJECT? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: I WOULD SUGGEST WE ALL WORK TOGETHER WITH THERME TO DEVELOP AND NEGOTIATE THAT. COUNCILMEMBER PARKER: ON THE FLIPSIDE, THERE HAS BEEN THIS

DEBATE -- AND I WILL SAY TRANSPARENTLY I AM NOT OPPOSED TO THERME. I THINK THEY PRESENT A COMPELLING OPTION. I'M NOT SOLD THAT THEY NEED 15 ACRES OF LAND TO BRING SAID OPTION. THERE HAS BEEN OTHER

CONVERSATIONS AROUND EXPANDING AND DOING MORE WITH HOUSING. I THINK AN IMPORTANT CONTEXT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT BE PLUGGED INTO IS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO STABILIZE OUR HOUSING

MARKET IN THE DISTRICT. THAT IS MY NEXT QUESTION, GIVEN THAT CONTEXT. IN THE BEST OF CASES, WITH THE 4500 250 500 TARGET THAT YOU ARE PROJECTING NOW, HOW FEASIBLE IS THAT, GIVEN OUR CURRENT

CONSTRAINTS WITHIN THE FINANCIAL MARKETS, OUR HOUSING MARKETS, AND THE ABILITY TO BUILD IN THE DISTRICT? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: THIS PROJECT, I HOPE, WILL BE OUTSIDE OF THE IMMEDIATE WINDOW OF RECOVERY

FOR OUR HOUSING MARKET. I WOULD SAY THAT WE ARE ALL WORKING VERY HARD, THE COUNCIL, AND THE EXECUTIVE, ON FINDING SOLUTIONS TO STABILIZING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE OUR HOUSING MARKET. THAT WILL TAKE A

COUPLE YEARS TO RECOVER FROM. THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE IMMEDIATE. BUT BY THE TIME THAT POPLAR POINT WILL BE READY FOR DEVELOPMENT, HOPEFULLY THAT IS NOT AN ISSUE. COUNCILMEMBER PARKER: USING 4500

255,000 UNITS OF HOUSING IS DOABLE. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THOSE WHO SAY LET'S DO MORE HOUSING? I HAVE HEARD SOME WITHIN OUR HOUSING SPACE SAY IT IS NOT POSSIBLE. IT IS NOT HAPPENING EVEN IF YOU WANT TO DO

MORE HOUSING. DEFTLY MAYOR ALBERT: IT DEPENDS ON WHAT TIMEFRAME YOU ARE EVALUATING THE OPPORTUNITY. WE ARE LOOKING AT A 10 YEAR TIMEFRAME FROM NOW. THE DISTRICT HAS ENJOYED POPULATION GROWTH FOR THE

LAST 20 YEARS. THE COMP PLAN IS ANTICIPATING POPULATION GROWTH OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS, EVEN IF IT IS SLOWER POPULATION GROWTH AND WE ENJOYED OVER THE LAST 10 OR 20 YEARS. I THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN

PLENTY OF DISCUSSION ABOUT SUPPLY OF HOUSING BEING IMPORTANT TO KEEP PRICES OF HOUSING DOWN. TO UNLOCK ANOTHER MAJOR PIECE OF PROPERTY FOR THE FUTURE GENERATION TO HAVE OPTIONS TO DEVELOP HOUSING I

THINK IS IMPORTANT. AT THIS STAGE, TODAY, WHERE WE ARE, WE HAVE DONE A MASTER PLAN AND AN ESTIMATE OF HOW MUCH DEVELOPMENT CAN OCCUR. I WILL GIVE AN EXAMPLE BECAUSE I PERSONALLY WORKED ON THE WHARF.

AT THE TIME I WAS WORKING ON THE WHARF IN 2007, WE ANTICIPATED THAT THEY COULD DEVELOP 2.6 MILLION SQUARE FEET. BY THE TIME THEY HAVE COMPLETED THEIR DEVELOPMENT, THEY ARE OVER THREE MILLION SQUARE

FEET. SO THE PROJECT CAN CHANGE OVER TIME, ONCE YOU GET A DEVELOPER IN HAND. AT THIS EARLY STAGE, WE ARE ESTIMATING. IT IS ALREADY A RANGE OF 45 HUNDRED TO 5500 UNITS. COUNCILMEMBER PARKER: MY LAST

QUESTION. PER THE TERM SHEET, YOU WOULD BE GIVING 15 ACRES OF PUBLIC LAND, ONE DOLLAR A YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE ANALYSIS THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT IS THE RIGHT INVESTMENT,

THAT IS THE RIGHT LEVER, TO BRING THIS DEVELOPMENT? AND THEN CONNECTED TO THAT, WHAT CONSTRAINTS ARE PLACED ON THERME THAT HINDERS OR PROHIBITS THEM FROM SUBLEASING OR SELLING PARCELS OF THE LAND OR

-- CAN YOU JUST SPEAK TO WHAT ACTIONS WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR THEM TO CONSULT THE DISTRICT? 20 YEARS OUT FOR THAT 15 ACRES OF LAND. DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: THURMONT WOULD BE PLANNING WITH THE DISTRICT AND

RED BRICK TO MOVE FORWARD TO SEE EXACTLY HOW MANY ACRES THEY NEED. I HAVE VISITED THERMO AND IT IS ENORMOUS, AND THERE IS NO OTHER OPERATOR THAT CAN OPERATE AT THERME EXCEPT THERME. IT WOULD BE LIKE

HAVING ANOTHER OPERATOR OPERATE DISNEY WORLD. IT IS ONLY DISNEY THAT DOES IT. WE WOULD ONLY CONVEY THE AMOUNT OF LAND NEEDED. COUNCILMEMBER PARKER: AND CAN YOU QUICKLY SPEAK TO THE DOLLAR INVESTMENT?

HOW DID YOU LAND ON THAT? IF YOU MAYOR ALBERT: THURMONT HAS AGREED TO DO ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE ON THAT 15 ACRES OF LAND. THEY WOULD DO THE CLEANUP, THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP, AND THE FIRST 20

YEARS FOR ONE DOLLAR. LET FIRST 20 YEARS IS IN RECOGNITION OF THE WORK THE NORMALLY THE DISTRICT WOULD DO. THIS IS -- IN OTHER PROJECTS WE DO NOT RECEIVE RENT FOR 39 YEARS -- FOR 99 YEARS. CHAIR

FRUMIN: YOU MAY THINK THAT NOW YOU CAN GO BEFORE 2:00, BUT NO. DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: THAT IS OK. WE HAVE BUFFER TIME. WE DON'T HAVE BUFFER TIME. THAT IS OK. CHAIR FRUMIN: WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR THE

COMPLETION OF THE LAND SWAP, ASSUMING THE COUNCIL WERE TO PASS THE LEGISLATION THIS YEAR? I THOUGHT COUNCILMEMBER PARKER'S QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HOUSING MARKET WERE GREAT. THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE

ENVELOPE OF WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW -- IF WE PASS IT, HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET TO THE LIEN SWAP AND SHOVELS HIT DIRT FOR THE REDBRICK PROJECT -- DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: IF THE COUNCIL PASSES THIS, THE

PARTIES WOULD START WORKING IMMEDIATELY ON THE TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS. WE WOULD NEED TO SEE HOW WE TREAT THEM AT THE END, BUT WE WOULD NEGOTIATE THEM NOW. I DON'T KNOW IF WE WOULD PUT THEM INTO ESCROW

OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OR IF WE WOULD GO AHEAD AND SIGN THEM. BUT THEN THE ACTUAL -- EFFECTUATING THE LAND SWAP, WHERE THE LAND ACTUALLY TRANSFERS, WOULD -- THERE IS A COUPLE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS. IT

COULD HAPPEN QUICKLY OR IT COULD WAIT UNTIL WE KNOW EXACTLY HOW THE LAND IS GOING TO LAY OUT AND WHAT PARTS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET. WE WOULD NEGOTIATE RIGHT AWAY. THAT WOULD NOT TAKE US LONG. I WOULD

SAY INSIDE OF SIX MONTHS, WE WOULD BE READY TO COMPLETE AND PUT PINS DOWN ON THAT. BUT REMEMBER THAT THE LAND DOES NOT TRANSFER UNTIL AFTER THE FACILITIES HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED. FINANCED AND

CONSTRUCTED. THAT IS WHAT THE LONG TAIL IS ON THIS PROJECT. CHAIR FRUMIN: AND HOW LONG? WHAT IS THE RANGE OF EXPECTATIONS FOR THAT? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: IN BEST CASE SCENARIO, WE HOPE TO HAVE A SHOVEL

IN THE GROUND WITHIN FIVE YEARS. CHAIR FRUMIN: FOR THE NEW FACILITIES, THE REPLACEMENT FACILITIES. SHOVEL IN THE GROUND IN FIVE YEARS. OFTEN TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION. SO THIS COULD BE SEVEN

YEARS OUT, AND ONLY THEN WITH THE LAND TRANSFER AND SHOVELS BEGIN TO HIT DIRT ON THE REDBRICK PROJECTS AND THE THERME PROJECT. IS THAT RIGHT? COULD THEY START SOONER. DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: WE WOULD

HAVE TO THINK FURTHER ON HOW THE REDBRICK PROJECT WOULD WORK. ON THERME, IT WOULD BE A FIVE TO SEVEN YEAR TIMEFRAME. FOR A START DATE. CHAIR FRUMIN: AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GETS REFERRED TO IS THAT

THERME GENERATES REVENUE THAT CAN HELP PAY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PARKS SERVICE -- THE REPLACEMENT PROPERTIES. BUT THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE. HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN

THE THERME REVENUE AND FUNDING FOR THE REPLACEMENTS? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: THERE IS A COUPLE OF WAYS TO THINK ABOUT IT. YOU COULD ISSUE A BOND TO START THE CONSTRUCTION ON INFRASTRUCTURE. AND LET'S

INCLUDE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FACILITIES IN THAT DEFINITION OF INFRASTRUCTURE. IT ISSUES BONDS NOW ON THE EXPECTATION AND PROMISE OF REVENUE BEING GENERATED IN THE FUTURE. CHAIR FRUMIN: SO THERE IS

ANOTHER STEP THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN, BUT IT IS A WELL-WORN PATH? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: IT IS. THERE IS DIFFERENT WAYS TO STRUCTURE HOW YOU WOULD PAY FOR IT, BUT THE KEY TO ALL OF THAT, IN MY OPINION,

IS RATHER THAN RELYING ON OTHER D.C. REVENUES, THERE IS A KNOWN REVENUE SOURCE THAT IS GOING TO BE GENERATED FROM THERME. THAT IS WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND. THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS WHERE THE DISTRICT

COULD COME UP WITH THE MONEY, LIKE WE DID FOR RFK. WE COULD DO IT FOR POPLAR POINT AS WELL. CHAIR FRUMIN: GIVEN THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE PLANS, YOU HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT AND DETERMINE HOW MUCH IT WILL

COST TO BUILD THESE OTHER BUILDINGS -- IS THERE TENS OF MILLIONS? 100 MILLION? HOW MUCH ARE YOU THINKING SOMEBODY IS GOING TO NEED? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: THIS IS AN ESTIMATE FROM THIS YEAR -- FROM LAST

YEAR. $250 MILLION OR MORE. CHAIR FRUMIN: SO IF IT IS NOT THERME, YOU HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO FIND 200 $50 MILLION IN CAPITAL. DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: OR MORE. CHAIR FRUMIN: IS THE LAND SWAP FULLY FUNDED

OR IS THERE SOMETHING WE WOULD HAVE TO DO IN THE NEXT COUNCIL PERIOD, IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: THERE IS NO BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER TO EFFECTUATE THE LAND SWAP. THAT IS WHY

IT IS AN ACRE FOR ACRE LAND SWAP. THE VALUE OF THE UNDERLYING LAND IS WHAT PAYS FOR THE SWAP. CHAIR FRUMIN: OK. YOU SAID THERME THERMO WILL PAY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE. THE OTHER PARCELS, WILL REDBRICK

BE PAYING FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE ON ITS PARCEL AND WEATHER -- WHATEVER HAPPENS WITH THE OTHER 15 ACRES? DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT: PROBABLY NOT. THERME IS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THING BECAUSE IT IS WE HAVE

NOT HAD THIS DISCUSSION WITH REDBRICK, TO BE CLEAR, BUT IT IS THE EXPECTATION THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE REST OF POPLAR POINT WOULD BE DEVELOPED BY THE DISTRICT, JUST LIKE WE'VE DONE WITH

MCMILLAN, WALTER REED. CHAIR FRUMIN: THAT WOULD BE FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS OUT? WOULD WE START THAT -- WE COULD NOT START UNTIL WE OWNED IT SO WOULD HAVE TO BE SOMETHING THAT STARTS IN FIVE TO SEVEN

YEARS. ALL RIGHT, I WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL OF YOUR TIME SO I THINK UNLESS ANYONE HAS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS -- OK. COUNCILMEMBER WHITE. COUNCILMEMBER WHITE: REAL QUICK. YOU TALK ABOUT THIS PROJECT WILL

GENERATE REVENUE. DO YOU SEE HOW LONG THIS IS DONE THAT WE START RECEIVING THOSE REVENUES? DEP. MAYOR ALBERT: AS SOON AS IT OPENS. ACTUALLY, DURING CONSTRUCTION. GENERATES SALES TAX REVENUE. I THINK

THE REAL ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS THE DAY IT OPENS. COUNCILMEMBER DO WE HAVE ANYTHING -- COUNCILMEMBER WHITE: DO WE HAVE ANYTHING THAT SPEAKS TO THE AFFORDABILITY OF POTENTIAL HOUSES? I CAME IN WHEN

WE WERE DOING SAINT ELIZABETH EAST PROJECT. AFFORDABILITY MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. I GUESS I WAS KIND OF TAKEN BACK ON WHEN MOST OF THE HOUSES SOLD FOR $650,000. A TOWNHOUSE IN WARD

EIGHT DOES NOT COST THAT. WHAT DO WE HAVE IN PLACE THAT SPEAKS TO THE AFFORDABILITY LIMITS OR WHAT LEVEL OF AMI WILL BE EXPRESSED BECAUSE AFFORDABLE IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE SAY. DEP. MAYOR ALBERT:

DEVELOPING AN ANACOSTIA WATERFRONT ZONE REQUIRES THAT 30% OF ALL UNITS HAS TO BE AFFORDABLE AT THE 60% OF AMI, AREA MEDIAN INCOME -- 60% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME AND BELOW, AS WELL AS 30% OF AREA MEDIAN

INCOME AND BELOW. 30% OF ALL UNITS, 15% FOR 60% OF AMI, 15% FOR 30% OF AMI. CHAIR FRUMIN: DID YOU NEED TO GO? DO YOU HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE QUESTION? DEP. MAYOR ALBERT: THREE MORE MINUTES.

COUNCILMEMBER WHITE: I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRICE OF LIVING GOING ON AROUND THE PROPERTY. I DO WANT TO BE FAIR. OUTSIDE OF THE HOMESTEAD ACT, ARE THERE ANY OTHER TOOLS WE ARE REFUSING TO

ENSURE PEOPLE DON'T GET FORCED OUT? WE MIGHT DO SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IN THE COMMUNITY BUT IT DOES NO GOOD IF PEOPLE DON'T LIVE THERE ANYMORE. DEP. MAYOR ALBERT: I WOULD LOVE TO

GET BACK TO YOU AND GIVE IT A THOUGHTFUL ANSWER THAT IS COMPLETE. THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT I WOULD RATHER MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A FULL RESPONSE TO YOU. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT I

THINK THAT WITH THIS PROJECT, IF WE ARE MOVING FORWARD, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE BEEN INTENTIONAL -- WE HAVE TIME TO PUT THE THINGS INTO PLACE THAT NEED TO BE PUT INTO PLACE. COUNCILMEMBER THWHITE: THANK

YOU, LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU. I THINK WE WILL MOVE TO OUR PUBLIC WITNESSES, BUT THANK YOU FOR ACCOMMODATING US. DEP. MAYOR ALBERT: THANK YOU FOR ACCOMMODATING ME. I APPRECIATE

THAT. CHAIR FRUMIN: OK. BEFORE WE HEAR FROM PUBLIC WITNESSES, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A NOTE ON LOGISTICS. I ASK THAT WITNESSES LIMIT THEIR TESTIMONY TO THEIR ALLOTTED TIME. THE FIRST REPRESENTATIVE TO

SPEAK ON BEHALF OF AN ORGANIZATION WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES. ALL OTHER WITNESSES WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. IF YOU ARE HERE TO TESTIFY IN PERSON, WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE TAKE A SEAT AT THE TABLE

IN FRONT OF ME. BEFORE YOU SPEAK, MAKE SURE YOU TURN ON THE MICROPHONE IN FRONT OF YOU. IF ANYONE IS HERE IN PERSON WHO ORIGINALLY SIGNED UP AS A VIRTUAL WITNESS, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO A CALL

FOR WITNESSES AT THE END OF EACH GROUP OF WITNESSES. AFTER WE HEAR FROM IN PERSON WITNESSES FOR EACH BILL, I WILL CALL A SINGLE PANEL FOR EACH BILL'S VIRTUAL WITNESSES. FOR EACH VIRTUAL WITNESS, I

WILL CALL YOUR NAME AND A MEMBER OF MY STAFF WILL MAKE YOU A PANELIST. IF YOU WISH TO APPEAR ON VIDEO, YOU MUST CLICK THE BUTTON IN THE TOOLBAR AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN THAT LOOKS LIKE A VIDEO

CAMERA. PLEASE REMAIN MUTED UNTIL IT IS YOUR TURN TO TESTIFY. WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF. AFTER EACH PANEL'S TESTIMONY, AND OTHER CAST MEMBERS MAY ASK A ROUND OF QUESTIONS SO PLEASE

STAY MUTED UNTIL I CALL YOUR NAME AGAIN. IF YOU HAVE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, YOU CAN SEND A MESSAGE TO THE HOST WHICH IS LABELED AS COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES AND THEY WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.

ADDITIONALLY, IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE GAINING ACCESS TO ZOOM AND YOU HAVE THREE REGISTERED, YOU CAN REACH MY TEAM AND HUMAN SERVICES AT DC COUNCIL.GOV AND THEY WILL TRY TO RESOLVE YOUR ISSUE. LES

TURK -- LET'S TURN TO HER IN PERSON WITNESSES ON BILL 26-0845, THE POPLAR POINT ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION APPROVAL ACT OF 2026 AND BILL 26-0846, THE POPLAR POINT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISPOSITION ACT

OF 2026. PLEASE COME FORWARD WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME. JOHN ALSCHULER, TOM SKINNER. MARY ALICE LEVINE. WENDY GLENN. [INDISCERNIBLE] CHAIR FRUMIN: OK, WELL, SURE. BUT CAN WE PULL UP ANOTHER CHAIR? SO THAT

MARY ALICE HAS A CHANCE. HERE YOU GO. OK. ALL RIGHT. WHEN YOU ARE READY, MR. ALSCHULER. I'M READY. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN, EACH MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL. I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING COUNCILMEMBER

WHITE. WE HAVE MET WITH HIM MULTIPLE TIMES AND HEARD REPEATEDLY HIS FORCEFUL AND CLEAR ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS OF WARD 8. FOCUS VERY MUCH ON JOBS, ON JOBS, UNECONOMIC EQUITY AND ON HEALTH.

TODAY, I WANT TO FOCUS ON FOUR THINGS. FIRST, LET ME BRIEFLY DESCRIBE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR COMPANY. WE ARE 20 YEARS OLD. WE HAVE SERVICED OVER 45 MILLION CUSTOMERS. WE OWN THE TWO MOST SUCCESSFUL

WATER-BASED ATTRACTIONS IN EUROPE. WE OWNED TWO OF THE TOP 10 WATER-BASED ATTRACTIONS IN THE WORLD. MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE A UNIQUE ENTITY WHICH WAS CREATED TO PROVIDE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING TO LARGE

SWATHS OF THE POPULATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES , IN EUROPE AND IN ASIA. WE HAVE A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT WE ALL KNOW FOCUS IS ON FIXING PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK, NOT KEEPING PEOPLE HEALTHY. WARD 8

RESIDENTS LACK MANY OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY DESERVE FOR HEALTHY LIVING. WE LIVED IN A CULTURE IN WHICH LONELINESS IS A PERSISTENT CHALLENGE, PARTICULARLY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE ELDERLY. WE LIVE

IN A CULTURE IN WHICH IT IS HARD TO FIND DESTINATIONS WHERE SENIORS, GRANDPARENTS, PARENTS AND CHILDREN CAN ALL COME TOGETHER AND ENJOYED BEING IN ONE PLACE AT ONE TIME IN AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH

EVERYBODY CAN ENJOY THEMSELVES. THAT IS WHAT WE WERE CREATED TO ADDRESS. SECONDLY, DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT ELOQUENTLY DESCRIBE THE OPPORTUNITY HERE. WE HAVE SEEN THE ANACOSTIA WATERFRONT INITIATIVE

SUCCEED IN CREATING A SERIES OF DEVELOPMENTS ON ONE SIDE OF THE RIVER WHILE NOTHING HAS HAPPENED AT WALTER POINT -- POPLAR POINT FOR 25 YEARS. NOW IS THE TIME TO MOVE FORWARD. THERE IS 110 ACRES OF

WATERFRONT LAND THAT CAN BE DEVELOPED INTO A 70 ACRE PARK AND 40 ACRES OF DEVELOPMENT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE MOST OF THIS LAND IS HEAVILY POLLUTED. THE COUNCILMEMBER FOCUSED WITH DEPUTY MAYOR ALBERT

ON THE NEED TO SPEND SOMETHING LIKE $250 MILLION BUILDING A FACILITY. BUT THE 70 ACRES OF PARKLAND CANNOT BE USED AS A PARK UNTIL IT IS REMEDIATED. IT CANNOT BE USED AS PARKLAND FOR HOUSING UNTIL IT

IS REMEDIATED. IT CANNOT BE USED FOR THE THERMAL UNTIL IT IS REMEDIATED. IT PROVIDES, WE BELIEVE UP TO $350 MILLION IN REVENUE ISSUED BY A BOND, SUPPORTED BY REVENUE. THE THERMAL IS DESIGNED TO OFFER

SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE ACROSS GENERATIONS. WE ATTRACT VISITORS FROM WARD 8, FROM ACROSS THE REGION AND BEYOND. OUR ENTRY-LEVEL TICKETS START AT ABOUT $50 A DAY. AND IN OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE DISTRICT

AND IN THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT, COUNCILMEMBER WHITE IS FACILITATING WITH THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE PLEDGING TO PROVIDE 1000 FREE TICKETS EVERY MONTH THROUGH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS BASED EAST OF

THE RIVER. IN THE 18 MONTHS SINCE OUR SELECTION, MUCH HAS HAPPENED. WE FORMED A JOINT VENTURE WITH THE GEORGETOWN COMPANY, A VERY WELL-RESPECTED ENTITY WITH DEVELOPMENTS HERE IN THE DISTRICT AND

AROUND THE EAST COAST. WE COMPLETED A JOINT VENTURE WITH CBC CAPITAL PARTNERS, THE SIX LARGEST PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM IN THE WORLD. TO CREATE A $1 BILLION ENTITY WHICH OWNS A VARIETY OF FACILITIES ACROSS

EUROPE. IN JUNE, WE BROKE GROUND ON A $1 BILLION PROJECT IN SINGAPORE AFTER BEING SELECTED THROUGH A RIGOROUS COMPETITIVE PROCESS WITH THE SINGAPORE BOARD OF TRADE. THERME D.C. WHAT REPRESENT THE

LARGEST PRIVATE INVESTMENT EVER PROPOSED IN WARD 8, CREATING AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED 5000 CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND 720 PERMANENT JOBS. WE ARE COMMITTED TO A FIRST SOURCE AGREEMENT. WE ARE COMMITTED TO

FUNDING A TRAINING PROGRAM AND WE ARE ALREADY IN DISCUSSIONS WITH PROVIDERS SO THAT WE SPEND OUR MONEY TO TRAIN WARD 8 RESIDENTS SO THEY BECOME COMPETITIVE FOR THE JOBS THAT WE WILL CREATE. WE WILL

CREATE A SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT FUND THAT WILL CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO BENEFIT. WE ARE IN EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT THAT PRODUCES REVENUE, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY

, A PATH TOWARDS HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. LET ME TURN THE REST OF MY TIME OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE WHO WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WARD

8 COMMUNITY WHICH HE HAS WONDERFULLY MANAGED ON OUR BEHALF. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS WANDA LOCKRIDGE, I AM NOT WARD EIGHT RESIDENT AND I SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY

ENGAGEMENT. I HAVE SEEN PROMISES MADE ABOUT POPLAR POINT FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. I WATCHED OTHER PARTS OF THE DISTRICT BENEFIT FOR MAJOR INVESTMENTS WHILE THIS LAND AND THE OPPORTUNITY IT REPRESENTS

FOR OUR COMMUNITY REMAIN OUT OF TOUCH. THAT IS WHY I JOINED AND WHY I THE PAST 18 MONTHS MEETING WITH RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS WARD 8 TO MAKE SURE THEIR VOICES ARE PART OF

THIS PROJECT. I HAVE ATTENDED MEETINGS WITH THE LOCAL ANC'S, MET WITH CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GROUPS AND SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS TALKING TO NEIGHBORS ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO SEE. WE

HAVE BEEN PROUD TO TAKE PART OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES FROM THE OXON RUN PARK DAY TO THE ANACOSTIA RIVER FEST TO HEAR RESIDENTS FOR YOUR POP EVENTS AND WELLNESS ACT -- ACTIVATION WE HAVE GIVEN RESIDENTS

A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE WHAT WE CAN BRING TO THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE WORKED WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES AND WELLNESS PRACTITIONERS TO DEMONSTRATE HOW THIS INVESTMENT CAN CREATE OPPORTUNITIES IN WARD 8. IN MY

CONVERSATIONS ACROSS WARD 8, RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THEY EXPECT FROM THIS PROJECT ESPECIALLY AT THIS SCALE. THEY WANT ACCESS TO JOBS, THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO GO INTO EXPERIENCE

WELLNESS AND THEY WANT A BROADER DEVELOPMENT TO DELIVER AMENITIES THAT BENEFIT OUR SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. THESE CONVERSATIONS HAVE SHAPED OUR APPROACH. YOU HEARD JOHN MENTIONED WE HAVE 1000 FREE

TICKETS WE ARE OFFERING TO THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND HELPING UNLOCK THE LARGER POPLAR POINT VISION THAT INCLUDES PUBLIC

PARKLAND, HOUSING, RETAIL AND OTHER COMMUNITY AMENITIES. WE MADE IT -- WAITED MORE THAN 20 YEARS TO GET TO THIS POINT. WE ARE EXCITED TO BEING THIS CLOSE TO DELIVER WHAT WILL BE A GENERATIONAL

INVESTMENT FOR WARD 8 THAT IS SO RIGHTFULLY DESERVED. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE DISTRICT LEADERS AND NEIGHBORS TO HELP REALIZE THIS VISION FOR POPLAR POINT. IT IS TIME TO TURN THE

PROMISES OF THE PAST TO DO SOMETHING REAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU. MR. SKINNER. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN FRUMAN AND COUNCILMEMBER WHITE,

STAFF MEMBERS AS WELL. MY NAME IS TOM SKINNER, I AM THE COFOUNDER OF REDBRICK, AND I'M HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT THE BILL. REDBRICK HAS BEEN INVESTED IN COMMUNITIES EAST OF THE RIVER FOR OVER A

DECADE. THE BRIDGE DISTRICT, WE HAVE DELIVERED MORE THAN 750 RESIDENTIAL UNITS AND 40,000 SQUARE FEET OF GROUND FLOOR RETAIL. WE HAVE BUILT THE DISTRICT PARKER, INVESTED IN INFRASTRUCTURE

IMPROVEMENTS. SOME OF WHICH WILL DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE FUTURE GROWTH OF POPLAR POINT. WE ARE NOT NEW TO THIS AREA AND WE DON'T TAKE LIGHTLY WHAT THIS NEXT PHASE WILL MEAN. I WANT TO BE PRECISE ABOUT

WHAT THIS BILL DOES BECAUSE MUCH OF WHAT HAS BEEN REPORTED ABOUT POPLAR POINT IS NOT IN IT. IT IS NOT APPROVE THE PROJECT. IT APPROVES A LAND TRANSACTION. SECTION FOUR AUTHORIZES THE MAYOR TO DISPOSE

OF TWO PARCELS, PARCEL B, 12.5 ACRES NEAR THE BRIDGE DISTRICT, AND THE HALF ACRE ROAD PARCEL. SECTION FIVE AUTHORIZES THE MAYOR TO EXTENT INTO POPLAR POINT AND IN EXCHANGE, THE AFFILIATE TERMINATES

THE OPTION ON PARCEL EIGHT ON A ROUGHLY 12 ACRES. THE NAVY CAN TRANSFER JURISDICTION TO THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR THE NEW FACILITIES. THE BILL NAMES NO BUILDING, NO TENANT, NO DENSITY, NO PROGRAM

FOR THE REMAINING SITE. EVERYTHING THE PUBLIC HAS HEARD ABOUT SPECIFIC DELTA -- DEVELOPMENTS IS GOVERNED ENTIRELY BY THE SEPARATE B-26-08 48 BILL WHICH I AM NOT TESTIFYING ON TODAY. IT IS WORTH BEING

CLEAR WITH THIS BILL DOES NOT REQUIRE THE DISTRICT. THIS DOES NOT OBLIGATE THE DISTRICT TO SPEND A SINGLE DOLLAR. IT CREATES AN OPTION. THE LEGAL PATHWAY FOR THE LAND TO CHANGE HANDS. SECTION 3J HAS

THE FINAL DOCUMENTS WITH THIS EXTENSIVE TERMS AND THE MAYOR'S DISPOSITION AUTHORITY ON SECTION FOUR SUNSETS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE THE DISTRICT RETAINS FULL CONTROL OF THE IF, WHEN AND HOW IT PROCEEDS

FROM HERE. I'VE ASKED THE COMMITTEE TO WEIGH WHY THIS MATTERS NOW. UNDER SECTION 303B OF THE 2006 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROPERTY ACT, THE DISTRICT MAY NOT INITIATE ANY CONSTRUCTION AT POPLAR POINT

UNTIL THE PARK POLICE AND PARK SERVICE FACILITIES ARE RELOCATED AND THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR CERTIFIES THEY ARE READY FOR OCCUPANCY. THAT IS CARRIED INTO THE DEED ITSELF. THERE IS NO CARVEOUT FOR

HOUSING OR ANY OTHER USE. FOR 20 YEARS, IDENTIFYING A WORKABLE SITE FOR THOSE REPLACEMENT FACILITIES HAS BEEN THE CENTRAL OBSTACLE TO MOVING POPLAR POINT FORWARD AT ALL. SECTION 302 REQUIRES THE

DISTRICT LAND USE PLAN TO IDENTIFY THAT REPLACEMENT SITE. PARCEL A CONSTRUED THROUGH THIS TRANSACTION IS FINALLY ANSWERING THAT REQUIREMENT. THERE IS NO SITE, NO TIMETABLE, NO PATH OR CERTIFICATION.

THE BILL DOES NOT ENABLE A FUTURE PLAN, IT REMOVES THE LONG-STANDING OBSTACLE THAT HAS KEPT ONE FROM BEING COMPLETED. THE OPPORTUNITY COSTS OF STAYING FROZEN IS REAL. BY OUR ESTIMATE, POPLAR POINT AT

FULL BUILDOUT REPRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GENERATE ON THE ORDER OF $200 MILLION A YEAR IN TAX REVENUE FOR THE DISTRICT. MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT REPRESENTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOB OPPORTUNITIES, NEW

AMENITIES AND BADLY NEEDED HOUSING FOR A COMMUNITY SOUTH AND EAST OF ANACOSTIA RIVER. THIS IS ONE OF THE LAST MAJOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DISTRICT AND IT SITS SQUARELY IN A PART OF THE CITY THAT HAS

WAITED THE LONGEST FOR IT. FINALLY, THIS PRESENT -- BILL PRESERVES THE COUNCILS AUTHORITY RATHER THAN FORECLOSING IT. THE LAND USE PLAN MUST RESERVE AT LEAST 70 ACRES IN PERPETUITY AND SET ASIDE TWO

SITES FOR COMMEMORATIVE WORKS. THE LAND USE PLAN ITSELF IN EVERY F FUTURE DISPOSITION. IT HAS BEEN 20 YEARS SINCE CONGRESS PASSED THE 2006 AT. THE BILL STANDS ON ITS OWN MERITS, RESOLVES THE FEDERAL

PRECONDITION THAT HAS STOOD IN THE WEIGHT OF THE TRANSFER FOR TWO DECADES AND OPENS UP POPLAR POINT FOR THE DISTRICT. THE TIME FOR ACTION IS NOW. THIS IS A COMPLICATED TRANSACTION INVOLVING THE

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, REDBRICK, THE DEPARTMENT OF NAVY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. THE STARS ARE ALIGNED TODAY BUT THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT ALIGNMENT WILL REMAIN NEXT YEAR OR THEREAFTER. I WOULD

THEREFORE HAVE MARKUP FOR THIS LEGISLATION AT THE END OF THE YEAR TO PRESERVE THE DISTRICT'S OPTIONS ON POPLAR POINT. THANK YOU AND HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS CHAIR FRUMIN: CHAIR FRUMIN:. THANK YOU

VERY MUCH, MR. SKINNER. MS. LEVINE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARY ALICE LEVINE, TESTIFYING FOR THE COMMITTEE OF 100. THE COMMITTEE OF 100 STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT BOTH POPLAR POINT BILLS BE TABLED

UNTIL SUCH A TIME AS D.C. RESIDENTS AND COUNCIL CAN SEE THE NEW PREFERRED MAP PLANS FROM POPLAR POINT. EQUALLY IMPORTANT, ALL PARTIES MUST KNOW WHY JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA BOWLING WAS SELECTED AS THE

SITE FOR THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RELOCATION WHEN THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT SEEM SO HARSH. THE ARRANGEMENT INCLUDES A LAND SWAP THAT RESULTS IN RELEASING OVER 11% OF THE POPLAR POINT ACREAGE THAT

WAS INTENDED FOR D.C. TO ANOTHER ENTITY, REDBRICK. COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC NEED MORE TIME TO STUDY THIS IMPLICATION -- THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS ARRANGEMENT AND LEARN WHY D.C. SHARE POPLAR POINT MUST

SHRINK TO THIS EXTENT. THE COMMITTEE OF 100 HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY D.C. IS RELEASING TO THE POPLAR POINT ANCHOR IF THE TENANT WITHOUT CHARGE. THE ONE DOLLAR LEASE YEAR FOR A PRIVATE CORPORATION WITH

ANNUAL REVENUES IN THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IS SCANDALOUS. WE KNOW THERME HAS HAD CASH FLOW PROBLEMS IN THE RECENT PAST WHICH MAKES THIS ONE DOLLAR RENT ARRANGEMENT RISKY. PLUS, THE POPLAR

POINT TEAM TOLD RESIDENTS IN JUNE 2025 THAT D.C. NEEDS MONEY FROM AN ANCHOR TENANT. THAT IS PROBABLY TRUE. WE BELIEVE D.C. SHOULD LEASE THE LAND AT MARKET RATE IF FOR NO OTHER REASON THEN THAT THERME

IS A RISKY INVESTMENT, BUT ALSO BECAUSE D.C. NEEDS MONEY. I WILL REFER YOU TO A 2025 NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE WHOSE LINK IS IN MY WRITTEN TESTIMONY. D.C. WILL HAVE AT LEAST TWO VERY LARGE UNUSUAL

EXPENSES IN DEVELOPING POPLAR POINT. FIRST, IT IS PAYING AN UNSPECIFIED AMOUNT OF MONEY TO MOVE THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, PARK POLICE FROM POPLAR POINT TO ANACOSTIA BOWLING. D.C. IS MOVING THE PARK

SERVICE POLICE AS PART OF THE 2006 POPLAR POINT LAND TRANSFER DEAL AND D.C.'S OBTAINING POPLAR POINT IS WORTH IT. SECOND, THE CLEANING UP OF POPLAR POINT'S CONTAMINATED WETLANDS. POSSIBLY EXPANDING

THOSE WETLANDS AND FACILITATING ITS CONNECTION TO THE DEVELOPMENT. , TO THE RIVER. FACILITATING THE WETLANDS CONNECTION TO THE RIVER. EVEN IF D.C. DID NOT NEED RENT TO SUPPORT THE POPLAR POINT

DEVELOPMENT, IT NEEDS ALL OF ITS RESOURCES TO FUND THE CITYWIDE BUDGET. POPLAR POINT IS A REMARKABLE GIFT TO D.C., A PIECE OF RIVER THAT SHOULD BE CONSERVED AND AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR OUTDOOR

RECREATION. IT INCLUDES A PORTION OF THE ANACOSTIA RIVERWALK TRAIL BETWEEN THE FREDERICK DOUGLAS AND 11TH STREET BRIDGE IS. IT CONTINUES THE PROMISE OF THE 11TH STREET BRIDGE PARK, UNLIKE THE RFK

STADIUM CAMPUS. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A LONG-STANDING PRESUMPTION THAT ANY PARTICULAR LARGE COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE SHOULD BE BUILT ON THE PROPERTY. SUCH AN ANCHOR MAY BE NECESSARY BUT THERE IS NO REASON

FOR IT TO COME AT SUCH AN ENORMOUS COST. POPLAR POINT HAS ONLY A SMALL LIMIT OF LAND THAT CAN BE USED FOR COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES. AS I SAID, POPLAR POINT IS 110 ACRES. D.C. THOUGHT IT WAS GETTING

THOSE 110 ACRES. BY MPS AGREEMENT, IT MUST KEEP 70 ACRES AS PARKLAND. THAT LEAVES 40 ACRES FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT. SUBTRACT 12.5 ACRES THAT ARE NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE LAND SWAP AND THERME WILL

TAKE APPROXIMATELY 15 ACRES. THAT LEAVES 12.5 ACRES FOR THE HOUSING AND STORES RESIDENTS HAVE ASKED FOR AND THE TEAM HAS MORE OR LESS PROMISED TO THOSE ITEMS. I WILL ADD THAT I AM SOMEWHAT CONFUSED

AND IT DOES NOT SAY IN THE LEGISLATION WHETHER REDBRICK IS PAYING ANY MONEY FOR THE ACREAGE ON POPLAR POINT. FINALLY, THE PLAN MUST TELL US WHERE ON THE PROPERTY THEY PROPOSE TO LOCATE THERME OR ANY

POPLAR POINT ANCHOR TENANT. THE PUBLIC LOOKED AT MANY ALTERNATIVE MAPS DURING MEETINGS IN SPRING AND SUMMER OF 2025. ON ONE ALTERNATIVE NOT, WE SOLVE THE ANCHOR LOCATED DIRECTLY ON THE WATERFRONT ON

THE ACTUAL POINT. THAT MAP WAS NOT FAVORED BY MEETING ATTENDEES AND THE TWO MOST RECENT MAPS FAVORED BY THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE SEEN LOCATED THE ANCHOR AWAY FROM THE ANACOSTIA RIVERWALK. WE WANT TO MAKE

SURE THAT IS STILL THE CASE. WE KNOW IF OTHER USES FOR THE POINT, PLEASE SEE OUR WRITTEN TESTIMONY AT ATTACHMENTS. BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS IN THIS LEGISLATION AT BECAUSE WE ARE

VERY CONCERNED ABOUT A RENT-FREE STATUS FOR AN ANCHOR TENANT. WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO TABLE THIS LEGISLATION OR REJECT THE BILLS OUTRIGHT. THANK YOU. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR

TESTIMONY. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN AND COUNCILMEMBER WHITE. MY NAME IS WENDY GLENN AND I AM HERE IN PROUD SUPPORT OF D.C. -- POPLAR POINT -- I AM 59 YEARS OLD. POPLAR POINT HAS BEEN UNPOPULAR FOR

OVER 20 YEARS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COME IN THE SAME CREATIVE WAY THAT IT HAS COME FOR MY OTHER SISTER WARDS. LET ME JUST STATE THIS -- I WANT PEOPLE TO KEEP THE SAME ENERGY

THAT THEY ARE INVESTING IN POPLAR POINT, THAT THEY DID WHEN THEY BUILT THE YARDS. WHEN THEY BUILT THE WHARF. WHEN THEY ARE DOING AUDI FIELD, THAT WAS OVER BUDGETED BY OVER $140 MILLION AND NOW WE ARE

ASKING FOR $300 MILLION AGAIN. BUT, WE DID NOT KEEP THAT SAME ENERGY WITH THE SAINT ELIZABETH CAREFIRST ARENA. IT IS $69 MILLION AND IT CAN'T BE USED FOR WHAT WE CAN WORK EIGHT WANT IT TO BE USED FOR.

LARGE-SCALE VENUES CANNOT COME TO CAREFIRST. IF WE WANT TO HAVE A LARGE CONCERT, WE CANNOT HAVE IT THERE. WHEN WE HAVE THE MYSTICS GAMES AND THEY ARE OVERPOPULATED BY ANOTHER TEAM, WE HAVE TO GO

DOWNTOWN. I NEED THE SAME ENERGY PLACED IN THERME THAT WE HAVE IN THOSE INVESTMENTS. WE ARE LONG OVERDUE FOR AN ANCHOR IN MY WARD THAT WILL GIVE TO OUR RESIDENTS WHAT WE NEED. I AM 59 YEARS OLD. WHEN

THERME GETS TO COMPLETION, I COULD BE 69 YEARS OLD. FOR ME, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE HEALTH AND WELLNESS AT MY FINGERTIPS. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO TO A SPOT I DON'T HAVE TO GO TO IN VIRGINIA BECAUSE

MY KIDS ALWAYS WANT TO GIVE ME GROUPONS BUT I HAVE TO GO TO VIRGINIA TO ENJOY THAT. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO DO THAT WHEN I LIVE IN WARD 8. IF THERE IS A WAY AND A MEANS FOR THERE TO BE DEVELOPMENT,

EQUAL AND EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT, I WANT THAT SAME PASSION WHEN THEY DEVELOPED THE WHARF TO COME TO THERME, TO COME TO ANACOSTIA, TO COME TO EAST OF THE RIVER. WE WANT TO BE ALONG THE SAME PATH AS THE

WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE NAVY YARD, AT THE WHARF, AND WHAT WE ARE DOING AT AUDI FIELD. MY OTHER CONCERN IS I HAVE A 17-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON. HE GOES TO BELEW SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

I WISH THIS WOULD HAVE COME ALONG PRIOR TO WHEN HE WAS IN THE NINTH GRADE BECAUSE HE WOULD KNOW ABOUT EARTH CONSERVATION. HE WOULD KNOW TO SET UP A PROGRAM. MAYBE THERME COMING HERE CAN HELP OUR HIGH

SCHOOLS TO SAY HOW DO WE TRAIN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE TO WORK AT THERME? BECAUSE EARTH CONSERVATION IS A BIG DEAL AND WE ARE NOT TREATING IT AS SUCH. NOW MAYBE THOSE IDEAS CAN BE

BROUGHT TO FRUITION. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT PACKAGE. I AM LOOKING AT THE PEOPLE TO MY LEFT. MAYBE WE NEED TO BE TALKED ABOUT EDUCATING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHILE THEY ARE IN

HIGH SCHOOL NOW TO GET THE JOBS THEY WILL NEED TO GET TO WORK AT THERME IN THE FUTURE. WE NEED TO BE DOING A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH A LOT LESS OF WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH NOW. WORK EIGHT HAS ALWAYS DONE

MORE WITH LESS AND WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT, LIVE WITH THAT. WE PAY TAXES TOO. AND I PAY A LOT OF TAXES. I HAVE THE BEST AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY BECAUSE WE HAVE -- I LIVED IN A

HOUSE THAT IS GENERATIONALLY THERE AND IT IS NEVER GOING ANYWHERE. IT IS FROM GRANDPARENTS AND PARENTS WHO HAVE LEFT THOSE HOUSES TO THOSE KIDS. THAT IS WHAT I WANT WHEN I TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE

HOUSING. WE ARE UNFAIRLY WEIGHTED IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING. LET'S SHARE THE WEALTH. AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO ME MEANS A TELEPHONE -- TOWNHOME, SOMEONE SOMEONE CAN BUY INTO ONE RIVERFRONT PROPERTY. THAT IS

WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, I AM IN IT TO WIN IT BUT OTHER THAN THAT, KEEP THAT SAME ENERGY. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. SKINNER, OBVIOUSLY LOTS OF QUESTIONS BUT

LET'S START WITH RED BRICK. HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE IN THE PROCESS. IF THE LAND SWAP HAPPENS, WILL YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE 12 ACRES OR DOES THERE HAVE TO BE SUBSEQUENT LEGISLATION THAT WE GIVE

YOU ACCESS TO THE 12 ACRES? SO THERE HAS TO BE SUBSEQUENT SURE WHETHER IT'S LEGISLATION, BUT THERE HAS TO BE SUBSEQUENT ACTIONS. WE ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE UP OUR 12 ACRES JUST TO BE CLEAR, UNTIL WE

KNOW THAT THE DISTRICT IS FUNDED AND IN A POSITION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE FACILITY SO THAT THE ACREAGE WE WOULD GET AT POPLAR POINT IS ONE THAT THE DISTRICT CAN ACTUALLY

DELIVER. IN THE LEGISLATION, THERE'S A WHOLE SET OF CLOSING CONDITIONS FOR US AND FOR THE DISTRICT. UNCLEAR TO ME WHETHER THOSE REQUIRE LEGISLATION OR NOT. I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT. JUST PASSING

THIS LEGISLATION, BY THE WAY, THAT IS WHY I DESCRIBED THIS AS AN OPTION. YOU CAN PASS THIS LEGISLATION AND SIT ON IT AND NOT DO ANYTHING, AND THEN THERE'S NO OBLIGATION. YOU JUST MOVED TO THE NEXT

STAGE WHERE WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION. CHAIR FRUMIN: IT HELPS. PART OF WHAT I WAS GETTING AT, THIS IS IN A FORM A DISPOSITION TO YOU. IT CREATES THE TERMS

FOR THE NEGOTIATION. ONCE THE TERMS ARE MET, THEN IT WILL BE YOURS. I DON'T THINK THERE WOULD THEN BE SUBSEQUENT LEGISLATION. I SUSPECT THAT -- IT GOES OVER TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO MEET THOSE

CONDITIONS. I SUSPECT THAT IS THE SEQUENCE OF THINGS. MEETING OF THOSE CONDITIONS. IT COULD BE THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH NEEDS TO COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL TO SATISFY SOME OF THOSE CONDITIONS. IT MIGHT NOT

BE. CHAIR FRUMIN: SO THEN THAT DOESN'T CLOSE FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS FROM NOW. TO BE HONEST, I THOUGHT THAT THE TIMELINE LAID OUT BY THE DEPUTY MAYOR WAS A LITTLE UN-AGGRESSIVE. [LAUGHTER] I WOULD HOPE WE

COULD MEET IT BEFORE THAN AND WE HAVE SOME DEADLINE THAT THE CONDITIONS NEED TO BE MET SOONER THAN THAT. WE CERTAINLY ARE OPEN TO GIVING THE DISTRICT MORE TIME TO MEET THE CONDITIONS. WE HAVE BEEN

WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT FOR A DECADE ON THIS. WE FEEL LIKE IT'S TIME TO MOVE OR WE WILL FIGURE OUT SOMETHING ELSE TO DO WITH JOINT BASE ANDREWS CUSTODY OF BOWLING. NOT TO SUGGEST THAT WE ARE HOLDING

THE DISTRICT HOSTAGE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. BUT WE HAVE, IN AGGREGATE, WE -- WE ARE LOOKING TO BRING A MAJOR EMPLOYER ON THE BALANCE THAT IS NOT BEING HELD FOR NPS. AFTER WE DO THAT, THERE'S THE

OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OTHER USES FOR THE 12 ACRES. CHAIR FRUMIN: MAYBE NOT FIVE TO SEVEN BY THREE TO FIVE? YES, I WOULD THINK THERE HAS TO BE PLANNING AND DESIGN, I THINK WITH A CLEAR

FOCUS, IT COULD BE STARTED BEFORE THE END OF THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION. THREE TO FIVE IS A VERY GOOD NUMBER AND THEREFORE PERHAPS COMPLETION IN TWO. CHAIR FRUMIN: TALKING ABOUT THREE TO FIVE OR FIVE TO

SEVEN, THAT COULD TAKE URGENCY OUT OF IT BUT IF WE DON'T GET STARTED, IT COULD TAKE LONGER. THAT'S THE THING. WE KNOW IT TAKES A LONG TIME BUT NOBODY TAKES THE FIRST STEP. WE WAITED 20 YEARS TO TAKE

THE FIRST STEP. EVERYTHING IS ALIGNED RIGHT NOW. PERHAPS WE COULD WAIT ANOTHER YEAR BUT PERHAPS THAT'S WHAT WE COULD DO. IT MAY NOT BE ANY OPTION. THE NAVY COULD CHANGE HIS MIND AND THE DEPARTMENT OF

INTERIOR COULD. CHAIR FRUMIN: YOU MENTIONED $200 MILLION IN TAX BENEFITS TO THE DISTRICT. IS THAT YOUR ESTIMATE FROM THE DEVELOPMENT? THAT'S FROM ALL OF POPLAR POINT. 40 ACRES. WHETHER IT'S

EXTRAPOLATING GENERAL MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT ON ABOUT 40 ACRES OF LAND. YOU COULD ALMOST THINK OF $5 MILLION OF ECONOMIC IMPACT PER ACRE. BEING A METRIC. CHAIR FRUMIN: THAT WE TALKED ABOUT A LARGER

NUMBER JUST FOR THERME. TO CLARIFY MY NUMBER WAS 200 MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY. HIS NUMBER WAS A BOND ISSUANCE YOU COULD DO JUST FROM THE THERME PIECE. THAT IS DISCOUNTED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS

ARE ABOUT IF IT WAS 100 MILLION OR 50 MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY THERME. CHAIR FRUMIN: HOW IS THE CALCULATION DONE? OVER HOW MANY YEARS ARE YOU LOOKING TO FUND $350 MILLION? I WILL TAKE THE $350 MILLION

NUMBER YOU REFERENCED. WE RETAINED MUNI CAP, A WELL-RESPECTED ADVISORY FOR THE DISTRICT. WE GAVE THEM OUR CALCULATIONS OF ANTICIPATED TAX REVENUE AND ASK THEM WHAT THEY ESTIMATED A TAX EXEMPT BOND

COULD BE ISSUED, AT WHAT VOLUME BASED ON THAT REVENUE STREAM. YOUR ESTIMATE WAS $350 MILLION. OVER THE FIRST 25 YEARS OF THE PROJECT, WE ANTICIPATE TOTAL REVENUE INCLUDING THE REVENUE NECESSARY TO PAY

THE BONDS BACK SO IT'S NOT COUNTED TWICE, WOULD BE $1.5 BILLION. THE DISTRICT GETS NOT ONLY THE IMMEDIATE BENEFIT, WHICH WE BELIEVE CAN HAPPEN ABOUT THREE YEARS BEFORE THERME WOULD OPEN. IT'S ALWAYS

RISKY TO SPECULATE WHAT BOND MARKETS ARE DOING. CERTAINLY SIX OR SEVEN YEARS FROM NOW. CHAIR FRUMIN: I HEAR YOU, BUT ONE OF THE NUMBERS I WAS ASKING FOR IS THE ANNUAL. ANNUAL REVENUE IN THE FIRST YEAR

WE ANTICIPATE TO BE AROUND $35 MILLION A YEAR. THAT NUMBER GROWS AS OUR ATTENDANCE GROWS AND INFLATION GROWS OVER TIME. CHAIR FRUMIN: WHAT DOES IT GROW TO? LET ME GET BACK TO YOU WITH THAT NUMBER. I

DON'T HAVE THE INFLATION CALCULATIONS IMMEDIATELY IN MY HEAD. IF YOU SAID 1.5 OVER 25 YEARS, THE AVERAGE IS $60 MILLION A YEAR. 35 GOING UP TO 90 WOULD AVERAGE 60 OR SOMETHING. I THINK THE TWO NUMBERS

ARE ROUGHLY CONSISTENT. HIS NUMBER IS ROUGHLY CONSISTENT WITH THE 200. THERME BEING ONE THIRD OF THE TOTAL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IT IS NOT AS DENSE AS SOME OF THE OTHER PROJECTS. IT'S A TAX DELIVERY

MECHANISM. NOT TRYING TO ADVOCATE FOR THERME. JUST DELIVERING THE FACTS. CHAIR FRUMIN: I HEAR YOU. IF IT'S $60 MILLION AND 16 ACRES, THE LAST FOUR PER ACRE. BUT THEY'RE NOT CRAZY DIFFERENT. THEY ARE A

LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. OK. AND THE DEPUTY MAYOR REFERRED TO THE NUMBER OF UNITS BETWEEN 4500 AND 5500? IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT I HAVE FOR MINE. CHAIR FRUMIN: AND A SCOTT THE 30%

AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT BECAUSE IT IS IN THE ANACOSTIA WATERSHED? THE LAND THAT COMES TO REDBRICK WOULD BE ON NAVY LAND, FEDERAL LAND, SO IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THAT. CHAIR FRUMIN: HAS THERE BEEN ANY

CONVERSATION ABOUT AFFORDABILITY ON THOSE PROPERTIES? NO. CHAIR FRUMIN: NOT YET, THAT HAPPENS GOING FORWARD? OK. AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE DISCUSSION IS WE ARE EXCHANGING LAND, FEDERAL LAND NOT

SUBJECT TO THAT. IN ORDER TO INDUCE US TO GIVE UP THAT LAND WITH THAT CHARACTERISTIC, WE WOULD LIKE THE SAME. CHAIR FRUMIN: THIS GOES TO MS. LEVINE'S COMMENT ABOUT IT'S NOT CLEAR WHAT THE PAYMENT IS.

THE PAYMENT IS YOUR LAND. THE PAYMENT IS OUR LAND. AT ONE POINT THERE WAS A PROPOSAL TO ACQUIRE THAT LAND. WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO SELL RATHER THAN EXCHANGE THE LAND. IF THE DISTRICT -- CHAIR FRUMIN:

PLUS ALL THE LAND AT JOINT BASE? YES. AUDI FIELD, THE DISTRICT EMINENT IN THAT DOMAIN, BUT THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION HAVE SAID THAT THE DISTRICT DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO DO THAT. SO IT IS

CERTAINLY AN OPTION. WE DON'T HAVE TO ENTER A LAND EXCHANGE ALTHOUGH WE'VE GOT THE LEGISLATION AND WE HAVE NEGOTIATED IT. WE ARE HAPPY TO DO THAT. CHAIR FRUMIN: REMIND ME HOW MANY ACRES IS JOINT BASE?

WE CONTROL ABOUT 32 ACRES AT JOINT BASE. 12 ACRES IS WHAT NPS BELIEVES THEY REQUIRE FOR RELOCATION OF THE FACILITIES. CHAIR FRUMIN: IT'S KIND OF LIKE FOR LIKE, 12 AND 13. OK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COUNCILMEMBER WHITE. MEMBER WHITE: YES. THANK YOU. I GUESS I WILL START WITH MR. SKINNER. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAY THAT D.C. WILL PAY ZERO AND COVERING THE COSTS. DIDN'T YOU SAY THAT? IN THE PASSAGE OF

THIS LEGISLATION, THERE IS NO COST TO DO THAT. ANY FUTURE COST, OBVIOUSLY IN ORDER TO ACTUALLY MOVE TO THE NEXT STAGE AND RELOCATE THE NPS FACILITIES. HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. MEMBER WHITE: I

DID WANT TO KNOW, BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD THAT THERME WOULD COVER THE INFRASTRUCTURE COST, LITTLE REDBRICK DO THE SAME? AS THE DEPUTY MAYOR SAID, I THINK THE TRANSACTION WITH THERME, WE -- THE ANSWER IS

NO, WE WOULD EXPECT THE DISTRICT. MEMBER WHITE: I HAVE 10 MINUTES TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS. SO THANK YOU. WHAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE HOUSING PIECE THAT YOU ARE POTENTIALLY COMMITTING TO. HOW MANY

OF THE UNITS WILL BE AVAILABLE? WE HAVE NOT DEVELOPED TO THE PROGRAM YET. WE EXPECT IT TO BE A MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT. I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOME JOBS AND EMPLOYMENT AS WELL AS

HOUSING. WE HAVE LOOKED AT A NUMBER OF MAJOR EMPLOYERS THAT COULD BE THERE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE BRIDGE DISTRICT, WE HAVE EIGHT ACRES AND WE ARE DELIVERING 2000 HOUSING UNITS. 12 TIMES 1.5 IS 3000. I

WILL DIAL THAT BACK A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE 100% CLOSING. MEMBER WHITE: OK. YOUR PROJECT MAY NOT BE ALL JUST HOUSING? WHAT YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN THAT FAR YET? YES. WE HAVE NOT

GOTTEN THAT FAR. WE ARE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY DEFENSIVE PLEDGED TECH INNOVATION CAMPUS. MEMBER WHITE: IS IT FAIR TO SAY REDBRICK ONLY CATERS TO HIGH INCOME EARNERS? I WOULD SAY WE ARE BUILDING MARKET

RATE HOUSING. IF YOU LOOK AT THE COST OF DELIVERING NEW HOUSING RIGHT NOW, IN ORDER TO ATTRACT THE CAPITAL TO BUILD THAT, IT CERTAINLY IS MIDDLE INCOME AND UPPER MIDDLE IN GENERAL. MEMBER WHITE: I'M

JUST GOING TO SAY THIS. PART OF MY PUSHBACK, SO YOU CAN MANAGE EXPECTATION, WE HAVE WHAT IS CALLED AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I SAY THIS BECAUSE AS THE LEADER OF WARD EIGHT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE

WELCOMING NEW RESIDENTS OF COURSE BUT ALSO HAVING SOME EMPATHY FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO LIVE IN BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS. THERE'S A HISTORY OF APARTMENTS AND HOUSING FALLING APART IN THE DISTRICT AND

WARD EIGHT. I SAY THIS IN THE VEIN THAT WARD EIGHT, THE TRUE MEDIUM INCOME IS $52,769. THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY FIT FROM WHAT I SEE INTO THE REDBRICK MODEL. YOU BUILD APARTMENTS AND WARD 8, TWO

BEDROOMS RANGING FROM, SOME ARE $4000 A MONTH, SOME AT $5,800 A MONTH FOR $634 A MONTH TO RENT. I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO THE HIGHER END. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A MIX OF LOWER END BECAUSE I DID NOT

EVEN SPEAK ABOUT THREE BEDROOM. THAT'S A KNOCK -- A LOT OF MONEY FOR RENTING. ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THESE UNITS OR A MIX OF THAT? I HEARD YOU SAY MAKES UNIT DEVELOPMENT. THE

HOUSING UNIT WE HAVE AT THE BRIDGE DISTRICT RIGHT NOW HAS 12% INCLUSIONARY ZONING UNITS. I DON'T HAVE THE PRECISE NUMBERS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD BUT THE THREE BEDROOMS ARE PROBABLY $1500 A MONTH. AS

WITH ANYBODY ELSE, WE ACCEPT HOUSING VOUCHER TENANTS AS WELL. THE DISTRICT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBSIDIZE THOSE WHO WANT TO LIVE IN HOUSING THERE. MEMBER WHITE: I DON'T KNOW, I HAVE VISITED

RESIDENTS THAT LIVE THERE, IT'S ABOUT $2100 A MONTH INCLUDING PARKING. I WANT TO BE CLEAR FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD. I WILL SWITCH OVER. THANK YOU MR. SKINNER. MR. ALSCHULER. EVERY TIME WE HAVE CALLED,

YOU OFFER TO COME AND ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS AND HAVE RESPONDED. THE PEOPLE LIKE TO HEAR THAT. AS A COUNCILMEMBER I DON'T LIKE TO SELL PEOPLE AND THINGS I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT SO I WANT PEOPLE TO

HEAR THE GOOD AND THE BAD AND THE GRAPES. YOU DON'T GET WHAT I HAVE TO DEAL WITH. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE TO ANSWER THE CALL. I DO KNOW THERE WAS A MEETING LAST WEEK. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE PRICE?

I KNOW YOU WANT TO GIVE 1000 FREE TICKETS TO RESIDENTS A MONTH. I THINK YOU SPOKE -- SPOKE TO BEING FLEXIBLE TO AFFORD IT ON A REGULAR BASIS? WE WILL DISTRIBUTE 1000 TICKETS A MONTH TO COMMUNITY

ORGANIZATIONS WITH A LONG TRACK RECORD IN WARD EIGHT. PLUS WE WILL DISTRIBUTE TICKETS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO FIRST RESPONDERS WHO ARE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING EXPECTED SOMETHING GIVEN THE STRESS OF THOSE

JOBS IS AN IMPORTANT THING. THEY WILL SORT OUT HOW THEY WISH TO DISTRIBUTE TO SENIORS, TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND OTHER PEOPLE AND WARD 8 WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE FACILITY. MEMBER WHITE:

THANK YOU. YOU SPOKE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS. WARD 8 HAS SOME OF THE HIGHEST HEALTH DISPARITIES PER CAPITA IN THE COUNTRY. I WANT TO KNOW, WILL YOU BE WORKING WITH MEDICAID, MEDICARE,

INSURANCE PROVIDERS TO USE BENEFITS? WE DON'T THINK OF OURSELVES AS A MEDICAL FACILITY, WHICH IS WHAT MAKES YOU ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID AND MEDICARE. WE WERE ELIGIBLE FOR A LONG TIME FOR THE NATIONAL

HEALTH SERVICE IN ENGLAND WHICH HAS A SOMEWHAT MORE INCLUSIVE NOTION OF HOW TO DEAL WITH HUMAN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING THAN THE AMERICAN INSURANCE INDUSTRY. SO I WOULDN'T ANTICIPATE MEDICAID AND

MEDICARE WOULD DEFER COST TO THERME, BUT WE WOULD BE PROVIDING FREE TICKETS ON A REGULAR BASIS. WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT IS ITS MEDICALLY PROVEN THAT THERME BATHING IN GENERAL LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE, DEALS

WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, CAN TAKE SYMPTOMS OF PARKINSON'S AND ALZHEIMER'S AND MODERATE THEM, AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE ARE SO THRILLED ABOUT WANTING TO HAVE A FACILITY IN WARD EIGHT IS

THE ABILITY TO HELP DEAL WITH YOU OUTLINE FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS. MEMBER WHITE: THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL SERVICES FOR SENIORS? WE HAVE A GROWING POPULATION OF SENIORS AND WARD 8 THAT MAY WANT

TO COME HERE. YES. WE HAVE TRAINED THERAPISTS WHO ORGANIZE CLASSES, ORGANIZE EXPERIENCES. YOU GO TO OUR FACILITIES NOW, THE FIVE THAT ARE IN OPERATION, YOU CAN GO AT 10:00 -- 10:00 OR 11:00 THE

MORNING AND IT'S MOSTLY SENIORS. WE OFFER CURRENTLY AND WILL OFFER IN WARD 8 50% OFF FOR ALL SENIORS BEFORE NOON. THAT $50 PRICE WILL DROP TO $25 FOR EVERY SENIOR WHO COMES IN THE MORNING. THEY COME

TO A VARIETY OF SPECIAL CLASSES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO DEAL WITH THE HEALTH ISSUES AND CHALLENGES OF SENIOR CITIZENS. MEMBER WHITE: FROM MY RESEARCH, THANK YOU, THE FACILITY IS LIKE A SPECIAL BUILT TYPE

OF FACILITY. WILL YOU BE BRINGING PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE OF THE U.S. TO DO THE CONSTRUCTION OR PEOPLE INSIDE THE U.S. OR BOTH? HOW WOULD THAT WORK? WE HAVE NOT DETERMINED THAT. RIGHT NOW THE STEEL

STRUCTURE AND GLASS STRUCTURE DOES REQUIRE HIGHLY SPECIALIZED CRAFTS. WE ARE CONSIDERING THE MULTIPLE FACILITIES IN THE UNITED STATES AND I WERE STRONG, STRONG PREFERENCE IS THAT WE USE LABOR THAT IS

DRAWN FROM THE DMV AND LABOR THAT IS DRAWN FROM THE UNITED STATES. I SHOULD ALSO MENTION IN RESPONSE TO COUNCILMEMBER PARKER'S QUESTION, WE HAVE INITIATED DISCUSSIONS WITH THE RELEVANT UNIONS IN THE

DMV AND IN THE DISTRICT AND WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO WORK OUT THE APPROPRIATE AGREEMENTS SO THAT WE CAN BE RESPECTFUL OF UNIONIZED LABOR AS HAS BEEN OUR PRACTICE GLOBALLY. MEMBER WHITE:

I HAVE ONE MORE MINUTE. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN WARD 8 THAT WE ARE GETTING BEHIND. WHAT IS THE COMMITMENT? PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO PHYSICAL THERAPY, SOME PEOPLE WANT TO DO HEALTH AND

WELLNESS FROM THE COMMUNITY. WHAT IS THE COMMITTED -- COMMITMENT? I LOVE THAT QUESTION. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE ALREADY STARTED IS WORKING WITH THE VERY RICH, VERY VIBRANT, VERY CREATIVE HEALTH AND

WELL-BEING SERVICE PROVIDERS IN WARD 8 AND WE WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE THEIR SKILLS IN OUR BUILDING SO THAT THE 2 MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR WE ATTRACT COULD BECOME A

NEW SOURCE OF CUSTOMERS FOR THEM. MEMBER WHITE: ONE OF YOUR SLIDES ON YOUR WEBSITE, THERE IS RESTRICTIONS ON AGE. I THINK RESTRICTING CERTAIN YOUTH. CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHAT THAT IS? YES. I HOPE IT

WASN'T CONFUSING. WE HAVE THREE SEPARATE AREAS IN OUR FACILITY. TWO OF THEM ARE OPEN TO PEOPLE OF ANY AGE. ONE OF THEM IS RESTRICTED TO PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 16, BECAUSE WE WANT KIDS TO YELL, SCREAM,

HAVE FUN, DO WHAT KIDS DO, KIDS OF ALL AGES. THAT CREATES A CERTAIN KIND OF ENVIRONMENT. WE ALSO ON THEIR PARENTS AND THEIR GRANDPARENTS TO BE ABLE TO BE IN A QUIETER ENVIRONMENT THAT IS RESPECTFUL OF

THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. AND THEN THEY CAN ALL GET TOGETHER FOR LUNCH. SO THE BUILDING IS IN NO MEANS AGE RESTRICTED. WE WELCOME LITERALLY FROM VIRTUAL INFANTS, TO PEOPLE OF WHATEVER AGE. BUT WE

HAVE ONE AREA THERE WHICH IS DESIGNED TO BE MORE QUIET AND CONTEMPLATIVE AND THAT IS AGE RESTRICTED. MEMBER WHITE: CHAIRMAN? ONE MORE QUESTION. YOU SAY 700 PERMANENT JOBS. IS THAT ACCURATE? YES SIR,

BUT IT'S TECHNICALLY AROUND 720. MEMBER WHITE: HOW DO YOU ENSURE THESE WILL BE LOCAL RESIDENTS AND WHAT IS THE COMMITMENT OF THAT 700 TO LOCAL RESIDENTS AND HOW DO WE ENSURE 20 YEARS FROM NOW WHEN

MOST OF US ARE NOT IN THIS POSITION? WE HAVE ALREADY BEGUN WORKING WITH WORKFORCE TRAINERS, THE WHOLE PROJECT, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, SKYLAND WORKFORCE, THE HIGH SCHOOL CULINARY PROGRAM SO THAT WHEN

WE GET, CALL IT TWO YEARS BEFORE WE OPEN, YOU CAN START TRAINING WARD 8 RESIDENTS SO THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO SUCCESSFULLY GO THROUGH THE FIRST SOURCE PORTAL AND GET EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR

BUILDING. MEMBER WHITE: THANK YOU. CHAIR FRUMIN: COUNCILMEMBER WHITE, I WILL ASK A SERIES OF QUESTIONS AND IF YOU WANT TO DO ANOTHER ROUND, YOU ARE WELCOME TO. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PANEL. YOU TALKED

ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, $50, 1000 TICKETS TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, DISCOUNTED TICKETS FOR FREE TICKETS TO FIRST RESPONDERS. OFTEN WHEN YOU GO INTO A PLACE, YOU WILL SEE A PRICE, A GENERAL PRICE,

SENIOR PRICE AND CHILD PRICE. IS THERE ANY DIFFERENCE IN PRICE FOR CHILDREN? WE OFFER A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PRICING PACKAGES DEPENDING ON WHAT THE CUSTOMER WANTS, SOME OF THEM HAVE DISCOUNTED PRICES

FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, FOR CHILDREN. CHAIR FRUMIN: OK. WE TALKED A LITTLE ABOUT JOBS. THE IDEA OF A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT ON A PROJECT AS LARGE AS THIS IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. NOT

JUST THE LABOR UNIONS BUT LOTS OF US. HOW COMMITTED ARE YOU TWO TRYING TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL, TO GETTING TO THAT GOAL? VERY COMMITTED, SIR. CHAIR FRUMIN: OK. THERE'S LABOR AND LOCAL BUSINESSES. THERE'S

BEEN SOME REFERENCES TO YOUR OUTREACH TO LOCAL BUSINESSES. CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE? IT IS A PRETTY LONG WAY OFF BEFORE YOU WILL BE ENGAGING WITH VENDORS AT THE SITE. BUT WHAT

DOES IT LOOK LIKE AND WHAT IS YOUR COMMITMENT IN THAT SPACE? IT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION AND ONE OF THE THINGS IN FACT WE ARE DISCUSSING WITH RELEVANT LABOR UNIONS, HOW DO WE MAKE OUR COMMITMENT TO A

PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE ENTITIES WE ARE TALKING TO, HOW TO MAKE THAT CONSISTENT WITH SUPPORT FOR EXISTING SMALL BUSINESSES? I HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT THE LEADERSHIP OF THE LABOR UNIONS

RESPECT AND UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS AND AGREEMENTS CAN BE STRUCTURED IN SUCH A WAY AS THEY MEET THE NEED OF ORGANIZED LABOR, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF PROMOTING AND ENCOURAGING

SMALL BUSINESS ALREADY EXISTING IN THE WARD. CHAIR FRUMIN: OK. IT'S A BIG FACILITY, 15 ACRES. CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF HOW THOSE ACRES ARE GOING TO BE USED AND HOW 15 ACRES COMPARES TO THE FOOTPRINT

OF YOUR OTHER PLACES IN THE WORLD? 15 ACRES IS AT THE LOWER END OF THE SPECTRUM. WE HAVE ACQUIRED A SITE IN DALLAS, TEXAS WHICH IS 25 ACRES. THE SITES IN EUROPE TEND TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY LARGER. CHAIR

FRUMIN: LARGER THAN 25 ACRES? YES. THE KEY, JUST TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION RAISED BY A COUNCILMEMBER PARKER, WHICH IS CAN YOU MAKE IT SMALLER. THE ANSWER IS WE CAN OFFER THE VERY HIGHEST LEVEL OF

QUALITY, CLEAN WATER, INCREDIBLY CAPABLE STAFF, STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE, BECAUSE WE BRING 21 MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR THROUGH THE BUILDING. IF WE SHRINK THE SIZE OF THE

BUILDING, WE CAN'T ACCOMMODATE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE NEED TO MAINTAIN ITS AFFORDABLE STATUS. SO THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING IS A FUNCTION OF OUR NEED TO BRING 2 MILLION, TWO .1 MILLION PEOPLE, WHICH I

THINK IS THE LOW END OF THE SPECTRUM OF WHAT WILL OCCUR HERE. TAKE FOR EXAMPLE OUR BUILDING IN BUCHAREST LAST YEAR DID 1.7 MILLION ATTENDEES. BUCHAREST IS A CITY ONE THIRD THE SIZE OF THE DMV. IN A

COMMUNITY ONE THIRD THE SIZE, WE DID 1.7 MILLION. I BELIEVE WE WILL DO SUBSTANTIALLY MORE THAN 2 MILLION HERE. SO THE SIZE IS NECESSARY FOR AFFORDABILITY. CHAIR FRUMIN: HOW IS THE LAND USED? IS IT ALL

COVERED AS A BUILDING? NO, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I WOULD ANTICIPATE ABOUT 10 ACRES BEING UNDER ROOF. THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT. YOU WILL BE SURROUNDED BY A PARK . HE WILL BE OVERLOOKING THE

ANACOSTIA RIVER. YOU HAVE VIEWS OF THE U.S. CAPITOL, VIEWS OF NAT STADIUM AT HISTORIC ANACOSTIA. ABOUT ONE THIRD OF OUR FACILITY WILL BE OUTDOORS. IT WILL HAVE BEACH VOLLEYBALL COURTS, OUTDOOR POOLS,

CABANA. IT WILL HAVE FOOD AND BEVERAGE. ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE SITE WILL BE UNDER ROOF AND ONE THIRD WILL BE OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE TO CUSTOMERS. CHAIR FRUMIN: OK. ON THE $50, IS THAT ALL IN OR IS THERE

LIKE AN À LA CARTE? YOU TALK ABOUT CLASSES FOR SENIORS. IS THAT ADDITIONAL? THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN IN POOLS LIKE CLASSES FOR SENIORS ARE AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE WHATSOEVER. IF YOU WANT WHAT I WILL CALL

A MORE BESPOKE SERVICE, YOU WANT A MASSAGE, THERE ARE ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR THOSE KINDS OF SERVICES. CHAIR FRUMIN: OK. GREAT. YOU TALKED ABOUT JOBS AND I WANT YOU TO REMIND ME, HOW MANY CONSTRUCTION

JOBS DID YOU THINK IT WAS? CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND MAN YEARS IS ABOUT 5000. CHAIR FRUMIN: 5000 MAN YEARS, SO FOR A TWO-YEAR PROJECT, HOW LONG? IT'S A COMPLICATED BUILDING SO IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE TWO

AND A HALF TO THREE YEARS TO BUILD SO THAT'S A ROUGH ESTIMATE OF THE MAN YEARS REQUIRED. CHAIR FRUMIN: SO TWO AND A HALF YEARS, THAT WOULD BE 2000 POSITIONS AT ANY ONE TIME. OK. GREAT. AND THOSE ARE

FULL-TIME POSITIONS? I ASSUME SINCE NOT EVERYBODY IS THERE AT ALL TIME, THEY CAN BRING PEOPLE IN FOR PART-TIME WORK. THAT'S A MATTER FOR THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR TO SORT OUT. CHAIR FRUMIN: OK. ACTUALLY

IF YOU SAY MAN YEARS, I GUESS I'M ASSUMING THAT'S A PERSON WORKING FOR A FULL YEAR. IF IT WERE PART-TIME, THE NUMBER WOULD BE HIGHER BECAUSE YOU MIGHT HAVE TWO PEOPLE. BECAUSE WOMEN IN THE TRADES,

PUTTING A LOT OF WEIGHT ON THAT. THEN HE SAID 750 PERMANENT JOBS FOR OPERATING. ARE THOSE FULL-TIME JOBS? THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE FULL-TIME JOBS. SOME OF THEM ARE LIFEGUARDS, SOME ARE PART-TIME, SOME

OF THE CLEANING JOBS ARE PART-TIME. IT'S IMPORTANT TO STRESS WE OPERATE 365 DAYS A YEAR, 16 HOURS A DAY. THE NUMBERS ARE SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE WE WILL BROADEN -- WE RUN MULTIPLE SHIFTS TO STAFF THE

FACILITY OF SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 365, 16 HOURS A DAY. CHAIR FRUMIN: CAN I THINK ABOUT THAT IN A SIMILAR WAY OF 700 EQUIVALENT OF A FULL-TIME JOB BUT THAT IT MIGHT TAKE MORE PEOPLE TO FILL THE JOBS? OR

IS IT 700 LIKE 300 ARE PART-TIME AND 400 OF THEM ARE NOT? WE HAVE NOT DONE THE DETAILED EXPLORATION OF PARTICULARLY HOW TO DELIVER FOOD AND BEVERAGE. WE WILL BE ONE OF THE LARGEST RESTAURANTS IN THE

HISTORY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. WE SERVE -- THE AVERAGE STAY IN THE BUILDING IS FOUR TO SIX HOURS. MOST PEOPLE COME AND HAVE LUNCH OR DINNER. IN ORDER TO EXTEND THEIR STAY. SO SOME FOOD SERVICE

WORKERS ARE PART-TIME. SOME JANITORIAL MAINTENANCE STAFF ARE PART-TIME AND SOME LIFEGUARDS ARE PART-TIME. THE MAJORITY OF THE STAFF THOUGH IS FULL-TIME. CHAIR FRUMIN: PART OF THE SALES PITCH FOR THIS

PROJECT IS IT BECOMES AN ECONOMIC ANCHOR IN A NEIGHBORHOOD AND A NEW AND EMERGING NEIGHBORHOOD. HAS THAT MODEL BEEN -- HAPPENED BEFORE AROUND THE GLOBE WITH A THERME PROJECT WHERE IT WAS VIEWED AS A

CATALYST? THAT'S A FASCINATING QUESTION. THE ANSWER IS ELSEWHERE ON THE GLOBE, NO. I AM AND URBANIST. I BELIEVE IN THE FUTURE OF CITIES. WHEN I WAS ASKED TO TAKE OVER RESPONSIBLY FOR THERME IN THE

U.S., I SAID THAT MY COMMITMENT WAS TO LOCATE THESE IN URBAN CORES WHERE THEY COULD ANCHOR NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITIES. AND WE ARE IN ACTIVE DISCUSSIONS NOW ON THREE SITES ALL OF WHICH ARE IN URBAN

CORES. ONE IS NOW PUBLIC, THE SITE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN DALLAS. WE GOT A 15-0 APPROVAL FROM THE CITY'S PLANNING COMMISSION A MONTH AGO. IT IS IN AN UNDERDEVELOPED INDUSTRIAL AREA AJACENT TO

DOWNTOWN IN THE SEAM BETWEEN THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN AND SOUTHERN DALLAS WHICH IS THE HISTORIC HOME OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY. IT IS A HIGHLY URBAN SITE THAT WILL ANCHOR A REJUVENATION OF A

WHOLE INDUSTRIAL AREA. CHAIR FRUMIN: SO I WAS LOOKING FOR PAST EXAMPLES BUT INSTEAD WHAT I'M HEARING IS THIS IS A DIRECTION YOU MAY BE SEEKING TO GO IN THE FUTURE? I WON'T PICK AT YOUR WORDS BUT IT IS

A DIRECTION WE ARE GOING AND THE OTHER PROJECT WE ARE DOING IN NORTH AMERICA, WHICH IS IN TORONTO, IS ALSO A HIGHLY URBAN PROJECT. THE COMMITMENT IN NORTH AMERICA IS TO DO PROJECTS THAT HELP BRING

HEALTH AND WELL-BEING TO WHERE THE MAJORITY OF AMERICAN RESIDENTS LIVE, WHICH IS IN GREAT CITIES. CHAIR FRUMIN: OK. I AM BOUNCING AROUND A LITTLE BIT. I WILL GO BACK ON JOBS. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU

SAID WAS IT'S A SPECIALIZED CONSTRUCTION, SO IT'S A CHALLENGE TO DO THE SPECIALIZED CONSTRUCTION. I AM PUTTING WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH, YOU CAN CORRECT ME. SO HOW DOES THAT FIT WITH THE EFFORT TO HAMMER

SOMETHING OUT WITH OUR UNIONS? DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU MAY NEED TO SUPPORT TRAINING FOR U.S. WORKERS IN ORDER TO FILL THE JOBS TO DO THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY? OR THIS DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGY? HELP ME

UNDERSTAND THAT. I THINK OUR FIRST COMMITMENT IS TO TRAIN THE EXISTING WORKFORCE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES TO DO THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE WORK WE NEED. WE ARE A WELL-ESTABLISHED COMPANY IN EUROPE AND

AN EMERGING COMPANY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. WE HAVE YET TO COME TO A CLEAR CONCLUSION ABOUT HOW SOME OF THE EUROPEAN CRAFTS, MOSTLY IN GLASS AND STEEL MANUFACTURING. THERE'S PLENTY OF WORKFORCE

HERE THAT CAN DO THE FOUNDATIONS, THE CONCRETE, THE INTERIORS AND THE POOLS. IT'S A QUESTION OF THE REASONABLY COMPLEX DOMANTAS GLASS SYSTEMS. I BELIEVE WE CAN AND WILL FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO THAT

WITH DOMESTIC LABOR, BUT WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT YET. THE GOOD NEWS IS WE'VE GOT THREE OR FOUR YEARS TO SORT THAT OUT. IT'S OUR GOAL AND I THINK WE WILL GET THERE. CHAIR FRUMIN: THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF

DIFFERENT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BUT WE ARE ACTUALLY STILL A FAR WAY OFF BEFORE SHOVELS HIT DIRT. WHAT STEPS HAVE YOU TAKEN TO INCORPORATE THE INPUT YOU HAVE GOTTEN FROM THE COMMUNITY SO FAR? MANY. ONE

WAS THE COMMUNITIES FOCUS ON THE YES, YOU CAN OFFER JOBS THROUGH FIRST SOURCE, BUT WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE SKILLS. HOW DO YOU GET THE SKILLS SO THE FIRST SOURCE IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY? WE CAME UP

WITH THE IDEA OF FUNDING WITH THERME'S OWN MONEY, WORKFORCE TRAINING SO THAT WARD 8 RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE THE TRAINING, SO THAT WHEN THE FIRST SOURCE OPPORTUNITY AROSE, THEY COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

WE'VE HEARD A LOT FROM COUNCILMEMBER WHITE GIVEN HIS COMMITMENT TO YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THE NEED TO ADDRESS THE REAL CHALLENGE THEY HAVE IN LEARNING HOW TO SWIM. THE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN WARD EIGHT

WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO SWIM IS EMBARRASSINGLY LOW. SO THAT WAS THE ORIGIN OF FIGURING OUT HOW TO GET ACCESS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN WARD 8 SO WE CAN OFFER THEM SWIMMING LESSONS AT OUR EXPENSE SO THAT THEY

CAN LEARN HOW TO SWIM. WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE NEED TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS SO WE'VE BEGUN A DIALOGUE WITH SOME OF THE SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT NETWORKS EAST OF THE RIVER TO FIGURE OUT HOW AGAIN

AT OUR EXPENSE WE CAN FUND THE NEEDS OF SMALL BUSINESSES SO THEY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THERME CREATES. I THINK SOME OF THE FRUSTRATION, WHICH I WILL UNDERSTAND THE MEMBERS OF

COUNCIL HAVE EXPRESSED, THE PROMISE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN DELIVERED. PART OF THE CHALLENGE IS HELPING SMALL BUSINESS HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE. HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE GET

THE TRAINING SO THEY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES. THAT'S THE KIND OF FEEDBACK WE HAVE HAD THAT WE HAVE WELCOMED. WANDA HAS SO BRILLIANTLY REPRESENTED US IN THE WARD. I EXPECT WE WILL

CONTINUE THAT ENGAGEMENT AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET ACTION ON THIS BILL IN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME. BUT THAT DOES NOT STOP OUR INVOLVEMENT. WE WILL KEEP MEETING AND LEARNING AND GROWING AND KEEP

RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS AS WE LEARN ABOUT THEM OVER TIME. THE ONE THING I FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT ABOUT IS THE NEEDS SIX YEARS FROM NOW WILL NOT BE THE SAME AS TODAY. WE WILL RESPOND. CHAIR FRUMIN:

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS THE IDEA THAT IT TAKES 1.7 MILLION VISITORS A YEAR FOR THE ECONOMICS OF THIS TO MAKE SENSE? WHAT IS YOUR ANTICIPATION ON THE NUMBER OF VISITORS CUSTOMER I SET OUR CURRENT

FACILITY IN ROMANIA, BUCHAREST, ATTRACTS 1.7 MILLION VISITORS LAST YEAR, WILL PROBABLY DO 1.8 OR 1.9 THIS YEAR. WE ANTICIPATE OVER 2 MILLION PEOPLE THERE. THE DMV IS TWO THIRDS LARGER THAN BUCHAREST.

WE HAVE A MUCH LARGER POPULATION. WE HAVE A POPULATION THAT HAS MORE DISPOSABLE INCOME FOR HEALTH AND RECREATION. WE HAVE DONE SUBSTANTIAL POLLING AND SIGNIFICANT MARKET RESEARCH. WE'VE DONE FOCUS

GROUPS. THIS IS AN INVESTMENT, JUST TO VERIFY THE NUMBERS. THE HARD CONSTRUCTION COSTS IS AROUND 500 MILLION TO 550 MILLION DOLLARS. TOTAL PROJECT COST IS LIKELY TO BE $800 MILLION. YOU TAKE AN

INVESTMENT LIKE THAT VERY VERY SERIOUSLY. IN ORDER TO INVEST OUR CAPITAL IN THIS AND OUR PARTNERS CAPITAL TO ATTRACT THE EQUITY WE NEED TO BUILD, WE HAVE DEVELOPED A FACT-BASED CASE THAT DEMONSTRATES

OUR ABILITY TO ATTRACT THE NUMBERS I HAVE JUST PROJECTED. CHAIR FRUMIN: DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE THAT CAPITAL LINED UP OR FOR THAT HAPPENED IN THE NEXT FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS? YOU ATTRACT CAPITAL IN LAYERS.

THE FIRST LAYER IS CALLED SPONSOR EQUITY WHICH IS OUR MONEY. OUR MONEY WE HAVE LINED UP. SO THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES HOW DO WE THEN WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS? YOU BRING IN CAPITAL PARTNERS FURTHER IN

THE PROCESS WHEN YOU HAVE MUCH MORE REFINED CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATES. TO BE CANDID WITH YOU, TO TALK TO THEM NOW AND SAY I DON'T OWN THE LAND, THE ENTITY WHICH I WANT TO PROJECT DOES NOT OWN THE

LAND YET SO THEY WOULD SAY TALK TO ME WHEN YOU'RE READY. WE HAVE RAISED THE MONEY WE NEED TO BREAK GROUND IN SINGAPORE AND THE MONEY WE NEED TO BREAK GROUND IN MANCHESTER, ENGLAND. WE HAVE MADE

ENORMOUS PROGRESS IN RAISING THE MONEY TO LAUNCH OUR PROJECT IN TORONTO. WE ARE HIGHLY CONFIDENT ABOUT THE ABILITY. IN EARLY DISCUSSIONS, INVESTORS HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR THE POSITION OF

WASHINGTON DC AS OUR NATION'S CAPITAL. THEY HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR THE STRENGTH OF THE ECONOMY IN THE DMV, SO I'M VERY CONFIDENT WE ARE ABLE TO RAISE THE MONEY. CHAIR FRUMIN: WE ARE COMING

TO THE END AND I WILL LET YOU GO BUT, DO YOU HAVE THE MONEY LINED UP TO DO DALLAS, IS ONE QUESTION BECAUSE YOU TALKED ABOUT DALLAS? AND THEN IN THE DISTRICT, THERE IS MARKETING TO THE FOLKS WHO LIVE

HERE AND THEN THERE IS TOURISM. SO I AM CURIOUS IF YOU'VE DONE ANY BREAKDOWN IN YOUR THINKING OF HOW MANY PEOPLE FROM THE DISTRICT, MARYLAND, FROM VIRGINIA, VISITORS WILL BE UTILIZING THE FACILITY? I

WILL GIVE YOU A TWO-PART ANSWER. THE FIRST PART IS WE ATTRACT ABOUT 30 TO 35% TOURIST VISITORS IN EACH FACILITY. THE CURRENT PROJECTION IS THAT ROUGHLY THE NUMBER WE WILL ATTRACT HERE. WE BELIEVE IT

WILL BE ONE THIRD TOURIST, ONE THIRD RESIDENTS OF THE DMV AND ONE THIRD RESIDENTS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ONE OF THE THINGS WE THINK WILL BE VERY POWERFUL HERE IS THIS WILL BE A VERY VERY, VERY

STRONG PART OF THE DISTRICT RECOVERY, DRIVEN BY TOURISM. I KNOW WITH MY OWN DAUGHTER WHEN I BROUGHT HER HERE, YOU KNOW YOU GO TO THE CAPITOL, THE AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM. 2:00 IN THE AFTERNOON YOUR KID

SAYS I'M HOT, I'M TIRED, I'M BORED. WHAT DO I DO NOW? MOST PEOPLE HAVE TO LEAVE THE DISTRICT THEN. WE ARE ON A METRO LINE, A VERY SHORT METRO FROM THE NATIONAL MALL AND NATIONAL TREASURES AND EXPECT

SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE WILL COME FROM THE WALL TO THE BUILDING THAT IT WILL DO SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT LONG TERM FOR THE DISTRICT'S ECONOMY WHICH IS KEEPING THE MONEY THAT COMES

FROM THE DISTRICT TO SEE THESE NATIONAL TREASURES AND HAVING A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF IT SPENT HERE, AND NOT SPENT AT NATIONAL HARBOR AND OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE REGION. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU. THERE IS

A REGIONAL BREAKDOWN. HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT REGULARS AND ONE TIME FOLKS? HOW MUCH DO YOU RELY ON CONSISTENT USERS AND HOW MUCH IS IT SOMEBODY WHO GOES ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR? OUR AVERAGE, AND AVERAGES

ARE DANGEROUS BECAUSE THERE ARE WIDE RANGES OF BEHAVIOR. THE AVERAGE IS AROUND 3.5 VISITS A YEAR. THAT INCLUDES SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE THERE LITERALLY EVERY WEEK. SENIORS THAT COME WITH THEIR FRIENDS,

THEIR FAMILIES, AND PEOPLE WHO COME ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS. IT IS A WIDE RANGE OF BEHAVIORS. THE AVERAGE IS AROUND 3.5. CHAIR FRUMIN: OK. LAST QUESTION AND IT MAY BE A STICKY ONE. WE TALK ABOUT WHO WILL

BEAR WHAT COSTS. ONE OF THE COST IS REMEDIATION. YOU WILL PAY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE. ANOTHER COST IS REMEDIATION WHICH IS AN UNKNOWN. HOW ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT THAT AND WHAT IS THE EXPOSURE OF THE

DISTRICT? IN THE AGREEMENT WE CRAFTED, THE DISTRICT HAS NO EXPOSURE TO REMEDIATION. OF OUR 15 ACRES, THE DISTRICT HAS EXPOSURE FOR REMEDIATION IN 70 ACRES OF PARKLAND. I WON'T SPEAK FOR MR. SKINNER

BUT I ASSUME IF HE HAS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ON HIS PROPERTY, THAT WILL BE SOMETHING TO WORK OUT. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REMEDIATION ON OUR ACREAGE UP TO IT CAP. IF WE HIT THE CAP, WE WILL HAVE TO --

CHAIR FRUMIN: WHAT IS THE CAP? I DON'T HAVE -- WHAT? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. PETE? OK. WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU ON THE CAP. THERE IS A CAP IN THE AGREEMENT THAT WAS NEGOTIATED PRINCIPALLY TO PROTECT

THE DISTRICT AND PROTECT US. IF WE HIT THE CAP WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE WE WILL, THEN THERE WILL HAVE TO BE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS. CHAIR FRUMIN: OK. WELL A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU, I THINK THERE IS A LOT

OF CURIOSITY ABOUT THIS PROJECT, VERY MUCH GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE TESTIMONY. I THINK IF WE DON'T MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PANEL, WE WILL BE HERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME. [LAUGHTER] WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR

INTEREST AND QUESTIONS AND WE ARE CERTAINLY AVAILABLE TO RESPOND TO YOU AS THE CHAIR AND ANY MEMBER OF YOUR COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AS THEY GIVE DUE CONSIDERATION FOR SOMETHING WHICH IS VERY

SIGNIFICANT FOR THE FUTURE OF THE DISTRICT IN WARD EIGHT. SO THANK YOU SIR. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU. JANEICE NICOLE JACKSON. PASTOR RICARDO PAYNE. LARRY GREENHILL JUNIOR. VICTOR BATTLE. OK. RYLINDA

RHODES. ABSALOM JORDAN. WHAT'S THAT? I DON'T SEE. THERE HE IS. I THINK THEN PASTOR, WHEN YOU ARE READY. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN. I THANK GOD AND THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE PENDING

DISCUSSIONS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE REGARDING MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR BRAVO ARMY, BE 26 -0845, THE POPULAR POINT ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION APPROVAL ACT OF 2026. THE PROPOSED APPROVAL ADDRESSES A FAR-

REACHING REALITY THAT WILL IMPACT GENERATIONS TO COME PARTICULARLY IN WARD EIGHT, MOVING THE TRANSFER FORWARD CAN CREATE A KABBALISTIC MOMENT FOR NEW PARKLAND, HOUSING SUPPLIES, JOB INVESTMENTS AND

COMMUNITY AMENITIES IN WARD 8. NOTIONAL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT INCREASING PUBLIC ACCESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CAN AND SHOULD COEXIST. THE GOAL IS A WATERFRONT DESTINATION THAT SERVES EXISTING RESIDENTS

WHILE CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. REDBRICK HAS DESCRIBED ITSELF AS A LONG-TERM INVESTOR, DEVELOPER, ASSET MANAGER FOCUSED ON HIGH-IMPACT REAL ESTATE ALONG THE ANACOSTIA RIVER

CORRIDOR. NOW LET ME TALK AS A PASTOR. IT IS NICE TO HAVE THESE NOTES HERE. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE TANGIBLE WHICH IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED. THAT IS HOPE. WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF DISCUSSION TODAY WAY ABOVE MY

PAY GRADE, NUMBERS THAT ARE ASTRONOMICAL TO BELIEVE. BUT WAIT A MINUTE, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO KNOW WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO. WE'VE HEARD PROMISES. I'VE BEEN IN WARD 8 FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND I'M

STILL HEARING PREMISES. AS SISTER GLADDEN HAS SAID, SHE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR YEARS. I WILL BE 70 AND A LITTLE BIT AND I DON'T HAVE 20 MORE YEARS I BELIEVE. WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION. PEOPLE MUST

BELIEVE AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE, THEY WILL BENEFIT FROM THE DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE BEING HELD TODAY BETWEEN THE ELECTED COMMITTEE OF THE STAKEHOLDERS REPRESENTING THEIR LONG-TERM, NON-GENERATIONAL

INTERESTS. FAMILY, FINANCES, IN THE FUTURE. I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND GROWING UP IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA DEALING WITH DIFFICULT TIMES WORKING IN A BACK OF FIELD CUCUMBER PATCH, WATERMELON PATCH AND

DELIVERING NEWSPAPERS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO AT 16? I AM ALMOST 70. WHEN I FOUND OUT I HAVE TO GET INVOLVED IN THE CIVIC PROCESS, AT 16 I WAS PRESIDENT OF THE JUNIOR CITY

COUNCIL TALKING TO BUSINESS MEETINGS AND DOING THESE DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT HOW MANY OF OUR CHILDREN TODAY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE ARE GOING THROUGH A LOT OF TRANSITIONAL TALK, BUT

WHEN ARE WE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD? AND REDBRICK AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE COMMUNITY TALKING ABOUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. I AM NOT A BUSINESS OWNER. I'M THE PASTOR OF A

CHURCH IN WARD 8. I DEAL WITH ALL KINDS OF ISSUES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE LOST THE INTANGIBLE, WHICH IS HOPE. IF WE CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE ARE DOING, IT MAY BE ANOTHER 20 YEARS. I DISAGREE. WE NEED TO MOVE

OUT SMARTLY ON THAT. THEY HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT WITH MEANING AS IT RELATES TO WHAT DO WE DO IN OUR COMMUNITY? I CANNOT TALK ABOUT OTHER ALLIANCES. I'M NOT A POLITICIAN. I'M A PASTOR. AS SUCH, MY DRIVE

IS WHAT IS BEST FOR PEOPLE MUST MARK WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT NOW? I WILL CLOSE ON THIS THOUGHT. I WAS OVER IN WARD 8 AT THE FREDERICK DOUGLAS COMMUNITY CENTER AT NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. A YOUNG MAN WALKS

UP TO ME AND HE SAYS SIR, DID I THANK YOU? I SAID THANK YOU FOR WHAT? HE SAID THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I SAID, SIR, YOU'RE WELCOME. GOD KNOWS THAT. AND WHAT CAN I SAY TO THIS COMMITTEE? THANK YOU

CHAIR FURMAN -- CHAIR FRUMIN FOR LISTENING. AND HOW CAN WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE THAT WILL OUTLAST ALL OF THIS? BUT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING NOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. YOU STUCK THE LANDING

WITH ONE SECOND LEFT SO YOU ARE CLEARLY A PRACTICED SPEAKER. MR. BATTLE. HELLO. OTHER HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE DC COUNCIL, I AM VICTOR BATTLE AND PRESIDENT OF RIGHT DIRECTIONS, A WARD 8 PROGRAM

DESIGNED TO HELP PEOPLE THRIVE IN UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TODAY TO SHARE MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR THERME. THERME WILL BE ONE OF THE BEST THINGS TO

HAPPEN TO WARD 8 AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL ECONOMIC ACTOR -- OPPORTUNITIES THIS PROJECT WILL BRING TO THE WARD INCLUDING JOBS, WORKFORCE TRAINING, AND OPPORTUNITY. HOWEVER I ALSO BELIEVE

THAT THIS PROJECT, AS THE PROJECT MOVES FORWARD, IT IS ESSENTIAL WARD 8 MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE OPPORTUNITIES. THIS IS A POPULAR SPACE WITH TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL. WE HAVE WAITED MANY YEARS TO SEE

MEANINGFUL PROGRESS ON THE PROPERTY AND I BELIEVE WE SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAN IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS WHILE RESPECTING THE COMMUNITY'S PRIORITIES. WARD 8

SHOULD NOT ONLY SIMPLY BE A PLACE WHERE DEVELOPMENT HAPPENS, WE SHOULD BE A COMMUNITY THAT DIRECTLY BENEFITS FROM THAT DEVELOPMENT. I RESPECTFULLY URGE SUPPORTING MOVING THE PROPOSAL FORWARD WHILE

SHOWING THAT THE VOICES, NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF WARD 8 RESIDENTS REMAIN AT THE CENTER OF THIS PROJECT. LET US CREATE SOMETHING AT POPLAR POINT. CHILDREN, FAMILY, SENIORS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN

ENJOY AND BE PART OF. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY IN FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION MOVING THE PROJECT FORWARD. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. RYLINDA RHODES. GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR AND STAFF,

I AM RYLINDA RHODES, A WARD 8 RESIDENT AND OWNER OF SL FED WELL THIS COMPANY. I HAVE CONCERNS FOR THE ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT. I SUPPORT INVESTMENT, GOOD JOBS, WELCOMING PUBLIC SPACES, BUT

DEVELOPMENT MUST BENEFIT THE PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES ALREADY SERVING EAST OF THE RIVER. LOCAL WELLNESS BUSINESSES INCLUDING THE KITCHEN PHYSICIAN, MANIFESTATION, OPTIMAL WELLNESS SERVICES, BLACK BELLA,

WE FIT D.C. AND OF COURSE, MAEVE ROSE TO THE WELLNESS, ARE ALREADY MEETING COMMUNITY NEEDS. THERME HAS PROMOTED CONSTRUCTION AND PERMANENT JOBS BUT JOB NUMBERS CANNOT BE THE ONLY MEASURE OF INPUT. IF

SMALL WELLNESS BUSINESSES ARE DISPLACED OR WEAKER, THE LOSS COULD OUTWEIGH THE JOBS BEING PROMOTED. IT WOULD MEAN LOST LIVELIHOODS, FEWER COMMUNITY SERVICES, AND FAMILY BUSINESSES, AND SOME THAT WERE

BUILT OVER GENERATIONS DISAPPEARING. FOR BLACK FAMILIES, THAT LOSS CARRIES A DEEPER HISTORY. SLAVERY AND THE BARRIERS THAT FOLLOWED REPEATEDLY DENIED BLACK PEOPLE A CHANCE TO BUILD, KEEP, AND PASSED

DOWN WEALTH. WHEN FAMILY BUSINESSES ARE PUSHED OUT WHILE A POWERFUL COMPANY GROWS, IT CAN FEEL LIKE ANOTHER GENERATION IS BEING DENIED THAT OPPORTUNITY. DEVELOPMENT SHOULD HELP LOCAL FAMILIES, BUILD

SOMETHING LASTING, NOT REPEAT A PATTERN WHERE OTHERS PROFIT FROM OUR COMMUNITY WHILE WE CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE AND BE INCLUSIVE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. I SAW THE GAP BETWEEN THE BEAUTIFUL EVENT AT AN

EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE AT THE THERME EVENT AT THE SANDLOT IN ANACOSTIA. THE DAY WAS SUNNY AND THE PORTABLE SAUNAS AND COLD PLUNGE CREATED AN IMPRESSIVE SCENE. THE SAUNA AREA WAS CAREFULLY ARRANGED WITH

PLANTS, PALM TREES AND ARTIFICIAL GRASS AND AN INVITING SPACE. MEANWHILE, LOCAL BUSINESSES WERE SET UP ON ROCKS AND GRAVEL AND HAD LESS ONE AREA FELT RELAXED AND CAREFULLY CURATED. THE OTHER LIKE AN

AFTERTHOUGHT. RESIDENTS WHISPERS, IS THIS FOR EVERYONE? AM I WELCOMED? HOW MUCH IT DOES COST. MANY HAVEN'T HEARD OF THE EVENT. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS FREE, RESIDENTS WERE EFFECTIVELY REACHED AND MAILED TO

FEE INCLUSIVE. SAND LOT ITSELF HOW FRAGILE OPPORTUNITIES CAN BE RED BR BRICK LNB ENDED THEIR LEASE SIX YEARS EARLIER AT THE ANACOSTIA SANDLOT. IT SITS EMPTY RIGHT NOW. ACCESS AND BUSINESS

OPPORTUNITIES CAN DISAPPEAR WHEN CONTROL OF THE LAND CHANGES. THAT IS WHY PROMISES MUST BE LASTING AND ENFORCEABLE. I ASK THE COUNCIL TO REQUIRE AN AGREEMENT THAT THE PROJECT IS SPECIFIC AND WELL-

STAFFED CONSTRUCTION OF HVAC TRAINING THAT PREPARES RESIDENTS WITH SKILLS AND CERTIFICATION THIS PROJECT REQUIRES. NOT 90 STUDENTS SITTING IN A CLASS WITH ONE INSTRUCTOR.NOT THE SAME OL' WORKFORCE

DEVELOPMENTS EAST OF THE RIVER THAT IS CLICKISH, WHERE I SIT IN THESE TRAININGS AS A ENTREPRENEUR. I GET CERTIFICATES AND THEY ARE SITTING ON THE SHELVES AND NOTHING HAS TRANSFIRED WITH OUR BUSINESS.

$3 MILLION FOR THE BLACK ROOM PROJECT WHERE I HAD MY PRODUCTS IN THAT STORE FOR 30 DAYS THREE YEARS AGO AND NOTHING HAS TRANSPIRED SINCE. ACCESS SHOULD BE OUTREACH THROUGH TRUSTED COMMUNITY GROUPS AND

CHANNELS BEYOND THE INTERNET WHERE RESIDENTS WITH LIMITED TRANSPORTATION HAS ACCESS TO THESE -- TO SEIZE SERVICES THAT THEY ARE GOING TO OFFER. A BUSINESS READINESS PROGRAM COVERING PRODUCT TESTING,

PACKAGING, LABELING, INSURANCE, AND WHOLESALE REQUIREMENTS TO PARTNER WITH A LOCAL BUSINESS COOPERATIVE TO HELP EAST OF THE RIVER BUSINESSES WORK TOGETHER AND MEET PURCHASING AND SERVICES NEED. PUT

THESE COMMITMENTS IN A FUNDED, BINDING COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT SHAPED WITH RIVER RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES BACKED BY CLEAR DEADLINES AND PUBLIC REPORTING. WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR FAVORS AND YOUR

THOUSAND FREE TICKETS. WE WANT TO WORK. WE WANT TO EARN. I CAN PAY FOR WHAT I WANT. WE ARE ASKING FOR A FAIR PARTNERSHIP, TRAINING THAT LEADS TO JOBS, AND NOT CERTIFICATES THAT SIT ON MY SHELF AND I

AM NOT EQUITABLE. AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR CONTRACTS AND SUPPORT FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND A SPACE WHERE WE ARE COMMUNITY AND THAT WE CAN THRIVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. MR. JORDAN, NICE

TO SEE YOU. CHAIRMAN, MY NAME IS JORDAN JR. A 85-YEAR-OLD WASHINGTONIAN AND PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTHERN HILLS TENANT ASSOCIATION. A 501-C-3 ORGANIZATION ADVOCATING FOR VITAMINS OF TENANT. I REPRESENTS

OF SOUTHERN HILLS APARTMENTS SECTION 8 HOUSING COMMUNITIES IN WARD 8, THE PORTION OF WARD 8 WHERE COMMUNITY IS LOCATE IS MORE THAN 98% BLACK. ACCORDING TO FIGURES WE USE TO DESCRIBE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS FACE A DAILY REALITY OF LIMITED INCOME AND THE CHALLENGES OF FINDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORT HEALTHY, SECURE AND DIGNIFIED LIFE. I APPEAR BEFORE YOU FOR EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR

THE PROPOSED PROJECT AT POPLAR POINT AND EXPLAIN WHY WE BELIEVE ITS POTENTIAL BENEFITS DESERVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION FOR ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN

UNDERSERVED MOST MUST HAVE A VOICE IN SHAPING THEIR COMMUNITY'S FUTURES. AND A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO BENEFIT FROM ITS PROGRESS. AS GENERATIONAL WASHINGTONIANS, WE HAVE WITNESSED MORE -- WE WITNESSED HOW

THIS CITY CHANGES. INVESTMENTS BRING OPPORTUNITY AND BENEFIT OF CHANGE DOES NOT ALWAYS REACH THE RESIDENTS WHO NEED IT MOST. AND IN COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS, RESIDENTS PERSPECTIVES HAVE NOT ALWAYS

RECEIVED THE CONSIDERATION THEY DESERVE. WE ASK THE COUNCIL TO HEAR NOT ONLY CONCERNS RAISED IN OPPOSITION TO THE DEVELOPMENT, BUT ALSO THE VOICES OF LOWER INCOME RESIDENTS TO SEE THE POSSIBILITY OF

JOBS, RECREATION, WELLNESS AND A RENEWED INCOME ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. WARD 8 CONTINUES TO FACE SUBSTANTIAL ECONOMIC DISPARITIES. RECENT WARD LEVEL ESTIMATES REPORT THAT ABOUT 31% OF WARD 8'S RESIDENTS

LIVE IN POVERTY. AND THE CHILD ABOVER TOO IS HE ABOVE 41%. THESE ARE ESTIMATES, BUT THEY UNDER SCORE THE SCALE OF THE CHALLENGE BEHIND -- THE SCALE OF THE CHALLENGE. BEHIND EVERY PERCENTAGE OF

FAMILIES, CHILDREN, OLDER ADULTS AND WORKING PEOPLE WHO DESERVE OPPORTUNITIES IMPROVE THEIR LIGHTS OF. PROPOSE AS DESTINATION FOCUS ON WATER-BASED RECREATION AND WELLNESS ALONG WITH CONSTRUCTION AND

PERMANENT JOBS. THESE ARE PROJECTED BENEFITS NOT GUARANTEES. THE DISTRICT AND THE DEVELOPER TO TURN THEM INTO CLEAR MEASURABLE COMMITMENTMENTS THAT CAN BE MONITORED PUN WILL ICALLY. FOR HILL RESIDENTS

AND WARD 8 COMMUNITIES, THAT MEANS REAL PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENTS, TRAINING, THAT PREPARES FOR LONGER PERMITTED JOBS. NOTE, TO HAVE RESIDENTS FOR AVAILABLE JOBS AND ACCESS TO WELLNESS AND RECREATIONAL

FACILITIES. WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT HAS COMMITTED TO -- COMMITTEDED THAT OLDER ADULTS, YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES WITH LIMITED INCOME WILL NOT BEE CLUEDED SIMPLY BECAUSE THADMISSION COSTS ARE BEYOND OUR

MEANS. GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT. SUPPORTING THERM DOES NOT MEAN IGNORING THE RISKS. THE IT IS STRICT MUST PROTECT HOUSE OF THE PEOPLE BORN HERE AND STAY HERE. CITY SHOULD PLAN SO INVESTMENT

DOES NOT PUSH PEOPLE OUT OF THE COMMUNITIES. THEY HELP TO BUILD AND SUSTAIN THROUGH THE MANY YEARS. PROP PROTECTING GENERATIONAL WASHINGTONIANS AND OTHER EXISTING RESIDENTS GO HAND IN HAND WITH

EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. WE ARE NOT ASKING THE COUNCIL TO ACCEPT PROMISES WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY. WE ARE -- WE ASK FOR SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS, TRANSPARENT REPORTING,

MEANINGFUL WAYS FORWARD 8 RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN AND BENEFIT FROM THE PROJECT AND RESPONSIBLE PLANNING THAT ADDRESSES ENVIRONMENTALLY COMMUNITY IMPACT. THE QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER WARD 8

RESIDENTS DESERVE INVESTMENT. IT DOES. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THAT INVESTMENT CAN BE SHAPED SO THAT RESIDENTS WHO HAVE ENDURED ECONOMIC HARDSHIP ARE INCLUDED IN ITS BENEFITS RATHER THAN WATCHING

OPPORTUNITY PASS US BY. I HAVE SEEN CHANGES OVER THE YEARS. I OBSERVED GEORGETOWN CHANGE AND FOGGY BOTTOM CHANGE AS WELL. YOU WATCHED NEIGHBORHOODS ON CAPITOL HILL CHANGE. I WITNESSED THE CHANGES TO

THE SOUTHWEST WHARF AT TWO SEPARATE HISTORICAL PERIODS. IT SEEMS THAT CHANGES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AT THE EXPENSE OF GENERATIONAL BLACK RESIDENTS '50s, POPULATION HAD 802,000 PEOPLE. TODAY THE AS MUCH

689,000. I ASK THE QUESTION. WHY SHOULD THERE BE DISPLACEMENT AT ALL? PART OF PLANS OF SHAPING COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS TO ATTRACT NEW RESIDENTS. THE SOUTHERN HILLS TENANT ASSOCIATION REPORT A

PROJECT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT COULD BE PART OF A HEALTHIER MORE ECONOMICALLY INCLUSIVE FUTURE FORWARD 8. GENERATIONAL WASHINGTONIANS AND UNDERSERVED RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT MERELY BE PRESENT WHEN THE

COMMUNITY IS EXCHANGED. THEY ALSO HAVE A VOICE IN THAT CHANGE AND A FAIR CHANCE TO SHARE IN BENEFITS. THERM PROJECT IS ASPIRATION AND DREAMS TO EXPERIENCE A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR OURSELVES AND OUR

CHILDREN. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. MISS RHODES, I THINK YOU PROVIDED THIS. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE YOUR WRITTEN TESTIMONY YET. I UPLOADED IT.

DID YOU UPLOAD THIS WITH IT? YES. OKAY, GREAT. ALSO I THINK MR. BATTLE, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE YOUR TESTIMONY. MISS LEVINE, WE DON'T HAVE YOUR TESTIMONY AND MAYBE YOU UPLOADED IT RECENTLY. OKAY, THANK

YOU. GREAT. GREAT. WE WILL GET THEM THEN. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SO WITH THAT, I WANT TO THANK THIS PANEL. WE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO TESTIFY, SO WE WANT TO TRY TO KEEP IT MOVING. BUT VERY

MUCH APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR TESTIMONY. JENNY LAWRENCE. DANIELLE COTTON. IONA LONG. ROWINA SCOTT. LAFAYETTE BURNS. CHARLIE WHITAKER. SAMANTHA ABRAMS. RONALD WILLIAMS. SAMANTHA ABRAMS HAD TO STEP OUT.

IF SHE CAN BE ADDED TO THE VIRTUAL LIST, SHE WOULD APPRECIATE IT. OKAY. RONALD WILLIAMS. JACQUES PATTERSON. OKAY. I JUST WANT -- WHILE FOLKS ARE GETTING SETTLED. JENNY COHENA LAWRENCE, NOT HERE. JENNY

COHENA LAWRENCE, NO? DANIELLE COTTON, NO? CHARLIE WHITAKER. DON'T SEE HIM. SAMANTHA ABRAM ALSO JOIN US VIRTUALLY. AND RONALD WILLIAMS, ALSO NOT HERE. OKAY, WITH THAT, IONA LONG, WHEN YOU ARE READY. MY

NAME IS IONA LONG AND A RESIDENT OF ANACOSTIA FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. I AM WRITING TO STRONGLY REJECT BILL. THE LEGISLATION IS POORLY WRITTEN, ENVIRONMENTALLY RECKLESS AND REPRESENTS A MEDIOCRE

IMAGINING OF WHAT 15 ACRES OF PUBLIC LANDS CAN BE. ONE OF MY MAIN CONCERNS THAT IS THEED A INS LOOKING TO DISPOSE OF THE LANDS BEFORE THE PARK SERVICE DELIVERS THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT. WANT TO

KNOW WHAT DO THEY KNOW OF THE LAND THAT THEY SEEK TO BUILD ON WITHOUT THE RESULTS OF THIS ASSESSMENT. HOW IS THIS KNOWLEDGE OR IGNORANCE INFORMING THEIR DECISION MAKING. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR INSTITUTION

THAT POE LAW ENFORCEMENTED THE LAND TO PAY FOR THE CONTAMINATION CLEANUP. IF WE ARE RUSHING TO MAKE CONCESSIONS, IS IT AN INDICATION THAT IT THE SITE CLEAN-UP WILL BE A RUSH JOB AS WELL. IF CLEANUP IS

MISMANAGED CAN IT REVERSE DECADES OF RIVER RECOVERY EFFORTS.MY FAMILY HAVE BEEN RESIDENTS OF WARD 8 FOR HALF A CENTURY AND DEEP HISTORY OF ITS INVESTMENT AND DISPLACEMENT DESPITE INTERLOCKING SYSTEMS

OF SUPPRESSION THAT SUGGESTED TO A FOOD APARTHEID. WARD 8 IS BEING OFFERED A WATER PARK OF ALL THINGS. NONSENSICAL TO CORPORATIONS AND A SLAP IN THE FACE FOR THOSE ON THE SOUTH SIDE ASKING FOR MORE

GROCERY STORES.HOW WILL A WATER PARK FEED US AND OUR CHILDREN? JUDGING FROM THE GROSS STILL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM ACROSS OUR CITY, DISTURBING TO SEE A BUREAUCRAT, INC. PROCESS LIKE THIS MOVE SO

SWIFTLY. IN D.C., RESIDENTS WARDS 4-8 WORST AIR QUALITY, HIGHER EXPOSURE TO HARMFUL TOXINS IN THE WATER, SOIL AND AIR. RUSHING TO GIVE THIS FOREIGN CORPORATE ENTITY A HANDOUT IS INSULTING TO THE BLACK

PEOPLE BEARING BRUNT OF ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET THE SAME LEVEL OF URGENCY. ASK THAT THE COUNCIL REJECT THE BILL TO PROVIDE MORE TIME TO APPROACH THIS DEVELOPMENT MORE

THOUGHTFULLY. MORE QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED. WHAT IS THERM'S GROUP AND ANTARO BEING APPEALED. DOES SHERM HAVE A TRACK RECORD TO SUPPORT PROCEDURES OF RESPONSIBLE LAND USE MANAGEMENT IN

PLACES LIKE MANCHESTER. LASTLY I WANT TO ELEVATE CONCERNS OF THERM'S MARKETING AND ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS. DURING AN EVENT THAT I FIRST LEARNED OF THERM'S EFFORTS AND PROPOSALS, I MET A REPETITIVE THAT

SHARED INFORMATION WITH THE PROJECT AND ASKED IF I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SIGNING MY NAME TO REPORT TO THE PROJECT. SHE RESPOND TO THIS HESITATION. SHE SAID, QUOTE, EITHER THIS OR WALMART. THE MOTION

THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FORWARD 8 IS DISINGENIOUS AND MA NIP I HAVE IT. CURRENTLY THE CITY'S MOST AMBITIOUS PROJECT THAT IS A CATALYST FOR SOUTHEAST. WANT TO ECHO THE ASK THAT THE

COUNCIL RECEIVE INDIVIDUALS OF OFFICIALS WHO WERE TREATED TO A TRIP TO ROW COMPLAIN AND OTHER FACILITIES COURTESY OF THERM. UNFAIR TO USE AN EXPERIENCE THAT ENRICHED THEM WITHOUT THAT LAYER OF

TRANSPARENCY. WANT TO ASK THE COUNCIL WHAT IT IS WE NEED TO BE WELL. DO WE NEED FOOD TO BE WELL? CLEAN WATER, FRESH AIR? WHO GETS TO BE WELL? DO I HAVE TO GIVE AWAY MORE THAN I GET IN RETURN TO BE

WELL? HOW MUCH IS THERM'S IDEA OF WELLNESS. CAN COUNCIL SEE THAT THE DOLLAR LEASE IS NOT ENOUGH. WARD 8 DESERVES MORE THAN THIS. FUTURE GENERATIONS WHO WILL BE IMPACTED BY HOW WE TREAT THE LAND

DESERVES SO MUCH MORE THAN THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ROWINA SCOTT. GOOD AFTERNOON, GENTLEMEN. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEN. THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THIS -- THIS HEARING FOR ALL OF US TO GIVE OUR

OPINIONS. WHICH EACH AND EVERY ONE US HAVE ONE. I AM ROWINA JOYCE SCOTT. I AM AN ORDAINED PASTOR AT THE TEMPLE OF PRAISE. I AM 37 AND WILL BE 747 IN DECEMBER AND BORN, BRED AND RAISED IN SOUTHEAST

D.C. BEFORE IT EVEN BECAME A WARD 8 AND I HAVE BEEN A COUNCIL MEMBER TWICE AND A STRONG COMMUNITY ACTIVIST JUST AS MY MOTHER WAS BEFORE ME. I COME HERE TODAY TO STAND IN SUPPORT OF THERM ON THIS

PROPERTY AND SUPPORT OF LAND SWAP. I THINK FROM EVERYTHING -- MOST OF WHAT I HEARD TODAY MAKES VERY GOOD SENSE IF, IN FACT, WE CAN REALLY GET TO THAT POINTS. THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOME

OBJECTIVES, BUT RIGHTS NOW, I AM IN SUPPORT OF IT, BUT WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE ON RECORD SAYING THAT ANY COMMUNITY BENEFIT PACKAGE THAT IT BE MONITORED AND I HAVE SEEN BENEFIT PACKAGES COME TO THE

EAST SIDE BEFORE. AND THEN WHEN THINGS TAKE OFF, IT DOES NOT HAPPEN. THAT WOULD BE MY REAL CONCERN RIGHT NOW. BUT HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT IN WARD 8 AND THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING DOWN THERE ALL THIS TIME. I

DON'T SEE ANYTHING PENDING FOR IT EITHER. SO I SUPPORT IT. IT'S A NEW THING. BEHOLD, BIBLE SAYS TODAY I DO NEW THINGS. WHATEVER IT TAKES FOR US TO GET THERE TO GET THIS NEW THING DONE. LET'S DO THAT

IN DECENT ORDER AND ALL THE Ts ARE CROSSED AND Is ARE DOTTED, OKAY. YES, THERE ARE SOME CONCERN BUT WE CAN OVERCOME THOSE. AND I THINK WITNESS COUNCIL'S EYE UPON EVERYTHING, LET'S DO THAT, BUT LET'S

NOT STOP IT. LET'S SEE WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THERE, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE WARD. IT WOULD BE SOMETHING VERY, VERY DIFFERENT FORWARD 8. AND TAMPA WOULD BE A WHOLE NEW THING FOR WARD 8.

RELAXING, MOTIVATING AND UPLIFTING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE NEED HOUSING AND WHOLE BUNCH OF RAGGEDY BUILDINGS THAT COULD BE HOUSING. IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO TAKE A RIDE WITH ME. I CAN SHOW YOU. WE DO THESE

SOME HOUSES. THERM, AND LAND SWAP. I SUPPORT THE LAND SWAP. YOU CAN'T DO THERM WITHOUT THE LAND SWAP. SUPPORT THAT AND TOTALLY SUPPORT THERM COMING AND BEING A WHOLE NEW THING. I REJECT THE

POSSIBILITY AND THE EMPLOYMENTS. WE NEED EMPLOYMENT TO GET SOME OF OUR FOLKS ENJOYED SO THEY WON'T BE HOMELESS OR OUT THERE ON STREETS. WE NEED TRAINING FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. WE NEED THAT. WE NEED ALL

YOU HAVE THAT. WHAT IT OFFERS. BUT THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY AND ALL THE POWERS AT BE IS TO MAKE SURE IT WE GET EVERYTHING THAT IS BEING OFFERED. I CAN'T SAY THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET IT. I CAN'T

SAY THEY HAVE REJECT US BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T. I ASK YOU TODAY TO TAKE SERIOUSLY THE OFFER AND WHAT IT BRINGS TO EAST OF THE RIVER WARD 8 TO US OVER THERE WHICH WILL SERVE THE ENTIRE CITY. ALL ARE

WELCOME, YOU UNDER STAND. PUTS A NEW FACE AND A NEW AT DUDE ON WARD 8. WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO SHOOT DOWN EVERYTHING. TALKING LOUD. SAYING NOTHING AND DOING LESS. LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT

WARD 8 CAN HAVE A NEW THING HAPPEN THERE. IT CAN HAPPEN. IT WILL HAPPEN. -- HAPIT SHALL HAPPEN. I LAY IT AT THE INTO ET AND I AM DONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LVSHG /* YOU ARE WELCOME, MANY TIMES. GOOD

AFTERNOON CHAIRMAN, AND MECHANICS OF THE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES AND COUNCILMEMBER WHITE. I AM LAFAYETTE BARNES, A LONG-TERM RESIDENT WHO RETIRED FROM THE GOVERNMENT IN 2017 AS YEARS OF THE

EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE MAJOR BY MAYOR WILLIAMS, FENNEY, GRAY AND BOWSER. HE SERVE AS THE BOARD CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL PLANNING ORGANIZATION, A D.C. BASED NONPROFIT THAT SERVED DISTRICT LOW INCOME

RESIDENTS FOR SOME 62 YEARS. UPL PROVIDES TRAINING AND BUILDING OF CONSTRUCTION SECTOR THROUGH WHICH BUILDING CAREER ACADEMY. I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT UPL HAS MET WITH THERM OF SOME OF

POSSIBILITIES OF CONSTRUCTION JOBS AS WELL AS THE LONG-TERM JOBS IN THE FUTURE. I AM HONORED TO PRESENT OUR WRITTEN TESTIMONY BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON POPLAR POINT ECONOMIC ANCHOR DISPOSITION ACT

OF 2026. AS A NATIVE WASHINGTONIAN WITH DEEP ROOTS EAST OF THE RIVER, I HAVE EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA INCLUDING AUDI FIELD, NATIONALS PARK,

THE WHARF, THE YARD AND THE PLANNED WASHINGTON COMMANDERS STADIUM. THESE TRANSFORMATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS HAVE SPURRED TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY. BUT IN COMPARISON, TRULY

LITTLE IN COMMUNITIES LOCATED EAST OF THE RIVER ALSO CALLED ANACOSTIA RIVER EAST. ALTHOUGH NEWER DEVELOPMENTS IN WARD 8 LIKE THE OPENING OF CEDAR HILL HOSPITAL AND THE CARE FIRST ARENA LOCATED ON THE

GROUNDS OF ST. ELIZABETH ARE MUCH WELCOMED DEVELOPMENT. FUTURE INVESTMENT OF THERM GLOBAL GROUP, D.C. HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROJECT LOCATE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE ANACOSTIA RIVER AT POPLAR POINT

PROMISES TO BE A ECONOMIC BOOST AND HUB TO WARD 8 AND THEIR SURROUNDING WARDS. 2023, MAYOR BOWSER ANNOUNCED THAT THERM D.C. WAS SLICKED TO DEVELOP THE PLAN, A $500 MILLION INVESTMENT IN THE STATE-OF-

THE-ART WELLNESS DEGREES NATION AT POPLAR POINT ACCORDINGLY MAKING IT ONE OF THE LARGEST PRIVATE INVESTMENTS IN WARD 8'S HISTORIES. IT IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE $175 BILLION IN TAX REVENUE FOR 25 YEARS

AND CREATE THOUSANDS OF CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND OVER 700 PERMANENTS ONCE BENEFITING MANY DISTRICT RESIDENTS INCLUDING THOSE EAST OF RIVER IN WARD 7 AND 8. WITH THE INVESTMENT OF THIS SCALE COMBINED WITH

A NEW PUBLIC PARK AND ADDITIONAL LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT. POPLAR POINT HAVE A POTENTIAL TO BREATHE NEW LIFE AND PROSPERITY INTO THE COMMUNITIES. IN ADDITION TO THE INVESTMENTS THAT COME WITH THESE

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS,THERM D.C. IS MAJOR DESTINATION EAST OF THE RIVER CALLED ANACOSTIA RIVER EAST BRINGING PEOPLE ACROSS THE REGION TO ANACOSTIA WHERE THEY CAN ESCAPE THE LOCAL AND POLITICAL POLITICS

IN WASHINGTON D.C., RELAX IN WARD 8 URBAN OASIS, AND RESTORATIVE HEALTH AND WELL BEING. THESE WELCOME GUESTS CAN SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESS'S LONG MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND MARION BARRY AVENUE

CORRIDORS AND EXPERIENCE VIBRANT ANACOSTIA ARTS CULTURE DISTRICT INCLUDING THE FREQUENT DOUGLAS HOUSE AND THE GO, GO -- FREDERICK DOUGLAS HOUSE AND THE GO-GO MUSEUM. AND ECONOMIC GROWTHS EAST OF THE

RIVER AND BEYOND ADJACENT TO HISTORIC ANACOSTIA. ITS PROPOSAL FOR DEVELOPING POPLAR POINT DEVELOP A NEW ERA FORWARD 6, 7 AND 8. AND ONE WE MUST CAPSLIZE FOR THE SELF-SUSTAINING AND TREASURED COMMUNITY

DEVELOPMENTS WE HAVE SEEN IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. PROJECT WILL BOOST WASHINGTON D.C.'S COMPETITIVENESS AS A WORLD-CLASS SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT, WELLNESS CAPITAL CITY AND

THUS OFFER A CHANCE TO GIVE LASTING BENEFITS TO THE WARD AND THE CITY. LET'S COME TOGETHER SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT -- LETS US COME TOGETHER TO FOR THIS LEGISLATION FOR THE

DEVELOPMENT OF THIS THERM PROJECT AT POPLAR POINTS WHERE ALL DISTRICT RESIDENTS AND GUESTS CAN COME AND RELAX AND PROMOTES AN ECONOMICALLY SUSTAINABLE QUALITY OF LIFE. THIS CONCLUDES MY TESTIMONY. I

AM AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COMMITTEE. AND MEMBERS OF TODAY'S PUBLIC -- AND TODAY'S HEARING. THANK YOU VERY

MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. BURNS. MR. PATTERSON. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DR. JACQUES PATTERSON. I AM A 31-YEAR WARD 8 RESIDENT. CURRENTLY I AM ON THE STATE BOARD OF

EDUCATION AS AN AT-AT REPRESENTATIVE. I APPRECIATES OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER TESTIMONY OF DEVELOPMENT OF POPLAR POINT. RESIDENTS EAST OF THE RIVER HAVE WATCHED SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS TRANSFORM OTHER

PARTS OF OUR CITY WHILE OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES HAVE TOO OFTEN REMAINED PROMISES RATHER THAN REALITIES. I REMEMBER VISITING THE ANACOSTIA METRO STATION BACK DURING THE FENTY

ADMINISTRATION WHEN THEY WERE CONSIDERING POPLAR POINT WHAT IS NOW AUDI FIELDS AND WE SEE WHERE IT IS LOCATED AND THE DEVELOPMENTS AROUND IT. POPLAR POINT PRESENT AN OPPORTUNITIES TO CHANGE THAT

NARRATIVE. I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THERM'S PROPOSAL TO REDEVELOPMENT POPLAR POINT. THINKABLE IS SERIOUS CONSIDERATION OF TUNE TO TRANSFORM AND AN UNDERUNITSLIZED PUBLIC ASSET TO A

DESTINATION WITH ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES, CREATES OPPORTUNITY AND CONTRIBUTES TO THE LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF WARD 8. HOWEVER, I HAVE ALREADY MAINTAINED THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME THING. WE CAN AFFECT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN VEMENTS, CONSTRUCTS BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS AND NEW DESTINATIONS WITHOUT FUNDAMENTALLY IMPROVING THE LIVES THE PEOPLE WHO CALL THIS

COMMUNITY HOME FOR GENERATIONS AS THIS YOUNG LADY JUST SAID. MY SUPPORT FOR THERM'S PROPOSAL IS GROUNDED IN THE EXPECTATION THAT COMPOUND BENEFITS ARE CENTRAL TO ITS IMPLEMENTATION. AS COUNCIL

CONSIDERATION THIS OPPORTUNITIES, I ENCOURAGE TO YOU PRIORITIZE THREE PRINCIPLE, FIRST COMMUNITY BENEFITS MUST BE CENTRAL AND NOT INCIDENTSAL. WARD 8 RESIDENTS SHOULD HAVE MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR

EMPLOYMENTS, BUSINESS OWNERSHIP RESULTING THIS THIS INVESTMENT. SECOND, DEVELOPMENT MUST RESPECT THE COMMUNITY'S HISTORIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL AS PPECTS. ANACOSTIA RIVER WITH PUBLIC RESOURCES AND PUBLIC

STEWARDSHIP AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ARE ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF THIS REDEVELOPMENT. THIRD, ACCOUNTABILITY MUST EXTEND BEYOND THE GROUNDBREAKING AND THE RIBBON CONSISTING. COMMUNITY -- COMMUNITY

COMMITMENTS SHOULD BE MEASURABLE, TRANSPARENT AND ENFORCEMENT. RESIDENTS DEPOSIT SERVE MORE THAN PROMISES MADE DURING THE PLANNING PROCESS. THROUGHOUT MY YEARS AS PUBLIC SERVICE, I HAVE BELIEVED THAT

THOSE CLOSEST TO THE PROBLEMS ARE CLOSER TO THE SOLUTIONS. WARD 8 RESIDENTS MUST BE GENUINE PARTNERS IN SHAPING POPLAR POINT'S FUTURE. I SUPPORT THERM'S PROPOSAL BECAUSE HE BELIEVE WE SHOULD EMBRACE

OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE MEANINGFUL INVESTMENTS EAST OF ITS ANACOSTIA RIVER WHILE INSISTING THAT SUCH INVESTMENTS CREATE LASTING BENEFITS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. THE TRUE MEASURE OF SUCCESS AT

POPLAR POINT WILL NOT SIMPLY BE WHAT IS BUILT, BUT WHO BENEFITS FROM WHAT IS BUILT. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO GI GIVE THERM'S PROPOSAL FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION WHEN COMMUNITY PROS ER TEE REMAINS AT THE

CENTER OF THIS HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. I WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. I THINK MISS LONG, MISS SCOTT AND DR. PATTERSON. WE DON'T HAVE -- I DON'T HAVE YOU ARE

IN TESTIMONY. MAYBE IT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED, BUT IF YOU COULD SUBMIT IT. I WILL MAKE SURE I SUBMIT THOSE, SIR. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TESTIMONY AND WE WILL MOVE TO THE NEXT PANEL. I HAVE BEEN IMPLORED

BY MY TEAM TO BE STRICTER ABOUT TIME LIMITS WHICH I MAY DO. Y YES? I HAD TO MOVE MY CAR. YOU DID THE RIGHT THING. AND YOUR NAME IS? JANICE JACKSON. JANICE NICHOLS JACKSON, IF YOU WANT TO COME UP.

OKAY. OKAY, GREAT. WE WILL GET TO YOU. CAMONE FREEMAN. HOWARD JEAN. DONGUAY SNYDER. I MAY BE -- OKAY. JOSLYN WALTERS. OKAY. JANEICE NICOLE JACKSON, WHEN YOU ARE READY. OH, IF YOU COULD TURN YOUR

MICROPHONE ON. GOOD AFTERNOON. OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR FRUMIN. MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, AND COUNCIL STAFF. MY NAME IS JANEICE JACKSON. I AM A BORN AND RAISED RESIDENT OF THE LONGTIME

DISTRICT RESIDENT. I'M AN ENTREPRENEUR AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATE OPERATING IN WARD 8. I'M TESTIFYING TODAY IN STRONG SUPPORT OF BILLS BE 260845 AND BE 260846. FOR DECADES, POPLAR POINT HAS BEEN

UNDERUTILIZED. THIS REPRESENTS A MAJOR $500 MILLION INVESTMENT THAT CAN FINALLY TRANSFORM THIS LAND INTO A VIBRANT AREA FOR HEALTH, RELAXATION AND LOCAL ECONOMIC UP-GROWTH. AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER

IN THE HOLISTIC WELLNESS AREA, I SEE THE TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL HERE. FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT TO TRULY SUCCEED, IT MUST WORK HAND IN HAND WITH LONGSTANDING WARD 8 FAMILIES SUCH AS MYSELF AND MY FAMILY.

THEREFORE, I URGE THE COUNCIL TO ENSURE THREE KEY PROTECTIONS THAT ARE SECURED. GUARANTEE LOCAL HIRING BECAUSE WE NEED ENFORCEABLE COMMITMENTS FOR JOB CREATION AND DIRECT WORKFORCE TRAINING, TAILORED

SPECIFICALLY FOR WARD 8 RESIDENTS AND YOUTH. PROTECT THE PUBLIC PARK LAND. WE MUST HOLD FIRM TO KEEPING AT LEAST 70 ACRES AS PUBLIC GREEN SPACE SO OUR COMMUNITY CAN ENJOY OUR RIVERFRONT ALONGSIDE

THESE NEW FACILITIES. AND WE ALSO NEED LOCAL VENDOR AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, AS I AM A LOCAL VENDOR. THIS IS HOW I CREATE INCOME, CREATE INCOME FOR MY FAMILY AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE

IN MY COMMUNITY. I ALSO TEACH DIFFERENT HOLISTIC PRACTICES, AND I FEEL LIKE WE CAN GET THIS STARTED, WE CAN GET THIS GOING. MY BUSINESS, OTHER BUSINESSES CAN BE PART OF THIS AND INCORPORATE OUR

BUSINESS WITH THIS. I ALSO THINK THAT WE NEED SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO GROW WITHIN THE NEW ECOSYSTEM. WHEN WE PAIR MAJOR PRIVATE INVESTMENTS WITH REAL COMMUNITY GUARANTEES, EVERYBODY WINS. I FULLY

SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD WITH THE THERME GROUP AT POPLAR POINT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, LEADERSHIP, AND HEARING MY TESTIMONY. RESPECTFULLY, JANEICE JACKSON, DISTRICT HOLISTIC OWNER. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK

YOU VERY HUTCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. THANK YOU. CHAIR FRUMIN: KYMONE FREEMAN. YES, COUNCILMAN. KYMONE FREEMAN. D.C. IS AN INTERNATIONAL CITY. AS SUCH, WE MUST ACT LOCAL AND THINK GLOBAL. ON MY FIRST

TRIP TO CUBA WHO BY THE WAY HAS A 100% LITERACY RATE AND A FAR SUPERIOR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, I LEARNED THAT CUBAN MEDICINE PREVENTS DIABETIC AMPUTATIONS. WHEN I WAS AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET

WITH THE U.S. CHIEF, I ASKED HIM ABOUT THE BLOCKADE ABOUT GOODS-- OF GOODS FROM ENTERING THE COUNTRY. WHY WOULDN'T THEY ALLOW LIFE-SAVING MEDICINE THAT WOULD ALALLEVIATE AMPUTATIONS IN OUR COUNTRY? HE

TOLD US IT WAS IN AMERICA'S INTEREST NOT TO DO SO. THE BUSINESS INTEREST PREFERS TO KEEP CUTTING PEOPLE'S FEET OFF RATHER THAN OUTCOMES. WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE A PLETHORA OF LIQUOR STORES. THERME SEEKS

A COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP, EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING IN WARD 8. AS A 15-YEAR BUSINESS OWNER AND A LIFELONG D.C. RESIDENT, THE POLICY-MAKERS OF THIS CITY HAVE NOT DONE THE SAME. FOR

EXAMPLE, THERE IS A 20-YEAR LIFE EXPECTANCY BETWEEN WARD 3 RESIDENTS AND WARD 8 RESIDENTS. THERE ARE 71 GROCERY STORES WEST OF THE RIVER, ONLY THREE EAST OF THE RIVER. THE LACK OF NUTRITION IS

DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH VIOLENT AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. SO IS THE EXPOSURE OF THE NEUROTOXIN LEAD IN THE HUMAN BODY. THERE IS NO MANDATE TO REPLACE ALL THE LEAD PIPES LOCATED MOSTLY EAST OF THE RIVER

UNTIL 2037. THE MAYOR AND THIS COUNCIL APPROVED TAXPAYER MONEY TO THE BILLIONAIRE OWNER OF THE WASHINGTON COMMANDERS WHO WILL PAY NO PROPERTY TAXES BUT WILL COMPLETE A NEW STADIUM WITH THE FIRST GAME

PLAYED BY 2030. THAT IS AT LEAST 7 YEARS BEFORE EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO SAFE DRINKING WATER IN THIS CITY. D.C. IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS CITIES IN AMERICA FOR A BLACK WOMAN OF ANY SOCIAL ECONOMIC

BACKGROUND TO GIVE BIRTH. CHAIR FRUMIN: I'M TOLD THAT YOU ARE CUTTING IN AND OUT A LITTLE. MAYBE YOU CAN STEP A LITTLE BIT AWAY FROM THE MICROPHONE. I'M COMING IN TOO HOT? OKAY. MY BAD. CHAIR FRUMIN:

YOU ARE ALWAYS COMING IN HOT. MY BAD. MY BAD. CHAIR FRUMIN: IT IS GOOD THAT YOU ARE COMING IN HOT. WE WANT EVERYBODY TO HEAR YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. THE NATIONAL POVERTY RATE IS 78%. IN D.C., IT IS 28%.

THERE IS A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN VIOLENCE, CRIME, AND LITERACY. D.C. HAS OVER 40 BOOKSTORES WEST OF THE RIVER AND ZERO EAST OF THE RIVER FOR 25 YEARS. NOW WARD 8 CURRENTLY HAS TWO. WARD 7, HOME

OF THE COMMANDERS NEW STADIUM STILL HAS NONE. THE AVERAGE WHITE FAMILY IN D.C. HAS 81 TIMES THE WEATHER OF THE AVERAGE BLACK FAMILY. IF THERME IS SEEKING AN EQUITABLE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR THE

WELL-BEING OF WARD 8, HOW IS THAT A VIABLE OPTION IN A CITY THAT HAS ENFORCED DISPARITIES AND INEQUITY FOR GENERATIONMENT. THE ONUS SHOULD NOT BE ON THE SHOULDERS OF THIS DEVELOPMENT ALONE. BUT THEY

MUST ALL BE ADDRESSED BY THE POLICY-MAKERS IN THIS CITY FIRST. IN ADDITION, THE ISSUE OF DISPLACEMENT COMES WITH GENTRIFICATION MUST BE RECTIFIED. THERE MUST BE A CAP ON PROPERTY TAXES IN AN EXPANDED

DISPLACEMENT-FREE ZONE THAT INCLUDES CONGRESS HEIGHTS, POPLAR POINT, AND AN YOSKOWITZIA. THE DOUGLASS COMMUNITY LAND TRUST SHOULD BE INCLUDED F IN THE PLANNING. TO NEGATE THE PACK THE FACTORS THAT

LEAD TO DISPLACEMENT. WE MUST DEVELOP ALTERNATIVES TO EXISTING POLICIES UNTIL THE POLITICALLY IMPOSSIBLE BECOMES POLITICALLY INEVITABLE. IT IS POLITICALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THIS CITY AND THIS COUNTRY TO

RUN AWAY FROM ITS DISMAL TRACK RECORD ON THE WELL-BEING OF BLACK PEOPLE. JUST AS I'M SURE THIS IT IS INEVITABLE THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL MOVE FORWARD. BUT NOT BEFORE A RADICAL REVOLUTION OF VALUES

TO ADDRESS THE LONGHELD INEQUITIES IN THIS CITY. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HOWARD JEAN. YES. GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIRMAN AND ALSO MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS HOWARD JEAN. TIME FOUNDER OF

BLACK META AGENCY. A CREATIVE SOLUTIONS COMPANY THAT WORKS AT THE INTERSECTION OF EMERGING TECH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY IMPACT. MY CONNECTIONS TO ANACOSTIA IS LONGSTANDING. I LAUNCHED THE

MLK GATEWAY PROJECT FROM ITS INCEPTION. I HAVE WORKED WITH ANACOSTIA BUSINESSES. THERE ARE WISE-RANGING PROGRAMS FROM ARTS, FESTIVALS, MODERATING ROUNDTABLES AND ENGAGEMENTS. I'M A MEMBER OF THE

ANACOSTIA BID ACE COUNCIL AND I ALSO SIT ON THE WORKFORCE COUNCILS TECH COMMITTEE. I'M TESTIFYING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF BILL 260845, THE POPLAR POINT ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION ACT OF 2026. AND THE

BILL O'846, THE POP POINT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2026. I SUPPORT THESE BILLS BECAUSE THERME, D.C. REPRESENTS MORE THAN A NEW DEVELOPMENT. IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY

WELLNESS SERVICES, CREATE AN ECONOMIC CATALYST IN SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON, D.C. AND POSITION THE DISTRICT AS A NATIONAL LEADER IN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. FIRST, WASHINGTONIANS DESERVE ACCESS TO INNOVATIVE

STATE-OF-THE-ART WELLNESS SERVICES WITHIN THE DISTRICT. I PERSONALLY VISITED MANY OF THE BATH HOUSES AND SPAS AND WELLNESS FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THIS REGION FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. I HAVE USED

SERVICES RANGING FROM SPA TREATMENTS AND THERMO-POOLS AND COLD PLUNGES, ET CETERA. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE AN HOUR TO RECEIVE THESE SERVICE THAT IS FOR ME ARE NECESSARY TO MY

REHABILITATION BUT ALSO TO MY WELLNESS. THAT MEANS OTHER WASHINGTONIANS ARE LEAVING THE DISTRICT AND SPENDING MONEY ON DINING, SHOPPING, TRANSPORTATION, AND ADDITIONAL SERVICES SURROUNDING THESE

JURISDICTIONS. THERME D.C. WOULD ALLOW THE DISTRICT TO CAPTURE THAT ACTIVITY WHILE BRINGING A WORLD-CLASS WELLNESS DESTINATION DIRECTLY TO POPLAR POINT. HIGH-END INNOVATION WELLNESS SHOULD NOT REQUIRE

DISTRICT RESIDENTS TO LEAVE THEIR OWN CITY, NOR SHOULD IT BE TREATED AS SOMETHING AVAILABLE ONLY TO CERTAIN COMMUNITIES. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS FACILITY IN WARD 8 SENDS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE.

COMMUNITIES EAST OF ANACOSTIA RIVER DESERVE ACCESS, EXCELLENCE, INNOVATION, RECREATION AND RESTORATIVE PRACTICES. SECOND, THERME CAN BE-- CAN BECOME AN IMMEDIATE ECONOMIC INFLECTION POINT FOR

SURROUNDING BUSINESSES AND POPLAR POINT. A NATIONAL DESTINATION WILL ATTRACT VISITORS FROM AROUND THE REGION, AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND AROUND THE WORLD AS MANY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID TODAY. THOSE

VISITORS WILL NOT SIMPLY ENTER THE FACILITIES AND LEAVE. THEY WILL EAT AT LOCAL RESTAURANTS, PATRONIZE NEIGHBORHOOD RETAILERS, ENGAGE LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, ATTEND ATTRACTIONS AND DISCOVER OTHER

PARTS OF SOUTHEAST D.C. THERME CAN ATTRACT AN ECOSYSTEM OF COMPLIMENTARY-- COMPLEMENTARY BUSINESSES INCLUDING TECHNOLOGY PROVIDERS, RESTAURANTS, HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES AND RETAILERS. BUSINESSES WANT

TO LOCATE NEAR DESTINATION THAT IS CONSISTENTLY GENERATE TRAFFIC. THERME D.C. CAN HELP MAKE POPLAR POINT AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT. AS THIS PROJECT MOVES FORWARD, I ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO

ENSURE THAT ITS GROWTH IS CONNECTED DISTRICTLY TO LOCAL BUSINESSES-- WORKFORCE TRAINING FOR DISTRICT COMPANIES. AS THE COUNCIL CONSIDERS THESE BILLS, I ASK THAT TWO COMMITMENTS BE BUILT INTO THE

PROJECT ITSELF. FIRST, AS MENTIONED, A TRAINING ACADEMY FOR RESIDENTS SO JOBS CREATE ACROSS WELLNESS, HOSPITALITY AND OPERATIONS ARE FILLED BY PEOPLE TRAINED FOR THEM HERE AT HOME AND REAL

PARTNERSHIPS IN THOSE CAREERS. SECOND, A COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL. WITH RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FROM ANACOSTIA SOUTHEAST TO THE VOICE OF THIS COMMUNITY STAYS RELEVANT IN THE PROCESS. FINALLY, THIS

PROJECT IS BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND HOW WELLNESS, INNOVATION CAN WORK TOGETHER. WE HAVE WORKED WITH TECH WELLNESS SOCIETY AND INCORPORATED VIRTUAL REALITY, MEDITATION, AND WELLNESS PRACTICES FOR D.C.

RESIDENTS. THAT IS NOT RHETORICAL. THIS PAST SATURDAY, CHAIRMAN FRUMIN, THE 24TH OF OCTOBER, WE PARTNERED WITH TWO ORGANIZATIONS FOR AN ANACOSTIA WELLNESS DAY ON SATURDAY. WE SELF-FUNDED THAT EFFORT

BECAUSE THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT VOID IN THE CITY. VERY FEW HEALTH AND WELLNESS ACTIVATIONS IN THE DISTRICT ARE BUILT AROUND TECHNOLOGY CENTER WELLNESS RESOURCES. WE HAVE DONE SO FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS.

TOTALING ABOUT 700 RESIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN FEATURED IN OUR PROGRAM. FE WE WILL BE FEATURED FOR THE WORK WE ARE DOING AROUND WELLNESS IN ANACOSTIA. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THERME COMING TO D.C. WE LOOK

FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS BILL MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. JOCELYN WATERS. WALTERS. I APOLOGIZE. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR FRUMIN. MEMBERS OF THIS

COMMITTEE, AND ATTENDEES. MY NAME IS JOCELYN WALTERS. I'M A THIRD-GENERATION ANACOSTIA RESIDENT IN WARD 8. I DON'T IMPOSE THE INVESTMENT IN POPLAR POINT. I DON'T EVEN RULE OUT THERME AS BEING ONE OF

THE ENTITIES THERE. BUT I CAN'T SUPPORT THESE TWO BILLS BE 260845 AND BE 260846 AS THEY ARE CURRENTLY RO POSED. I'M ASKING THE COMMITTEE TO REJECT BOTH BILLS AND REVISIT THEM AFTER THE NEXT

ADMINISTRATION SETTLES IN SO THERE CAN BE BETTER PROTECTION FOR THE COMMUNITY FROM DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION. RISING TIDES SHOULD RAISE ALL BOATS. WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT THE WATERFRONT HAS A

PLACE FOR THE EXISTING RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I'M ALSO CONCERNED THAT POPLAR POINT, THE BRIDGE DISTRICT, THE 11TH STREET BRIDGE PROJECT ARE TRANSFORMING OUR AREA PRACTICALLY AT THE SAME

TIME. THERE IS NO EXAMPLE THAT I CAN POINT TO THAT WOULD NOT GENTRIFY THIS COMMUNITY. I HEARD MANY PEOPLE SIT HERE AND SAY THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANY HOMEWORK TO PREPARE FOR THAT. OR THAT THEY ARE WILLING

TO ACCEPT THE COST. I THINK THAT IS UNFAIR TO THE RESIDENTS OF WARD 8 AND PARTICULARLY, THOSE EAST OF THE RIVER. THERE ARE BUSINESSES, ARTIST, AND NEIGHBORHOOD INSTITUTIONS THAT DON'T REALIZE THAT

EVEN IF THEY HAVE A SHORT-TERM GAIN, THEY MAY FACE FUTURE GENTRIFICATION. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I HAVE LIVED IN NEW YORK, BOSTON, AND OTHER COUNTRIES WHERE I HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN. AND I HAVE SEEN WHERE

FOR A SHORT TIME, THOSE BUSINESSES MAINTAIN, BUT EVENTUALLY, IF THEY DON'T OWN THE BUILDING, IF YOU DON'T OWN YOUR HOUSE, YOU CAN'T REALLY COUNT ON BEING ABLE TO STAY AS THE TIDE RAISES. SO I WANT TO

SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO MY PARTICIPATION SINCE ABOUT 2023 IN THE LISTENING SESSIONS AND THE OTHER AREAS WHERE THEY HAVE SAID THEY HAVE SPOKEN TO THE COMMUNITY. AND WHILE WE WERE AT THOSE SESSIONS, THEY

WERE OFTEN DURING THE DAY. THEY DID NOT INCLUDE FULL RANGE OF THE COMMUNITY. HR NA SAID THEY WOULD DO DOOR-KNOCKING FOR THE RESIDENTS CLOSEST TO SHANKING PLACE. I DON'T THINK THAT EVER HAPPENED.

LASTLY, I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE CLEANUP, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, HE ALREADY PROPOSED A CASE THAT POINTS TO THE GOVERNMENT BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE POLLUTION. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME

THAT WE KEEP SAYING THAT WE HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE TO CLEAN IT. WE KNOW WHO NEEDS TO CLEAN IT. THE MILITARY. THEY ARE THE ONE THAT IS POLLUTED THE PLACE IN THE FIRST PLACE. BUT THE REALITY IS THEY DON'T

WANT TO WAIT. MY CALL FOR THIS GROUP IS TO, TO IMPLORE THE GOVERNMENT TO WAIT AND DO THE DUE DILIGENCE SO THE RIGHT PARTIES CAN PAY FOR THAT CLEANUP. LASTLY, I WANT TO SAY THAT ANACOSTIA CAN GROW INTO

A BEAUTIFUL, AMAZING PLACE ALONGSIDE POP POINT. WE CANNOT PUT ANN COSTIA IN THE SHADOW OF HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS AND AGREEMENTS WITH REDBRICK AND OTHERS THAT DID NOT INCLUDE ANY OF OUR INPUT. WHILE THEY

DID LISTENING SESSIONS IN SOME AREAS, THEY DID NOT DO IT ACROSS ALL OF THESE AGREEMENTS COMPREHENSIVELY. I ASK THIS THIS COUNCIL REJECT THE CURRENT LEGISLATION, GIVING US OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN TO

THE FULL HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT IS BEING PUT FORTH. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. I THINK I NEED-- WE DON'T HAVE COPIES OF THE TESTIMONY FOR MR. FREEMAN. I DON'T KNOW, MS.

WALTER, IF WE HAVE YOURS YET. YOU COULD PROVIDE IT. ONE QUESTION. YOU REFERRED TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BRINGING A CASE AND THAT THE REMEDIATION WOULD HAVE TO BE BORNE BY THE MILITARY. CAN YOU-- IS

THAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY GENERAL OR IS THAT THE U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL? WHAT ARE YOU REFERRING TO THERE? I THINK IT IS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND THAT CASE THAT WAS-- HE BASICALLY FOUND THAT

THEY WERE THE ONES RESPONSIBLE, BUT GOING AFTER THAT-- THEM TO PAY THE PENALTY TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT. BUT THE NAVY WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE ON THAT LAND, AND THEY LEFT THEIR TOXINS THERE. THEY BURIED

THEM AND LEFT THAT TOXIN WASTE THERE. IT IS NOT EVEN A QUESTION AT THIS POINT OF WHO IS CULPABLE. THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE GET THAT FUNDING FROM THEM IN ORDER TO PAY FOR THE CLEANUP, FROM WHAT I

UNDERSTAND. CHAIR FRUMIN: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. SANDY ALLEN. I DON'T SEE SANDY ALLEN HERE. KRISTINA NOELL. AND THEN IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WHO HAS COME

TO TESTIFY IN PERSON? OH. OKAY. OH. OKAY. SO WHY DON'T WE GO-- IF YOU WANT TO COME TO THE TABLE. WELL, YOU HAD SAID-- YOU COME TO THE TABLE. YOU COME TO THE TABLE. I SIGNED UP. CHAIR FRUMIN: NO. I

KNOW WHO YOU ARE, STEWART. WE WILL GET YOU IN THE NEXT PANEL. MISS, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME ALSO. OKAY. OKAY. ACTUALLY, WE ARE GOING TO WORK OUR WAY ACROSS THE TABLE. SO KRISTINA, YOU WILL GO LAST

IF THAT IS OKAY. OKAY. YEAH. IF YOU ARE READY. WHEN YOU ARE READY. IF YOU COULD TELL US YOUR NAME. GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR FRUMIN: IF YOU PUT THE MICROPHONE ON. THANK YOU. OKAY. CHAIR FRUMIN: ALL RIGHT.

YES. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN FRUMIN AND MEMBERS OF THE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. BEFORE I BEGIN, AS A RESULT OF SITTING HERE TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY APOLOGIES TO WARD 8 FOR THE HISTORIC

DISINVESTMENT THAT THE CITY HAS OVERSEEN ALL THESE YEARS. AND I THINK WE HAVE A VERY-- WE HAVE A MUCH LARGER PROBLEM THAN JUST THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. AND THAT THAT--

THAT WE SHOULD DEAL WITH IT, LIKE A MARSHAL PLAN OR SOMETHING. BECAUSE MY TESTIMONY IS GOING TO ANNOY A LOT OF PEOPLE BECAUSE I AM FOR TABLING THIS PROJECT, BUT I'M NOT FOR TABLING ENORMOUS BENEFITS

TO WARD 8 BECAUSE THEY DESERVE IT. OKAY. MY NAME IS DEBBY HANRAHAN. I'M A 60-YEAR RESIDENT OF D.C. I'M TESTIFYING TODAY ABOUT THE DUE DILIGENCE OR RATHER THE LACK THEREOF CONDUCTED ON THERME GROUP,

THE EUROPEAN SPA AND WELL-BEING COMPANY CHOSEN IN APRIL, 2025, BY MAYOR BOWSER TO BE THE 15-ACRE DEVELOPER OF POPLAR POINT. F IN A 14-PAGE EXPOSE PUBLISHED BY THE "NEW YORK TIMES" ON APRIL 15, 2025,

JUST THE MONTH AFTER MAYOR BOWSER SELECTED THERME GROUP FOR THE POPLAR POINT SITE, THE NEWSPAPER REPORTED ABOUT THE COMPANY'S CONTRACT FOR TORONTO SPA IN AN ARTICLE HEADLINED, "A WELLNESS COMPANY WITH

FALSE CLAIMS, GLOBAL AIMS, AND A TORONTO ISLAND." THE TIMES REPORT RAISED THE FOLLOWING DISTURBING ISSUES ABOUT THERME'S FINANCES AND ACTUAL BUSINESS BACKGROUND: REPORTING THE FOLLOWING: FROM THE

ARTICLE, "IN PITCHING HITS TO THE WORLD, THERME HAS MISREPRESENTED ITSELF, MISLEADING THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT AND EXAGGERATING ITS EXPERIENCE IN ITS BID TO SECURE THE TORONTO DEAL." IN THE SAME

ARTICLE, THE QUOTE IS, IT FALSELY PRESENTED ITSELF AS AN INDUSTRY PLAYER THAT OPERATED AS MANY AS HALF A DOZEN SPAS IN EUROPE. IN FACT, IT OPERATED JUST ONE OUTSIDE BUCHAREST, ROMANIA. A THIRD QUOTE.

IT HAS PITCHED ITSELF-- IT HAS PITCHED ITS VISION FOR TORONTO-- IN ITS PITCH TO TORONTO, TO THE GOVERNMENT OF TORONTO, THERME'S FINANCES APPEARED TO BE SHAKY. AUDITORS FOUND IT WAS LOSING MONEY AND

HAD LESS THAN $1 MILLION EUROS TRANSLATED INTO $1.1 MILLION IN EQUITY. EARLIER IN 2023, THE "NEW YORK TIMES" REPORTED THERME GROUP TOLD ONTARIO AUTHORITIES, "IT CURRENTLY OPERATES FOUR LARGE-SCALE

FACILITIES IN GERMANY AND ROMANIA." IN FACT, THE ONLY SPA THERME HAD EVER OPERATED UP UNTIL THEN WAS IN ROMANIA. CHAIR FRUMIN: SO, MS. HANRAHAN, YOU ARE 36 SECONDS OVER. AND YOU USED A MINUTE -- ALL I

WANT TO KNOW IS DID THE CITY, AFTER THIS ARTICLE CAME OUT, GO BACK AND DO MORE DUE DILIGENCE? IN OTHER WORDS, DID THAT RAISE SOME RED FLAGS? DO WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A COMPANY THAT HAS SOUND FINANCIAL

FOOTING? I MEAN, THIS WOULD BE A SCANDAL OF ALL SCANDALS. AND I THINK WE MAY, IN OUR ENTHUSIASM TO GET SOMETHING EXCITING INTO WARD 8 AT POPLAR POINT, WE MAY HAVE CLOUDED OUR VISION. CHAIR FRUMIN: ALL

RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. I DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF. BUT WE HAVE TO -- I HAVE THE "NEW YORK TIMES" ARTICLE. YOUR ASSISTANT TELLS ME YOU HAVE IT. CHAIR FRUMIN: YES, YES, YES,

YES. NEXT UP. IF YOU CAN SAY YOUR NAME AS YOU START. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY TODAY. LET ME TELL YOU WHO I AM. I AM AN FORM ER, A FORMER DISTRDISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSIG AUTHORITY ELECT

COMMISSIONER. AND I RAN WITH OPPONENTS. LET ME TELL ME WHAT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO. NUMBER ONE, I AM THE ONLY, THE ONLY RESIDENT COUNCIL-- WE BROUGHT IN A $40,000 COMMUNITY

BENEFIT. THREE PEOPLE ON OUR COUNCIL. NOT ONLY THAT, WE ALSO MADE SURE THAT ONE ECONOMIC-- WE HAD A CONTRACT. ONE ECONOMIC CORPORATION WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. WE WANTED THESE PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE

ALL OF WARD 8 RESIDENTS HAVE INTERNET. I GOT THE CONTRACT HERE. ANYTHING I CAN TELL YOU, WE CAN PROVE IT. THIS YOUNG LADY SITTING NEXT TO ME, I MADE SURE SHE GOT $1,000 AS A RESIDENT PRESIDENT OF--

OUR PARTNERSHIP. I CONVINCED HIM TO GIVE HER $1,000 FOR YOGA. YOU KNOW, SHE DIDN'T PUT UP HER OWN FLYERS. THAT IS THE ONLY THING I DIDN'T LIKE. I DID THAT, TOO. THAT IS WHY MY FEET HURT. MY FEET ARE

SWOLLEN. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE. I SUPPORT YOU 100%. IF I CAN DO IT, YOU MAKE ME THE MODEL. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT ELSE I BROUGHT TO POTOMAC GARDENS. USING A MODEL THAT MICHAEL PATRICK

KELLEY BROUGHT. NOBODY PLAYED GAMES WITH YOU. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT IN WARD 6, I REPRESENTED AND ELECTED APPROXIMATELY 70,000 RESIDENTS. OUT OF 70,000 RESIDENTS, THE

HONORABLE TRAYON WHITE-- TRAYON WAS SO SMART AND STRATEGICALLY PLAYING ME. YOU KNOW WHY? ME AND HIM BOTH TRAINED UNDER ELAINE CARTER. ASK TRAYON WHO TRAINED HIM. NOW, COMMON SENSE SHOULD TELL YOU

DON'T LET HIM PLAY WITH YOU. LET'S LOOK AT THE MATH. FIRST AND FOREMOST, CHARLENE, JARVIS, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL COWENS, WHO BEAT HER? HE BROUGHT SO MUCH TO WARD 8. THEY ARE UNAPPRECIATIVE. HE BROUGHT--

DO YOUR HOMEWORK. HIS WIFE IS FROM IRAN. 3% PERSIANS IN WARD 8 TODAY AS WE SPEAK. LET ME TELL YOU WHO MY CONSTITUENTS ARE. HIGHLANDS. HIGHLANDS. LET ME SEE. HIGHLAND DWELLINGS. LET ME SEE. WARD 8,

WARD 8. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU. IT IS HARD. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT I DID. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHO ELSE. THIS MAN BEHIND ME, HE BETTER FIND LEANNE. HE IS GOING TO FIND ME AND WRITE DOWN THE

ADDRESS. I DON'T KNOW MY APARTMENT NUMBER. I LIVE AT 1140, SYDNEY PLAZA. HE WILL TELL YOU. CHAIR FRUMIN: YOU ARE ONE MINUTE OVER. I WILL GIVE YOU ONE MORE MINUTE TO WRAP UP. THEN WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.

YOU ARE DOING A GOOD JOB. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, I CAN'T THINK OF HER NAME. SHE WORKED WITH YOU. SHE USED TO COME IN FRONT OF ME. OUR BOARD. SHE WORKS WITH YOU NOW. I CAN'T SEE HER NAME NOW. TRUST

WHAT SHE TELLS YOU. YOU DONE GOOD. YOU AIN'T GOING TO LET NONE OF THEM HUSTLE YOU. TELL THEM THIS. THE ZONING, THE CENSUS BUREAU CHANGED EVERYTHING. I'M GOING TO HELP YOU OUT. THAT IS ALL I'M GOING TO

TELL YOU. CHAIR FRUMIN: REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DID ASK FOR YOUR NAME. WHAT WAS YOUR NAME? I NEVER TOLD YOU. GOOGLE ME. [LAUGHTER] IT IS AQU AR AI US. GOOGLE US. WE WILL TALK TO

YOU LATER. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. NEXT, IF YOU CAN SAY YOUR NAME. YOU HAD SAID BEFORE THAT YOU WERE LISTED AS A VIRTUAL WITNESS. YOU HAPPEN TO BE HERE. YES. GOOD

AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SHAWNETTE CHANEY. I'M A WARD 8 RESIDENTS, A FOUNDER, I'M A PART OF A DIFFERENT GROUP. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED THERME DEVELOPMENT AT POPLAR POINT AND THE OPPORTUNITY

IT PRESENTS TO UPLIFT SMALL WELLNESS BUSINESSES ALREADY DONE THE WORK IN SOUTHEAST D.C. I AM NOT AGAINST DEVELOPMENT. I WANT DEVELOPMENT THAT INVESTS IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN INVESTED IN THIS

COMMUNITY. FOR A VERY LONG TIME, WE HAVE MADE SPACES FOR YOUTH, MOTHERS, SENIORS AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA. THROUGH OUR HEALING, OUR YOGA AND WELLNESS-FEST THAT WE RECENTLY HAD IN

AUGUST, WE BROUGHT PRACTITIONERS AND NEIGHBORS TOGETHER. OFTEN WITH LIMITED RESOURCES. FOR THE YOGA FESTIVAL, WE WERE FACING PERMITTING BARRIERS, FUNDING CHALLENGES, AND EXPENSES I HAD TO PERSONALLY

COVER. IT WAS REALLY HARD TO GET THE PERMITS JUST TO USE THE SPACE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE ANACOSTIA ARTS CENTER. NOW, MIND YOU, WE HAD USED THAT SPACE PRIOR TO THE ANACOSTIA ARTS CENTER

CLOSING. AND WHEN WE USED IT BEFORE, PRIOR TO, WE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM USING THE SPACE. WE ALSO CREATED SOMETHING CALLED RELEASE THE WEEK. WE RAN A MOBILE SAUNA. WE HAD THE SAUNA RIGHT ACROSS THE

STREET FROM THE ART CENTER. THE SAME SPACE WHEN THE ART CENTER WAS OPEN. WE OFFERED MASSAGES, WE DID YOGA. WE DID A FORM OF-- WE OFFERED A WELLNESS EXPERIENCE RIGHT IN THE COMMUNITY. WE EXPECTED SOME

SUPPORT FROM THE LOCAL BID THAT NEVER CAME THROUGH. MONTHS LATER, THERME HOSTED A LARGER SAUNA EVENT WITH YOGA, AND SIMILAR OFFERINGS. THEY HAD THE RESOURCES TO REACH A MUCH WIDER AUDIENCE, AND TO BE

FAIR, THEY DID INVITE US. THEY DID INVITE US TO COME AND TEACH THE YOGA CLASS. WE DID NOT-- COMMUNICATION KIND OF FAILED THROUGH. WHAT IF THAT EVENT HAD HELPED GROW AND SPOTLIGHT THE WELLNESS WORK WE

WERE ALREADY DOING? THIS IS THE PARTNERSHIP I'M ASKING FOR. NOT JUST THE INVITATION TO TEACH A CLASS OR ATTEND AN EVENT. BUT SHARED INVESTMENT, DECISION-MAKING, AND OWNERSHIP. IMAGINE WALKING INTO

THERME AND SEEING A YOGA STUDIO OR OTHER INDEPENDENTLY OWNED WELLNESS BUSINESS THAT IS OPERATE-- BUSINESSES OPERATED BY OUR SOUTHEAST PRACTITIONERS. WE HAVE PEOPLE WILLING TO FINANCIALLY INVEST IN

THIS VISION. WE NEED A MEANINGFUL PARTNERSHIP. I WANT THE COUNCIL TO EXPLORE COMMUNITY-OWNED AND COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT MODELS BEFORE COMMITTING TO THIS PUBLIC LAND, BEFORE COMMITTING THIS PUBLIC

LAND FOR GENERATIONS. I WANT THE COUNCIL TO EXAMINE THE PROPOSED LAND TERMS. THE PROPOSAL HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS PROVIDING ROUGHLY 15 ACRES AND AN INITIAL GROUND RENT FOR ONE DOLLAR FOR 20 YEARS. I

UNDERSTAND THE DEVELOPER WILL ALSO BE MAKING A SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT, BUT IF THE DISTRICT CAN STRUCTURE THIS KIND OF OPPORTUNITY FOR A MAJOR DEVELOPER, WHAT PATH WAYS PATHWAYS COULD IT CREATE FOR

SMALL BUSINESS THAT IS HAVE BEEN SERVING THIS WARD FOR YEARS? HAD A LOT OF THOUGHTS. JOBS MATTERS. BUT JOBS ARE NOT OWNERSHIP. I ASKED THE COUNCIL TO MAKE COMMUNITY WELLNESS INVESTMENT AS PART OF THE

DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. BRING LOCAL PRACTITIONERS, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, POTENTIAL INVESTORS, AND THERME TO THE TABLE, AND CREATE ENFORCEABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFFORDABLE SPACE AND COMMUNITY

OWNERSHIP. THIS IS MY LIFE'S WORK. WARD 8 DOES NOT LACK TALENT OR VISION. WE NEED THE CHANCE TO GROW WHERE WE ALREADY HAVE BEEN BUILDING. WE ALREADY HAVE PEOPLE WILLING TO INVEST IN-- WILLING TO

INVEST IN THIS VISION TO MAKE IT A REALITY. WE ARE NOT ASKING THERME TO COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND CREATE WELLNESS FOR US. WELLNESS WAS ALREADY HERE. WE ARE ASKING THERME AND THE DISTRICT TO INVEST

IN THE WELLNESS ECONOMY WE HAVE ALREADY CREATED. THANK YOU. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] CHEAR MS. NOELL. CHAIR FRUMIN: YOUR MIC. YOUR MIC. SORRY. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN FRUMIN AND

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS KRISTINA NOELL. TIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BUSINESS IMPROVE DISTRICT. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT-- I'M IN SUPPORT OF BILLS 26-0845 AND 0846 AND THE OPPORTUNITY THEY

REPRESENT FOR THE ECONOMIC FUTURE OF ANACOSTIA. FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL AT POPLAR POINT. MEANWHILE, OUR SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE CONTINUED TO INVEST, OPERATE, AND

STRUGGLE WHILE WAITING FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH THAT HAS BEEN PROMISED FOR YEARS. OUR COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS HAVE TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL, BUT POTENTIAL DOES NOT PAY THE RENT, CREATE JOBS OR KEEP BUSINESSES

OPEN. CUSTOMERS DO. INVESTMENT DOES CONSISTENT ECONOMIC ACTIVITY DOES. OUR RETAIL ANALYSIS IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 23% RETAIL VACANCY, WHICH WE NEED NEW CUSTOMERS, NEW INVESTMENTS, AND COMPELLING

REASONS FOR PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO VISIT ANACOSTIA AND RETURN. THAT IS WHY THESE TWO BILLS ARE IMPORTANT. THE LAND EXCHANGE REMOVES CRITICAL BARRIERS TO DEVELOPMENT, WHILE THERME INTRODUCES THE

POTENTIAL FOR A MAJOR ECONOMIC ANCHOR THAT CAN ATTRACT VISITORS AND STIMULATE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT. THIS OPPORTUNITY IS ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN SINGLE DEVELOPMENT. THE ANACOSTIA WATERFRONT IS PART OF

OUR COMMUNITY, YET A HIGHWAY HAS PHYSICALLY SEPARATED MUCH OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FROM ITS OWN WATERFRONT FOR GENERATIONS. POPLAR POINT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECONNECT THAT WATERFRONT TO HISTORIC

ANACOSTIA AND CREATE DYNAMIC MIXED-USE COMMUNITY WITH HOUSING, RESTAURANTS, RETAIL, ENTERTAINMENT, RECREATION, PUBLIC SPACES, ARTS, AND CULTURE. WE NEED ANOTHER NEW EXCITING ASSET THAT DRAWS PEOPLE TO

ANACOSTIA AND GENERATES THE CONSISTENT FOOT TRAFFIC OUR BUSINESSES DESPERATELY NEED. IMPORTANTLY, POPLAR POINT AND THERME ARE PART OF THE DISTRICT'S DESIGNATED ARTS AND CULTURE DISTRICT. IMAGINE A

WATERFRONT WHERE ANACOSTIA'S MUSIC HISTORY, PUBLIC ART, CULTURE, AND LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE FRONT AND CENTER. A DESTINATION THAT CELEBRATES OUR IDENTITY, RATHER THAN DEVELOPING IT SEPARATELY FROM IT.

ACCORDING TO THERME'S PROJECTIONS, THE PROJECT COULD BRING APPROXIMATELY $800 IN PRIVATE INVESTMENT, MORE THAN 600 PERMANENT JOBS. IF 5% OF THOSE PROJECTED VISITS GENERATED ADDITIONAL $40 PURCHASE AT

A LOCAL BUSINESS, THAT COULD REPRESENT APPROXIMATELY $4.2 MILLION IN ANNUAL GROWTH SPENDING ALONG OUR CORRIDORS. THAT IS AN ILLUSTRATION, NOT A GASH TEE, BUT IT DEMONSTRATES OPPORTUNITY. HOWEVER, WE

MUST INTENTIONALLY CONNECT THAT ECONOMIC ACTIVITY TO OUR EXISTING BUSINESSES THROUGH THE SHUTTLE, PETTY CABS, CULTURAL TOURS, RESTAURANT PACKAGES, DESTINATION MARKETING, AND LOCAL BUSINESS

PARTNERSHIPS. WE MUST ENSURE MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WARD 8 RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES THROUGH EMPLOYMENT, CONTRACTING, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. I RECOGNIZE THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS SURROUNDING

POPLAR POINT. WETLAND PROTECTIONS, RIVER RESTORATION, FLOOD RESILIENCE, AND PUBLIC WATERFRONT ACCESS MUST REMAIN PRIORITIES. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION SHOULD NOT BE COMPETING

OBJECTIVES. ANACOSTIA DESERVES BOTH. SUCCESS SHOULD BE MEASURED, NOT ONLY BY WHAT IS BUILT AT POPLAR POINT, BUT BY THE BUSINESSES STRENGTHENED, STOREFRONTS FILLED, JOBS CREATED, AND ECONOMIC

OPPORTUNITIES REACHING OUR COMMUNITY. CHAIRMAN FRUMIN, ANACOSTIA DOES NOT LACK CULTURE, HISTORY, ENTREPRENEURS OR COMMUNITY ASSETS. WHAT WE HAVE LACKED IN SUSTAINED INVESTMENT, THAT BUILDS SUSTAINED

INVESTMENT AND BUILDS UPON THESE STRENGTHS. THERME PRESENTS A POTENTIAL CATALYST. A DYNAMIC MIXED-USE WATERFRONT CREATES A DESTINATION. OUR ARTS AND CULTURE DISTRICT PROVIDES THE IDENTITY THAT

CONNECTS IT ALL TO THE COMMUNITY. OUR BUSINESSES CAN NOT CONTINUE TO WAIT INDEFINITELY FOR PROMISED INVESTMENT. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO ADVANCE BOTH BILLS AND HELP TURN DECADES OF POTENTIAL INTO

MEANINGFUL ECONOMIC PROGRESS FOR ANACOSTIA. THANK YOU. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PANEL. I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE YOUR TESTIMONY. I'M

NOT SURE -- YOU DO. CHAIR FRUMIN: MS. HANRAHAN, I THINK YOU HANDED IT. I DID SUBMIT IT. I CHANGED IT A LOT. CAN I RESUBMIT IT? CHAIR FRUMIN: IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO, SURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. AND

NOW MR. ANDERSON, AND THERE WERE A COUPLE OF OTHER PEOPLE. OKAY. SO IF YOU GUYS WANT TO COME FORWARD. OKAY. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WHO HAS COME TO TESTIFY IN PERSON ABOUT THE POPLAR POINT

DISPOSITION LEGISLATION? HEARING NONE, I THINK WE WILL MOVE ON. IF YOU CAN STATE YOUR NAME AND THEN YOU CAN START WITH YOUR TESTIMONY. OKAY. YOUR NAME IS? I WAS ABOUT TO CALL YOU OUT. . CHAIR FRUMIN:

DID YOU CHANGE YOUR HAIR? I DID CHANGE MY HAIR. THANK YOU FOR NOTICING. CHAIR FRUMIN: GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF SLACK. I THANK YOU IT EVERY TIME. ALL RIGHT. WHENEVER YOU ARE READY. CHAIR FRUMIN: ALL

RIGHT. WHEN YOU ARE READY. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR FRUMIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST TODAY'S HEARING. AND HAVE CONTINUED TO BE A STEADFAST PARTNER WITH ANC AND STANDING WITH OUR

COMMUNITY. HI I'M THE CHAIR OF A NCAA AND A SINGLE-MEMBER-DISTRICT COMMISSIONER. WE REPRESENT THE ANACOSTIA AND FAIRLINE COMMUNITIES. AND IT IS HOME TO POPLARPOINT. ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, A NCAA

VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO SUPPORT BILL 26-0845, THE POPLAR POINT ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION APPROVAL ACT. AND UNANIMOUSLY TO OPPOSE, BE 260846, THE POPLAR POINT DEVELOPMENT ANCHOR DISPOSITION ACT OF 2026.

POPLAR POINT IS A ONCE IN A GENERATION DEVELOPMENT. ONCE IN A GENERATION. ANC-AA HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT FOR AT LEAST ONE IF NOT TWO GENERATIONS THUS FAR. INCLUDING AN ENTIRE SIX

YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION. WE SPENT MORE THAN A GENERATION TALKING ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN HERE. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO GET RIGHT. SO MANY RESIDENTS HAVE TESTIFIED TODAY

ABOUT THE OTHER TRANSFORMATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE DISTRICT. THAT HAS LEFT US WITH DISPLACEMENT, REMOVING BLACK COMMUNITIES, BLACK RESIDENTS, AND HAVE CREATED-- IT HAS TAKEN AWAY

BLACK WEALTH. CHAIR FRUMIN: COMMISSIONER WHITE? I THINK IT IS THE MICS MAYBE. MOVE BACK JUST A LITTLE. I WANT TO PULL IT TOWARDS ME. WE CAN'T RUSH INTO AN AGREEMENT OF THIS MAGNITUDE SIMPLY BECAUSE WE

HAVE BEEN WAITING SO LONG. THAT IS A DISSERVICE. WE HAVE SEEN WHAT HAPPENED WHEN GOVERNMENT AND DEVELOPERS PROMISE TRICKLE-DOWN ECONOMICS. THEY TELL US THAT A PROJECT WILL BRING JOBS, TAX REVENUE,

AMENITY, ECONOMIC PROSPERITIES, TO COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED FOR DECADES. WE ARE TOLD THESE INVESTMENTS WILL BENEFIT THE PEOPLE ALREADY LIVING THERE, BUSINESSES WILL GROW AND WEALTH WILL

FLOW. BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THAT TRICKLE-DOWN NEVER COMES. THE PROMISED WEALTH IS EXTRACTED FROM COMMUNITIES, AND IN THIS CASE, WILL NOT WILL NOT ONLY BE EXPORTED TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY. HIGH-PAYING

ASSET-BUILDING JOBS FAIL TO REACH BLACK RESIDENTSEDS AND WARD 8 RESIDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT. THE WEALTH DOES COME. BUT NOT FOR US. WE HEAR ALL DAY HOW RESIDENTS HAVE TESTIFIED ABOUT PROMISES OF

DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS NOT MATRICULATED DOWN. IN WARD 8, WE HAVE HAD LOTS OF INVESTMENT OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. WE STILL DON'T HAVE AN ANCHOR BUSINESS. WE STILL HAVEN'T SEEN HOW THAT INVESTMENT HAS

BENEFITED EXISTING WARD 8 RESIDENTS AND WARD 8 BUSINESSES IN A MEANINGFUL WAY. WE HAVE ANOTHER MAJOR DEVELOPMENT MENTIONED TODAY. THE BRIDGE DISTRICT THAT HAS NOT OPENED UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR

BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS, TO MY UNDERSTANDING. AND THIS IS HAPPENING IN ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST CITIES IN THE WORLD. NOT JUST THE COUNTRY, BUT ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST CITIES IN THE WORLD. THAT WEALTH IS

NOT SHARED. WEALTH CONTINUES TO GROW IN PREDOMINANTLY WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS WEST OF THE ANACOSTIA RIVER, IN BLACK COMMUNITIES, BOTH EAST AND WEST OF THE RIVER CONTINUE TO FACE SYSTEMIC POVERTY,

DISPLACEMENT, AND BARRIERS TO ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. I WILL SAY WE LIVE IN AN ECONOMIC APARTHEID. DEVELOPMENT HAS MADE US GET CLOSER TO THAT REALITY. GENERATIONS OF SYSTEMIC DISINVESTMENT USING OUR

PUBLIC DOLLARS AND TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO MAKE EVERYONE RICH EXCEPT OURSELVES. WE CANNOT KEEP GIVING AWAY PUBLIC LAND AND RESOURCES BASED ON PROMISES WITHOUT ENSURING THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED

FROM THAT PROSPERITY ACTUALLY BENEFITS. WE NEED PROOF, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND CONSEQUENCES FOR ANY LAND THAT IS INVESTED IN. EQUITY AND INCLUSION CANNOT JUST BE USED TO JUSTIFY DEVELOPMENT. THEY HAVE TO

PRODUCE REAL RESULT. BEFORE THE DISTRICT COMMITS LAND FOR GENERATIONS, WE SHOULD HAVE CONFIDENCE IN WHO WE ARE PARTNERING WITH, CONFIDENCE IN THE SELECTION PROCESS OF HOW THEY EVEN GOT SELECTED IN THE

FIRST PLACE. WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND IF THE RFP WAS WRITTEN TO BE A PROCUREMENT OR IF IT WAS ACTUALLY WRITTEN FOR THE PUBLIC: THERME HAS NOT DEMONSTRATED THAT TO OUR SATISFACTION. WE NEED TO TAKE VERY,

VERY HEED WARNINGS TO WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN ONTARIO, CANADA. WE NEED TO TAKE WARNINGS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING TO WARD 8. LOCK AT GOOD FOODS MARKET. IT OPENED AND CLOSED WITHIN A YEAR. IF

ANYONE WOULD HAVE DONE THE DUE DILIGENCE TO DO A PROPER INVESTIGATION ON THAT COMPANY, THEY WOULD HAVE SEEN THAT THIS COMPANY HAS A TRACK RECORD OF STARTING AND OPERATING IN LOW-RESOURCE, UNDERSERVED

COMMUNITIES AND DIPPING OUT. I HAVE A PROCESS-- PROBLEM WITH THE ENTIRE PROCESS. WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS. IT IS CALLED A CBA ANALYSIS THAT ACCOUNTS FOR ALL PUBLIC INVESTMENTS

REQUIRED TO MAKE THIS DEVELOPMENT POSSIBLE. NOT JUST THE LAND'S VALUE. THAT MEANS THE MONEY WE ARE GOING TO SPEND ON ROADS, UTILITIES, TRTION, WATER, ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT AND EVERY OTHER COST THAT

WOULD HAVE TO BE BORNE BY PUBLIC INVESTMENT. WE NEED TO TAKE SERIOUS THESE ALLOCATIONS AND TAKE SERIOUS THE STEWARDSHIP THAT WE HAVE OVER PUBLIC FUNDING. LASTLY, I FIND IT DISRESPECTFUL THAT THE

ADMINISTRATION WOULD INTRODUCE A TRANSFORMATIONAL DEVELOPMENT BILL AT THE LAST HOUR. IT IS MORE CONCERNING TO HEAR TWO DAYS-- TODAY THAT THE DEPUTY MAYOR, WHEN ASKED BY OUR COUNCIL MEMBER ABOUT RACIAL

EQUITY SUGGESTED THAT SHE WOULD BE WILLING TO HAVE AN INTENTIONAL CONVERSATION ABOUT RACIAL EQUITY AFTER THE FACT, AFTER THE BILL IS PASSED AND NOT BEFORE. ONCE AGAIN, RACIAL EQUITY AND BLACK PEOPLE

IS TREATED AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT AND PUSHED TO THE MARGINS. I CANNOT HELP BUT WONDER WHETHER YOUR RESIDENTS AND WEST OF THE RIVER AND THE WEALTHIER WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WOULD HAVE

BEEN TOLD YOUR EQUITY I ISSUES WILL BE ADDRESSED AFTER COUNCIL PASS IT IS BILL. WOULD THEY HAVE ACCEPTED THAT? I WANT TO TAKE MORE TIME. THE PEOPLE HAVE INVESTED THEIR FLIES WARD 8 AND SHOULD NOT BE

TREAT AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT WHEN MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY. FOR SIX YEARS, ANC-AA HAS ASKED THE ADMINISTRATION TO INVEST IN THE ANACOSTIA SMALL AREA PLAN SO WE CAN REALIZE THE ARTS AND

CULTURAL DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY WE DESERVE. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED. INSTEAD, WE ARE LEFT WITH ONE-OFF DEVELOPMENTS, DRIVEN BY WHICHEVER DEVELOPER HAS THE MOST MONEY AND OPPORTUNITY AND

LEAVING THE COMMUNITY BEHIND. WE NEED A PLAN THAT REFLECTS HOW WE SEE OUR FUTURE, RATHER THAN CONTINUING TO REACT TO PROPOSALS BROUGHT TO US AFTER MAJOR DECISIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE. FORTUNATELY,

FOR US, WE HAVE AN INCOMING MAYOR, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPROACH DEVELOPMENT DIFFERENT. UNDER THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION WHO IS COMMITTED TO A PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMAGINE

LIKE MY SISTER AYANNA LONG SAID. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR DREAMS TO NO LONGER BE DEFERRED BUT OUR DREAMS TO BE DESERVED. WE ARE NOT ASKING THE COUNCIL TO ABANDON POPLAR POINT. THE DECISIONS WE

MAKE TODAY WILL AFFECT GENERATIONS WHO ARE NOT YET HERE TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. SO WE HAVE ASKED YOU NOT TO ADVANCE BE 26-046 WHICH WOULD AUTHORIZE THIS DEVELOPMENT TO BE FOR THERME. CHAIR FRUMIN:

I'M TR TRY TO BE GENEROUS ON TIME. WE HAVE TO STOP USING EXCLUSIONARY DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES AND PROCESSES THINKING WE ARE GOING TO GET AN EQUITABLE FUTURE. THANK YOU. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU VERY

MUCH. IF YOU COULD SAY YOUR NAME AND THEN YOU CAN PROCEED WITH YOUR TESTIMONY. MY NAME IS COMMISSIONER ROBIN MCKINNEY. TIME VICE-CHAIR COMMISSION FOR THE DISTRICT. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY. WE HAVE

BEEN ASKED TO SUPPORT A DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL LEASE A PROPERTY 15 ACRES O'. PUBLIC LAND FOR A DOLLAR. PER YEAR. THE FIRST 20 YEARS. THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC COMMITMENT AND PUBLIC CALLS DOES NOT

STOP AT THE LAND. WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT PUBLIC IS INVESTING IN AND WHAT THE PUBLIC IS RECEIVING IN RETURN. BEING A SINGLE MOM OF 7, RAISING MY CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IN HISTORIC ANACOSTIA

AND IN CONGRESS HEIGHTS, I WAS ONE OF THOSE WHO LIVED IN GRAND VIEW CONDOS ON TALBOT STREET WHO WAS US DISPLACED. NO ONE CAME TO RESCUE UNTIL THE END. WE APPRECIATE YOUR FAVOR. I JUST BOUGHT A HOUSE.

I WILL BE ADJACENT TO THIS PROJECT. 1022 HOWARD ROAD, SOUTHEAST. THIS IS MY THIRD TERM AS AN ANC COMMISSIONER THAT I DECIDED TO GIVE UP FOR RIGHT NOW. I'M THE DIRECTER TO FOR CONSTITUENT SERVICES FOR

TRAYON WHITE'S OFFICE. I KNOW WHAT GENERATIONAL WEALTH STANDS FOR. WORKING HARD AS A SINGLE PARENT, NOT KNOWING WHEN THE TAXES GO UP. IF I DIE TODAY OR TOMORROW. TRYING TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS CAN KEEP

UP WITH THE TAX AND NOTHING IS BEING PREDATORY TOWARDS THEM WITH THE NEW DEVELOPMENT COMING IN. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE SOMEONE KEEPS THEIR EYE OPEN ON WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR COMMUNITY. A LOT OF TIMES THAT

DOES NOT HAPPEN. MY DAUGHTER WENT THROUGH THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM. SHE HAS A JOB. WHEN THESE PROGRAMS AND BIG DEVELOPMENT COME THROUGH, NO ONE FOLLOWS UP. I CURRENTLY PAY TO GO TO EVENTS IN ANY

COMMUNITY-- TO MY COMMUNITY. WE WANT TO TAKE A SECOND LOOK BECAUSE ONCE THIS IS SEALED AN AND DONE, WHO WILL LOOK AFTER AND KEEP AN EYE ON EVERYTHING? WHO WILL KNOW WHO WORKS AND WHO DOESN'T WORK? I

STILL APPROVE THE PERMIT TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY MOVING AND THE HEAVY TRAFFIC THAT HAPPENS IN THE AREA. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE OVERSEES THIS AND WE DON'T JUST MOVE FORWARD. THAT IS WHY WE ARE

OPPOSING IT. AS THE ANC COMMISSIONER. WE WANT TO TAKE TIME OUT TO HEAR OTHERS OUT AND GET OTHER PEOPLE A CHANCE. MISS LOCKRIDGE HAS BEEN A GREAT NEIGHBOR ALL MY LIFE. SHE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT I MET

AND THAT I KNOW. FOR THE OTHERS, I CAN'T SPEAK WITH THEM. BUT I HAVE TO BE FAIR AND I DO KNOW MISS LOCKRIDGE. SHE HAS BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU VERY.

FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. MR. ANDERSON. SO YEAH. I'M STILL STEWART ANDERSON. LET ME SAY I'M ACTUALLY HERE SO YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE CLOCK, TO TALK ON BEHALF OF THE WARD 8. SO I SHOULD BE GETTING, LIKE, SIX

MINUTES HERE. CHAIR FRUMIN: CAN I JUST SAY, LIKE-- HAS ANYONE TREATED THE CLOCK AS IF IT WERE RELEVANT? [LAUGHTER]. I CAN DISREGARD THE CLOCK. CHAIR FRUMIN: NO, NO, NO. YOU CAN'T. BUT -- I WILL BE

CONSCIOUS OF IT. CHAIR FRUMIN: WE WILL RESET IT SO IT SHOWS FIVE. I'M A NATIVE WASHINGTONIAN. I GREW UP IN THE CITY. I RAISED MANY I CHILDREN HERE. EDUCATED THROUGH D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. GRADUATED UDC.

I HAVE TO PLUG THAT. I WANT EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM TO KNOW. I DON'T TAKE THIS BILL OR THIS PROJECT LIGHTLY BECAUSE I PERSONALLY, AND I WANT TO SPEAK FOR MY PERSONAL CAPACITY FIRST, IS THAT WE HAVE

BEEN WAITING FOR POP POINT TO TRANSFER. WE HAVE THEY HAVE BEEN CLOSER TO A TRANSFER THAN THIS MOMENT. SO AS IT RELATES TO B26-0845. YOU ALL NEED TO PUSH THAT. YOU CAN MOVE THAT WITHOUT MOVING THE

OTHER. THAT IS MY PERSONAL PIECE. I SUPPORT THE THERME PIECE AS WELL. I AM HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THIS PROJECT FROM THE POSITION OF BEING THE FIRST VICE-CHAIR FOR THE WARD 8 DEMS. MY

STATEMENT NOW IS FROM THE DEMS. IT IS NOT A PERSONAL PIECE. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? IT IS FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. CHAIRMAN FRUMIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT IS MY PLEASURE. MEMBERS WHO WILL HEAR

THIS TESTIMONY AND READ THE TESTIMONY THAT'S ALREADY BEEN SUBMITTED, I'M HAPPY TO TESTIFY ON BEHALF OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS THE RESIDENTS OF WARD 8. WARD 8 DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

APPRECIATES THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SUBMITTED THE WRITTEN TESTIMONY AND FOR ME NOW TO KIND OF READ THROUGH THIS PROPOSED LAND EXCHANGE AND SWAP AND REDEVELOPMENT OF POPLAR POINT. OUR ORGANIZATION

GENERALLY SUPPORTS THIS PROJECT. IN TOTAL. BOTH BILLS. BOTH PROVISIONS. BUT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO SUPPORT EQUITABLE, SUSTAINABLE MIXED-USE OF THE 40 ACRES OF THE 70 THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO

DEVELOP. HAVING SAID THAT, WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE WAITED LONG ENOUGH. THAT WARD 8 HAS WAITED LONG ENOUGH. THAT IS WHAT THE WARD 8 DEMOS DEMS BELIEVE. WE HAVE WAITED LONG ENOUGH. YOU SHOULD NOT STOP.

YOU SHOULD NOT REPROGRAM. YOU SHOULD MOVE ON 0845 NOW, AND IF WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR YOU TO MOVE ON THAT IN THE NEXT COUNCIL FOR 0846, THEN SO BE IT. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY, NOT

JUST FOR SOME GOOD-PAYING JOBS, NOT JUST FOR THE LONG-AWAITED DIFFERENT AMENITIES THAT IS GOING TO COME WITH WHATEVER WE PUT THERE. THIS ISES A WHARF-TYPE DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS NOT NO I'M IN THE CITY,

I'M IN HIGHLANDS. IT IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT. WHEN WE REALLY LOOK AT IT. WE LOOK AT IT AS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE, RIGHT? THE WARD DEMS WANT US TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE BRING IN THE RIGHT TYPE OF

CONTRACTOR TO DO THE RIGHT TYPE OF BUSINESSES IF, AND BRING IN ALL OF THE OTHER ENTITIES, THEY WILL DRIVE THE HOUSING STUFF THAT EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO-- AND THE COUNCIL CAN

THEN PASS SOME LEGISLATION TO MAINTAIN AND ENSURE THAT EVERYBODY ADHERES TO THE CURRENT PARAMETERS FOR HOUSING THAT EXIST IN ANACOSTIA TODAY. BECAUSE ALL OF THE-- FOR DECADES POPLAR POINT SAT THERE.

RIGHT? WE PUT A LOT OF ENERGY IN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A MINUTE. THEN IT FIZZLE OUT. WE TALKED ABOUT IT, THEN IT FIZZLE OUT. WE NOW HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY. WHETHER WE HAVE TO BUY THE LAND FROM REDBRICK

OR THEY CAN AGREE WITH THE SWAP WITH THE PARAMETERS. BECAUSE THEY NEED TO AGREE TO THOSE PARAMETERS. WE BELIEVE THAT THE DISTRICT NEEDS THIS TURNAROUND TO HAPPEN NOW AND NOT BE REPROGRAMMING. WE WANT

TO SEE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS, BUT PROGRESS THAT IS GROUNDED IN A COMPREHENSIVE KIND OF SUSTAINABLE PIECE. OUR PRIORITY IS ENSURING THAT POPLAR POINT BECOMES THE VIBRANT SPACE, THE MIXED-USE AND ALL OF

THAT THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE ON WE CAN LIVE WITH. WE BELIEVE THAT THE BENEFITS PACKAGE THAT IS ARE PUT TOGETHER NEED TO BE TIGHTLY WOUND SO THAT THERE ARE NO LOOPHOLES FOR DEVELOPERS AND THERME IF WE

CHOOSE THERME TO SQUEAK OUT OF. THIS MEANS, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? IT MEANS CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOME HOUSING. IT MAY NOT BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE IT'S ON THE WATER. WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF

THAT. RIGHT? MOST TIMES WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY IN SPACE THAT IS ARE NOT ACTUALLY DESIGNED FOR THAT. WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT WHARF ON M STREET, WE LOOK AT THAT SPACE ON MAIN STREET, IT WASN'T ALWAYS

LIKE THAT. THE GOVERNMENT TOOK A LEAP OF FAITH. THE EXECUTIVE TOOK A LEAP OF FAITH. AND INVESTED INTO SOME STUFF, AND WE BUILT UP FROM THERE. THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO SEE ON THIS SIDE OF THE ANACOSTIA

AS WELL. WE HAVE SEEN WHAT MAJOR ATTRACTIONS PAIRED WITH KIND OF COMPLEMENTARY TYPES OF FRUK CHURL INFRASTRUCTURE STUFF CAN DO. WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT STADIUM, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SOCCER STADIUM, FOR

THOSE OF YOU MY AGE AND OLDER-- I AIN'T GOING TO TELL MY AGE. RIGHT? WE REMEMBER WHEN ALL OF M STREET BOTH SIDES, NORTH AND SOUTH ALL THE WAY INTO SOUTHWEST WAS RUNDOWN. EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOR THE

MILITARY BASE. BUT WE BUILT IT UP. WE START BUILDING STUFF, AND IT WASN'T AFFORDABLE TO EVERYBODY WHO LIVED THERE. BUT IF WE BRING IN THE RIGHT TYPE OF JOB TRAINING UP FRONT AS HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID,

WE CAN DEFINITELY TRAIN SOME PEOPLE FOR A PROJECT THAT IS NOT GOING TO STICK A SHOVEL IN THE GROUND FOR FIVE YEARS. THAT'S WHERE I HEARD IT, IN THIS ROOM. IT WILL BE FIVE YEARS. WE WILL CLOSE THIS

PIECE OUT, RIGHT? CHAIR FRUMIN: THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT US GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT AS THE DISTRICT FACES THE NEXT FEW YEARS. WE ARE GOING TO BE IN A TIGHT BUDGET. THE BUDGET

IS GOING TO GET TIGHTER IN 2028, 2029. AND 2030. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE BEYOND THAT POINT. RIGHT? BUT IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE THINK ABOUT ANCHORING SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO

DRAW REVENUE THAT COULD POSSIBLY CREATE SOME GOOD JOBS THAT COULD DEFINITELY CREATE A DESTINATION THAT WILL PULL SOME PEOPLE IN. IF YOU DON'T DECIDE TO DO THE THERME PIECE, WE HAVE TO START THINKING

TODAY ABOUT WHAT CAN WE PUT THERE THAT IS GOING TO DRAW IN PEOPLE, AND THE ONE LAST THING I'M GOING TO SAY BECAUSE THAT IS MY TESTIMONY, RIGHT? THAT IS MY TESTIMONY, BUT THE LAST THING I WILL SAY IS

THIS. I HAVE NOT SEEN A COMPANY SAY HEY, I'M GOING TO PAY FOR THE CLEANUP. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I THINK I WANT TO THANK THIS PANEL. I DON'T HAVE THE WRITTEN TESTIMONY

FROM EVERYBODY. IF YOU CAN GET US-- I'M NOT SURE. WE WILL CHECK. LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE GET IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THIS PANEL. I BELIEVE-- SO I DON'T SEE SALIM ADOFO. I DON'T SEE JOSEPH JOHNSON.

SO THEN I BELIEVE WITH THAT, EVERYBODY WHO HAS COME TO TESTIFY IN PERSON ABOUT POPLAR POINT WILL HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY. AND WE WILL NOW TURN TO OUR VIRTUAL WITNESSES. TO THE REEVES CENTER

TEAM, WE ARE GOING TO GET TO YOU. THERE ARE-- JUST SO THAT YOU, SO THAT YOU HAVE A SENSE, THERE ARE 18 NAMES ON THE LIST OF VIRTUAL WITNESSES. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE WILL HAVE 18 WITNESSES, BUT HERE

WE GO. OKAY? SO FOR THOSE ONLINE, KRISTINA HANSON. I GUESS I'M GOING TO GO UNTIL I HAVE EIGHT PEOPLE IN THE PANEL, AND THEN I'LL STOP. THEN WE WILL DO A SECOND PANEL. KRISTINA HANSON. NO? GRETA

FULLER. YES. OKAY. BRENDA LEE RICHARDSON. PATRICK O'KEEFE. SANDRA SEEGARS. MELANIE JORDAN. YES? STEFAN LOCKRIDGE. YES. RAYMOND BELL. CHRIS OTTEN. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. OKAY. SO WHEN YOU ARE READY, GRETA

FULLER. OKAY. THANK YOU. FIVE MINUTES. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS GRETA FULLER. I'M A WARD 8 RESIDENT, AND MY PROFESSIONAL WORK CENTER IS ON WELLNESS

MEDICINE AND ENGINEERING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY ON BILL 26-0 # 45. I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR. I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE DISTRICT ACQUIRING POPLAR POINT. I HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT LEASING

15 ACRES OF THE LAND TO THE THERME GROUP FOR A EUROPEAN-STYLE RESORT AND INDOOR TROPICAL WATER PARK. BRINGING 110 ACRES OF WATERFRONT UNDER DISTRICT CONTROL IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR WARD 8. SECURING

THIS LAND IS A MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT, BUT WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE DISTRICT TAKES OWNERSHIP MUST BE HANDLED WITH FULL TRANSPARENCY AND WITH THE NEEDS OF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY AT THE CENTER OF EVERY

DECISION. FIRST, 70 ACRES WILL REMAIN AS PARK LAND. THE DISTRICT WILL STILL BE COMMITTING A LARGE PORTION OF THE 40 ACRES OF PRIME WATERFRONT, 15 ACRES APPROXIMATELY TO A PRIVATE COMMERCIAL RESORT.

UNDER A 60-YEAR LEASE. THAT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY LONG-TERM OBLIGATION. IT WARRANTS A CAREFUL COMPETITIVE PROCESS ALTHOUGH THE BILL SHIFT IMMEDIATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONSTRUCTION FACILITIES TO PRIVATE

DEVELOPERS. THE DISTRICT WOULD STILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAJOR SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE. THE CITY WOULD NEED TO DESIGN AND BUILD NEW ACCESS ROADS AND CONNECTION CORRIDORS, LIKELY JOINED FROM THE

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET. SIGNIFICANT UP A GRIEDZ INCLUDING THE SEWER SYSTEMS, TRANSIT ACCESS WOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED TO ACCOMMODATE THOUSANDS OF DAILY VISITORS TO THIS SITE. PLAYING ADISSAL--

PLACING ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON SYSTEMS THAT ARE ALREADY STRAINED. HISTORIC PRESERVATION EXPERTS HAVE RAISED SERIOUS CONCERNS AS WELL. ITS INWARD-FACING DESIGN COULD CREATE ISOLATEDK A SET POINTS. WE

STILL DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE FACILITY WILL ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE. NO DESIGN PLANS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED. THERE IS NO CLEAR EXPECTATION OF HOW THE DEVELOPERS PROPOSE-- HOW ITS PROPOSAL WOULD FIT INTO THE

EXISTING LANDSCAPE. THIS LACK OF INFORMATION IS A MAJOR ISSUE. AND WHILE IT MAY BE TRUE THAT VISITORS AT THE FACILITY WOULD ENJOY CAPITAL VIEWS AND PANORAMIC VIEWS OF THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS,

THE SAME CANNOT BE SAID FOR RESIDENTS THAT ARE EAST OF THE RIVER. THE RESIDENTS OF WARD 8, THEIR VIEWS WILL BE BLOCKED OR LIMITED ONCE AGAIN, LIMITING ACCESS TO THE CLEAR CAPITAL VIEWS THAT ARE

SUPPOSED TO BE PROVIDED AND SHARED BY EVERYONE. TAKEN TOGETHER, THESE UNRESOLVED FINANCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND DESIGN CONCERNS MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE PROJECT REQUIRES ADDITIONAL SCRUTINY BEFORE IT

MOVES FORWARD. SECOND, THE DISTRICT NEVER RAN A COMPETITIVE RFP. THERME WAS SELECTED, AND RFEI IS SIMPLY AN INFORMATION MALL GATHERING TOOL. IT IS NOT A FORMAL PROCUREMENT PROCESS. IT DOES NOT REQUIRE

COMPETITION. BECAUSE NO RPF WAS EVER ISSUED. THERME WAS THE ONLY RESPONDENT, THE DISTRICT EFFECTIVELY BYPASSED THE MULTI-BID PROCESS DESIGN TO PROTECT PUBLIC LAND AND PUBLIC DOLLARS. MOVING DIRECTLY

TOWARD A 60-YEAR GROUND LEASE WITHOUT OPEN COMPETITION. THIS GOES AGAINST THE NORMAL ORDER OF OPERATION FOR A PUBLIC LAND DISPOSITION OF THIS SCALE. THIS REQUIRES A MASTER PLAN BEFORE ANY DEVELOPER IS

CHOSEN. THAT PLAN HASN'T BEEN MADE. APPROVING A 15-ACRE LEASE NOW LEAVES THE REST OF THE SITE, 70 ACRES OF PROMISED PARK LAND WITHOUT A BUILDING FRAMEWORK. THIRD, THE ARGUMENT THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS

INTEREST, MOST DEVELOPERS DON'T SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR LAND THAT THE DISTRICT DOESN'T OWN YET. IF THE CITY FINISHES THE LAND TRANSFER FIRST, THEN ISSUES A PROPER RFP, PERHAPS WE CAN HAVE A STRONGER

INTEREST FROM OTHER QUALIFIED BIDDERS. FINALLY, AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN THE WELLNESS AREA, I WANT TO ADDRESS THE CLAIM THAT THE PROJECT PROMOTES COMMUNITY WELLNESS. A LUNGS RA SPA IS NOT A PUBLIC

HEALTH INTERVENTION. REAL WELLNESS COMES FROM ACCESSIBLE GREEN SPACE, RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND LOCAL HEALTH RESOURCES. NOT FROM A COMMERCIAL RESORT. EVEN WHEN DISCOUNTS ARE PROPOSED THROUGH A

COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT, THOSE BENEFITS OFTEN BECOME COMPLICATED IN PRACTICE. I HAVE NO OBJECTION TO OTHER GROUPS, BUT IT RAISES A REAL CONCERN THAT WARD 8 RESIDENTS CAN ONCE AGAIN BE LEFT OUT.

IN CLOSING, GIVE ME 15 SECONDS. REJECTING THE DISPOSITION DOES NOT MEAN LEAVING POPLAR POINT EMPTY. IT MEANS TAKING THE LAND FIRST, COMPLETING THE MASTER PLAN WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND RUNNING A

TRANSPARENT COMPETITIVE RFP FOR THE BEST POSSIBLE PROPOSAL. I AM STILL UNCLEAR, IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE CLEAR WHAT YOU GUYS ARE VOTING FOR TODAY. OR YOU ARE LISTENING TO TODAY. I'M CONFUSED. BECAUSE IT

APPEARS THAT 215 ACRES IS BEING COMMITTED TO THERME, AND MAYBE 12-15 ACRES TO REDBRICK WHICH WOULD LEAVE THE DISTRICT WITH MAYBE ONLY 15 ACRES FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. I HEARD THE PERSON FROM THERME

AND REDBRICK SPEAKING TO THIS EARLIER. THE THERME PROPOSAL HAS ONLY BEEN PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL. IS THE COUNCIL ONLY APPROVING REDBRICK, IF THE COUNCIL ALSO APPROVING

REDBRICK'S MIXED-USE HOUSING AT POPLAR POINT? DOES IT MEAN THAT ACRES WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE? THE LOCAL DEVELOPERS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. CHAIR FRUMIN: YOU ARE NOW A MINUTE OVER. I'M HOPING YOU CAN WRAP

IT UP. OKAY. THERE WE GO. OKAY. I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT'S REALLY BEING TALKED ABOUT TO TODAY. 15 ACRES FOR THERME. 15 ACRES FOR REDBRICK, THEIR HOUSING PROPOSAL. WHAT WILL THE COMMUNITY WILL LEFT WITH

TO DEVELOP? I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE POPLAR POINT COMING TO THE DISTRICT, AND OBJECT TO THERME GETTING THE 15 ACRES. THANK YOU. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I BELIEVE THAT

WHAT'S BEING TALKED ABOUT BETWEEN THE NEW BILLS IS 15 ACRES FOR THERME AND 12 ACRES FOR REDBRICK. AND THAT WOULD LEAVE 15 ACRES OR SO FOR OTHER USES, BUT -- WE NEVER HEARD THAT. BEFORE TODAY. THANK

YOU. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. I'LL BE QUIET NOW. CHAIR FRUMIN: MS. RICHARDSON. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN FRUMIN. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. I AM BRENDA RICHARDSON. I AM A WARD 8 RESIDENT AND AVID SUPPORTER OF THERME

D.C. AND THE MONUMENTAL OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE FOR WARD 8. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY ON AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS. AND THAT IS

THE FUTURE OF POPLAR POINT AND THE LAND SWAP. MY JOURNEY WITH POPLAR POINT BEGAN DURING THE DAYS OF OUR BELOVED COUNCILMEMBER MARION BARRY. EVEN BACK THEN, THERE WERE GREAT HOPES, AMBITIOUS VISIONS,

AND COUNTLESS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT THIS EXTRAORDINARY PIECE OF LAND COULD BECOME. OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, I HAVE WATCHED ONE PLAN AFTER ANOTHER EMERGE. THERE HAVE BEEN PROPOSALS, PRESENTATIONS,

DISCUSSIONS, PROMISES AND CHANGES IN DIRECTION. AT ONE POINT, ONE OF OUR GREATEST CONCERNS WAS ENSURING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD OFFICIALLY TRANSFERRED THE APPROXIMATELY 110 ACRES OF POPLAR

POINT TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN FACT, I CREATED A WEBSITE DEDICATED TO POPLAR POINT SIMPLY BECAUSE TH THERE WERE SO MANY DIFFERENT PROPOSALS, PERSPECTIVES AND VENTURES THAT IT HAD BECOME ALMOST

IMPOSSIBLE FOR COMMUNITY RESIDENTS TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING. QUITE FRANKLY, WE FELT AS THOUGH THE COMMUNITY WAS BEING JERKED AROUND WHEN IT CAME TO POPLAR POINT. EVERY TIME WE THOUGHT WE

UNDERSTOOD THE DIRECTION OF POPLAR POINT, ANOTHER IDEA SURFACED. THAT IS WHY I BEGAN TO FEEL A RENEWED SENSE OF HOPE WHEN OUR BRILLIANT DEPUTY MAYOR KNEE THAT ALBERT-- NINA ALBERT DEMONSTRATED A

SERIOUS COMMITMENT TO MOVING POPLAR POINT FORWARD. I'M GOING TO SKIP MY TESTIMONY BECAUSE OF THE TIME. TODAY I WANT TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THERME D.C., AND MY VERY, VERY STRONG SUPPORT FOR ITS

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ON POPLAR POINT. MY SUPPORT IS NOT BASED SOLELY ON A PRESENTATION OR PROMISES MADE BY DEVELOPERS. MY SUPPORT COMES FROM SOMETHING FAR MORE POWERFUL, MY OWN EXPERIENCE. I HAVE THE

EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL TO BUCHAREST AND VIZ STATE THERME WELLNESS FACILITY. LET ME TELL YOU, IN ALL MY YEARS OF LIVING, TRAVELING, AND WORKING AND SERVING MY COMMUNITY, I NEVER

EXPERIENCED ANYTHING QUITE LIKE IT. IT LITERALLY TOOK MY BREATH AWAY. IN CLOSING, OOH, I HAVE 12 SECONDS. IN CLOSING, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THIS TIME THE COMMUNITY IS NOT LEFT WAITING FOR ANOTHER

GENERATION. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE POPLAR POINT BECOME A PLACE WHERE THE PROMISES OF YESTERDAY FINALLY TURN INTO THE POSSIBILITIES OF TOMORROW. THANK YOU. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE HAD A

LITTLE BIT OF A GLITCH WITH THE SCREEN. ARE PEOPLE HEARING THE WITNESSES ONLINE? WE ARE GOOD? OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY, MS. RICHARDSON. WHO IS THAT? OKAY. GREAT. I THINK WE ARE

GOOD. PATRICK O'KEEFE. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR FRUMIN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I'M PATRICK O'KEEFE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE HISTORIC ANACOSTIA BLOCK ASSOCIATION, ALSO KNOWN AS HABA. I HAVE BEEN

WALKING ANACOSTIA PARK AND ITS TRAILS FOR NEARLY A DECADE. I KNOW THE LAND WELL, AND I USE THE PARK CONSTANTLY. WEATHER-PERMITTING. I WANT TO BE CLEAR FROM THE OUTSET,LY SUPPORT BILL 0845, THE LAND

TRANSFER. WE WANT THIS LAND RETURNED TO DISTRICT AND DEVELOPED IN A WAY THAT SERVES THIS COMMUNITY. OUR TESTIMONY TODAY IS SPECIFICALLY IN OPPOSITION TO BILL 26-0846, THE THERME LEASE AGREEMENT. THE

CONCERNS ARE OUTLINED-- NOT ABOUT THE LAND TRANSFER. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS WAITED DECADES FOR THIS LAND. WE WANT IT DEVELOPED RESPONSIBLY. THIS BILL ISN'T BUILT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEXT TO IT. IT

IS BUILT FOR VISITORS. THERME EXPECTS A MILLION A YEAR. THEY PITCHED THE PROJECT AS A WAY TO DIVERSE IFTY VISITOR EXPERIENCE. WE ARE OPEN TO VISITORS TO ANY DEVELOPMENT. THERE HAS TO BE EQUAL

COMMUNITY BENEFIT FOR THOSE LIVING HERE. COMMUNITY RESPONSES HAVE BEEN GENERALLY MIXED. WE TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY. THE DIEMER QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER PEOPLE WANT INVESTMENT IN WARD #. THE QUESTION IS

WHETHER THERME IS THE RIGHT ANCHOR TO DELIVER IT. DESTINATION THERMAL SPA PRICED FOR THE MARKET DOESN'T DO THAT. WE WANT AN ANCHOR THAT SERVES THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY LIVE HERE. NOT PRIMARILY THE

PEOPLE COMING TO VISIT. THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS RAISES QUESTIONS AS WELL. THERME ANNOUNCED THEIR INTEREST IN THE SITE IN 2023, MORE THAN A YEAR BEFORE ANY SOLICITATION WAS ISSUED. WHEN IT CAME, IT WAS

AN RFEI WITH UNDER SIX WEEKS TO RESPOND. NO PUBLIC RECORD REALLY OF HOW RESPONSES WERE SCORED. THE MOU WAS SIGNED TWO DAYS BEFORE THE SELECTION WAS ANNOUNCED. SECTION 3-D ASKED THE COUNCIL TO CERTIFY

THAT AS A EXIT TY AND PUBLIC PROCESS, AND IT WAS NOT. I HAVE ATTENDED MULTIPLE ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS ON POPLAR POINT. RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ASKED WHETHER THEY SUPPORT THERME. THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE HAS

BEEN DEEPLY MIXED. THE DECISION APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN MADE LONG BEFORE THE CONVERSATIONS TOOK PLACE. RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO WEIGH IN ON DESIGN DETAILS AND BROADER ELEMENTS OF THE POPLAR POINT

DEVELOPMENT. LIKE ROAD CONFIGURATIONS, AMENITIES. THE ANCHOR TENANT QUESTION WAS NEVER TRULY OPEN. THIS IS NOT THE PROCESS THIS LAND DESERVES. NOW, LOOK AT WHAT RESIDENTS ARE ACTUALLY GUARANTEED. JOBS

WERE THE CENTERPIECE OF THIS PITCH. 700 PERMANENT JOBS. FIRST SOURCE COVERS CONSTRUCTION ONLY. FOR PERMANENT JOBS, THE BILL POINTS TO EXISTING WATERFRONT LAW. NO WAGE STANDARD NO, CONSEQUENCE IF THEY

FALL SHORT. THERME TALKED ABOUT DISCOUNTED ADMISSION FOR RESIDENTS AND SENIORS. IT IS NOT IN THE BILL. THERME EXPECTS TWO MILLION VISITORS A YEAR THROUGH HISTORIC ANACOSTIA WITH NO TRAFFIC OR PARKING

PLAN IN THIS DEAL. THE MAYOR'S COVER LETTER PROMISES ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE AND THE WATERFRONT, BUT ITS STATUTORY FLOOR ON PARK LAND PRESERVATION IS NOT THE SAME AS A BINDING COMMITMENT TO THE QUALITY

AND ACCESSIBILITY OF PUBLIC SPACE ON THIS SITE. THAT PROMISE DESERVES TO BE IN THE BILL. NOT LEFT TO INTERPRETATION. NOW, THINKING ABOUT THE BUILDING ITSELF, UP TO 600,000 SQUARE FEET OF GLASS

ENCLOSING HEATED WATER. AMONG THE MOST SPECIALIZED BUILDINGS ANYONE COULD PUT ON THIS SITE AND THE HARDEST TO REPURPOSE. WE DON'T DISPUTE THAT WARD 8 MEANS MORE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OPTIONS. THAT IS

ABSOLUTELY TRUE. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. NOTHING IN THIS DEAL ADDRESSES WHAT HAPPENS IF THE BUSINESS FAILS. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A STRUCTURE THAT COSTLY TO MAINTAIN, SECURE, OR REMOVE? WARD 8

DESERVES A CLEAR ANSWER BEFORE THIS LEASE IS APPROVED. I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS THE COMMITMENTS THERME HAS DESCRIBED HERE TODAY. JOBS, SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. I DON'T DOUBT THOSE ARE

GENUINE INTENTIONS. COMMITTED TO IS NOT A LEGAL OBLIGATION. NONE OF WHAT WAS DESCRIBED TODAY IS IN THE BILL. NONE OF IS IT IS IN THE TERM SHEET. THE RIGHT SEQUENCES TO GET THOSE TERMS ON PAPER FIRST,

THEN BRING THE BILL FORWARD. WHAT WE ARE BEING ASKED TO DO TODAY IS LOCK IN THE DEAL AND TRUST THE DETAILS WILL FOLLOW. THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN PROMISED THINGS BEFORE THAT NEVER MATERIALIZELED. WE

SHOULD NOT BE ASKED TO TAKE THAT RISK AGAIN ON A 30-YEAR LEASE OF IRREPLACEABLE PUBLIC LAND. LOCAL HIRING FOR PERMANENT JOBS, RESIDENT ADMISSION DISCOUNTS, PROTECTED PUBLIC ACCESS AND CLARITY ON THE

DEVELOPERS' RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS BUILD ESFUTURE. THANK YOU. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. SANDRA SEEGARS. HELLO. HOW ARE YOU? CHAIR FRUMIN: GOOD. I'M SANDRA SEEGARS.

COFOUNDER OF CONCERNED RESIDENTS AGAINST VIOLENCE. CRAVS. I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF WARD 8 SINCE 1969. I AM TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF CRAVS TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE THERME D.C. PROJECT AT

POPLAR POINT. WE RESPECTFULLY URGE THE COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON BE 26-0846 AND B26-0845. APPROVAL OF THESE MEASURES WILL ALLOW THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD AND BRING SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT,

ECONOMIC GROWTH, JOB CREATION, AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR CITY. WE ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THIS TRANSFORMATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND HELP ENSURE A VIBRANT FUTURE FOR THE POPLAR POINT AREA. CRAVS

BELIEVES THIS PRESENTS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A WORLD-CLASS DESTINATION THAT WILL PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS TO THE DISTRICT RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE. THE PROJECT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO

GENERATE NEW JOBS THROUGH CONSTRUCTION AND ONGOING OPERATIONS. INCREASED TOURISM AND CONTRIBUTE MEANINGFUL REVENUE TO THE CITY'S ECONOMY. IN ADDITION, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT. THIS PROJECT WILL INTRODUCE

A DISTINCTIVE WELLNESS RECREATION AND CULTURAL AMENITY THAT IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE IN THE DISTRICTMENT RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES WILL HAVE ACCESS TO YEAR-ROUND FACILITIES THAT PROMOTE HEALTH,

RELAXATION, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THE PROJECT'S EMPHASIS ON GREEN SPACE, SUSTAINABILITY, AND PUBLIC ACCESSIBILITY CAN ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR DISTRICT RESIDENTS WHILE MAKING WASHINGTON,

D.C. A MORE ATTRACT TY DESTINATION. CRAVS APPRECIATES THE OPPORTUNITIES THIS CAN CREATE FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES, CONTRACTORS, AND EMPLOYEES. BY PRIORITIZING LOCAL HIRING AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP, THE

THERME DC LLC CAN BECOME AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE DISTRICT. WHILE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ANY MAJOR DEVELOPMENT BE SUBJECT TO CAREFUL OVERSIGHT AND

COMMUNITY INPUT, I BELIEVE THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF THERME DC LLC PROJECT OUTWEIGH THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED. WITH APPROPRIATE ACCOUNTABILITY, MEASURES, THIS PROJECT CAN SERVE AS A VIABLE

LONG-TERM AS SAID. CRAVS REALIZES THERE ARE LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PROJECT'S COST. AND LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT. THESE CONCERNS DESERVE THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION AND ONGOING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.

HOWEVER, CRAVS BELIEVES THESE ISSUES CAN BE ADDRESSED THROUGH CAREFUL PLANNING, TRANSPARENT OVERSIGHT, AND STRONG ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES. RATHER THAN ALLOWING CONCERNS TO HALT THE PROGRESS. THE

DISTRICT SHOULD WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE DEVELOPER AND THE COMMUNITY. LASTLY, I HAVE PERSONALLY HAD THE PLEASURE TO WATCH THE CHALLENGES IN OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE YEARS. HER INTEGRITY AND

PROFESSIONALISM AND DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE HAVE EARNED HER MUCH RESPECT. FOR THESE REASONS, I BELIEVE MISS LOCKRIDGE IS UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO HELP MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD. THAT ENDS THE CRAVS

STATEMENT. I WANT TO GIVE MY PERSONAL OBSERVATION. MANY ANC MEMBERS HAVE WORKED TO IMPROVE-- HAVE WORKED TO IMPEDE PROGRESS DESPITE LONG-TERM BENEFITS TO RESIDENTS, WORKERS, AND LOCAL BUSINESSES. ANC-

AA HAS DEMONSTRATED A CONSISTENT PATTERN OF OBSTRUCTIONIST OPPOSITION TO OPPOSE PROJECTS IN THE COMMUNITY. ITS REPEATED RESISTANCE TO LOCAL DEVELOPMENT AND INITIATIVE HAS CREATED UNNECESSARY HURDLES

AND DELAYED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECTS THAT COULD BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY. TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY ARE KEY SOURCES OF REVENUE FOR D.C. THE THERME PROJECT WILL HELP MAKE REST MAKE EAST OF THE RIVER

WARD 8, A SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTOR BY ATTRACTING VISITORS, CREATING JOBS, AND GENERATING TAX REVENUE FOR THE CITY. BASED ON CURRENT ESTIMATES, THE PROJECT COULD GENERATE AN AVERAGE OF

APPROXIMATELY $60 MILLION ANNUALLY TAX REVENUE. I WOULD SAY YES. I SUPPORT BOTH BILLS. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MISS SEEGARS. MELANIE JORDAN. YOU WILL NEED TO UNMUTE YOURSELF, MISS JORDAN.

THERE YOU GO. CHAIRPERSON FRUMIN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, MY NAME IS MELANIE JORDAN. I AM THE MOTHER OF A 30-YEAR-OLD AND A 14-YEAR-OLD. WE ARE ALL LIFELONG WARD 8 RESIDENTS. I PUT A BACHELOR'S--

I HOLD A BACHELOR'S OF SCIENCE IN NURSING AND I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF A 503-C ORGANIZATION AND DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION FRIEND GROUP. I APPEAR ON BEHALF OF FRIENDS OF OXON RUN. FRIENDS OF OXON

RUN SUPPORTS THE PROPOSED THERME PROJECT AT POPLAR POINT. WE BELIEVE IT PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE A BROADER VISION FOR A HEALTHIER, MORE SUSTAINABLE WARD 8. OUR SUPPORT IS GROUNDED IN THE

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, HUMAN HEALTH, RERECREATION, AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING. OUR POSITION IS THAT A HEALTHY COMMUNITY REQUIRES A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. WE ARE WORKING TO RESTORE AND

PROTECT A NATURAL RESOURCE THAT HAS VALUE FAR BEYOND ITS BOUNDARIES. A HEALTHY STREAM, CLEAN WATER, TREES, WILDLIFE HABITAT, WETLANDS AND ACCESSIBLE GREEN SPACE CONTRIBUTES TO QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE

PEOPLE WHO LIVE AROUND THE PARK. THEY ALSO, THEY ALSO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WALKING, RECREATION, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, AND CONNECTION WITH NATURE. THESE ARE NOT NEARLY ENVIRONMENTAL AMENITIES.

THEY ARE IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF A COMMUNITY THAT WANTS ITS RESIDENTS TO LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES. WE SEE A CONNECTION BETWEEN THIS WORK AND THE VISION REPRESENTED BY THERME. THERME PROPOSES A MAJOR

WELLNESS AND RECREATION DESTINATION FEATURING WARD-BASED ACTIVITIES, AND SPACE FOR RELAXATION. IF DEVELOPED RESPONSIBLY AND MADE ACCESSIBLE FOR WARD 8 RESIDENTS, IT COULD EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR

RECREATION AND WELLNESS WHILE BRINGING INVESTMENT, JOBS, AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY TO THE WARD. F THE PROJECTS ARE DIFFERENT, BUT T THE ASPIRATIONS CAN COMPLEMENT ONE ANOTHER. OXON RUN CONNECTS PEOPLE

WITH HEALTH BENEFITS OF NATURE AND OUTDOOR RECREATION. THERME PROPOSES TO PROVIDE ANOTHER STUDY FOR RECREATION, RELAXATION, AND PERSONAL WELL-BEING. TOGETHER THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE A BROADER VISION IN

WHICH COMMUNITY HEALTH IS UNDERSTOOD NOT SIMPLY AS ACCESS TO MEDICAL SERVICES, BUT ALSO AS ACCESS TO HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS, RECREATION, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE. FOR COMMUNITIES

THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY F LACKED ADEQUATE INVESTMENT ANDK AS IS TO AMENITIES, THAT VISION DESERVES SERIOUS CONSIDERATION. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE SUPPORTING DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT MEAN ABANDONING

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. FRIENDS OF OXON RUN EXPECTS THERME PROJECTS TO UNDERGO APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW, PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES, ADDRESS POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND PROVIDE TRANSPARENT

ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ITS COMMITMENTS. WE WANT TWO. AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP TO REINFORCE ONE ANOTHER. THE PROMISE OF NEW INVESTMENT SHOULD NOT COME AT THE UNNECESSARY EXPENSE OF TREES, WETLANDS,

WILDLIFE, OR GREEN SPACE. RATHER, THE PROJECT SHOULD DEMONSTRATE THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY CAN ADVANCE TOGETHER. WE ENCOURAGE THE DISTRICT TO ENSURE THAT WARD 8 RESIDENTS

CAN SHARE MEANINGLY MEANINGFULLY IN THE PROJECT'S BENEFIT, INCLUDING EMPLOYMENT ACTIVITIES AND ACCESS TO WELLNESS AND RECREATION. THE COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE CLEAR INFORMATION ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL

PROTECTIONS, MONITORING, AND THE MEASURES TAKEN TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS IF THEY ARISE. FOR FRIENDS OF OXON RUN, THIS IS PART OF A LARGER VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF WARD 8. WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO GROW UP IN

NEIGHBORHOODS WITH CLEAN WATER, HEALTHY GREEN SPACES, SAFE SPACES TO RECREATE AND OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT AND CARE FOR THE NATURAL WORLD. WE WANT OUR OLDER RESIDENTS AND FAMILIES TO HAVE

OPPORTUNITIES TO ENJOY RECREATION AND IMPROVE THEIR WELL-BEING. WE WANT DEVELOPMENT TO LEAVE OUR COMMUNITY WITH LASTING BENEFITS. CHAIRPERSON FRUMIN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, FRIENDS OF OXON RUN

SUPPORTS THE THERME PROJECT BECAUSE QUS WE BELIEVE IT CAN BE PART OF THAT LARGER VISION. A VISION THAT LINKS ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY WITH HUMAN HEALTH, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES.

OUR GOAL IS NOT SIMPLY TO BUILD A FACILITY OR RESTORE A STREAM. OUR GOAL IS TO HELP BUILD A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY AND LEAVE A SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. I THANK YOU FOR THE

OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. STEFAN LOCKRIDGE. CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? CHAIR FRUMIN: I SURE CAN. YES. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBER FRUMIN AND MEMBERS OF

THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS STEFAN LOCK RIRNLG LOCKRIDGE. I'M A PROUD FATHER OF THREE CHILDREN, NATIVE WASHINGTONIAN, 17-YEAR EDUC EDUCATOR AND SOMEBY WHO BELIEVES IN THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY, COMMUNITY,

AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY THAT I WAS RAISED IN. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY SUPPORT FOR THERME D.C., BECOMING AN ANCHOR TENANT AT POPLAR POINT. AS A FATHER OF

THREE, AS I MENTIONED, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I VALUE THE MOST IS SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH MY FAMILY BETWEEN WORK, SCHOOL, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND EVERYDAY RESPONSIBILITIES, RAISING MY

CHILDREN, FINDING TIME WHEN THE ENTIRE FAMILY CAN COME TOGETHER IS SOMETIMES NOT THAT EASY. BUT THOSE MOMENTS MATTER TO ME. FAMILY VALUES ARE NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT TEACH OUR CHILDREN. THEY ARE ALSO

ABOUT TIME WE SPEND WITH THEM, THE EXPERIENCE WE SHARE. THE MEMORIES WE CREATE TOGETHER. SO THAT IS ONE REASON I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THERME D.C. COMING TO POPLAR POINT. MY WIFE AND I,

WE HAVE TRAVELED TO VIRGINIA TO KARINA SPAS. THE WELLNESS EXPERIENCE THERE. I ENJOY THE OUTINGS. THEY CAN BE EXPENSIVE. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER TRANSPORTATION, ADMISSION COSTS, FOOD, AND OTHER

EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE OUTING. WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT THERME D.C. AND WELLNESS EXPERIENCE, IT IS PROPOSING A MORE AFFORDABLE COST. I THOUGHT, WELL, SHOULD MY FAMILY HAVE TO TRAVEL TO VIRGINIA AND

SPEND HARD-EARNED MONEY THERE WHEN WE CAN ENJOY THAT RIGHT HERE IN WARD 8? THAT IS PRETTY EXCITING. I WOULD RATHER SPEND MY MONEY AND KEEP THAT TAX DOLLAR GENERATED FROM THOSE PURCHASES RIGHT HERE IN

MY HOMETOWN. AND IN WARD 8 WHERE I WAS RAISED. THOSE DOLLARS CAN HELP SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, CREATE JOBS, CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY WE CALL HOME. AND THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT BEING ABLE TO

TELL MY CHILDREN THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE THE DISTRICT TO ENJOY QUALITY RECREATION AND WELLNESS EXPERIENCES. I WAS ESPECIALLY EXCITED TO LEARN THAT THERME D.C . IS PROPOSING A THOUSAND FREE TICKETS

EVERY MONTH TO LOWCLOCALRESIDENTS. MY WIFE AND ME AND MY FAMILY, THAT IS PRETTY MEANINGFUL AND PRETTY VALUABLE. AS A FATHER OF THREE, I KNOW FIRSTHAND, TAKING A FAMILY OF FIVE ANYWHERE IS PRETTY,

PRETTY EXPENSIVE. IT GETS THAT WAY QUICKLY. THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL FAMILIES TO EXPERIENCE A WELLNESS DESTINATION WITHOUT THE COST OF ADMISSION COULD MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE. I HOPE THOSE FREE

TICKETS ALONG WITH THE AFFORDABLE FAMILY ADMISSION OPTIONS WILL ALLOW MORE FAMILIES TO ENJOY WHAT THERME D.C. HAS TO OFFER. BEYOND THE FINANCIAL BENEFITS, I THINK ABOUT THE MEMORIES WE CAN CREATE,

THOSE THINGS ARE, LIKE I SAID, INVALUABLE. IMAGINE SPENDING A SATURDAY TOGETHER AS A FAMILY, PUTTING DOWN OUR PHONES, STEPPING AWAY FROM OUR BUSY SCHEDULES. I KNOW WE HAVE ALL THOSE. ENJOYING WELLNESS

ACTIVITIES. RELAXING, LAUGHING. SIMPLY RECONNECTING WITH ONE ANOTHER. I JUST WANT TO END WITH THIS. I KNOW MY TIME IS THERE. I SUPPORT THERME D.C. F THE VISION OF BRINGING THERME TO POPLAR POINT, I

HOPE THE COUNCIL WILL RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING MORE FAMILY-FRIENDLY AFFORDABLE WELLNESS OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT HERE IN THE DISTRICT. AGAIN, WASHINGTON, D.C. RAISED ME. I'M RAISING MY CHILDREN

HERE. AGAIN, I SUPPORT THERME D.C. I HOPE YOU GUYS CONSIDER PASSING THIS BILL. THANK YOU. CHAIR FRUMIN: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. I'M GOING TO, I'M GOING TO SORT OF CALL A

LITTLE AUDIBLE HERE. MR. OTTEN IS UP NEXT. MR. ODDEN, AM I RIGHT THAT YOU ARE GOING TO TESTIFY ABOUT THE REEVES CENTER? YEAH. I MEAN, THAT WAS WHAT I THOUGHT I SIGNED UP FOR. CHAIR FRUMIN: SO I'M

GOING TO HAVE-- I WANT TO FINISH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE FOR THE POPLAR POINT. THEN WE WILL TURN TO YOU. SO CHARLES WILSON. YVETTE ALEXANDER, I BELIEVE IS ONLINE. IF WE CAN ELEVATE YVETTE. DR. LAJOY

JOHNSON. NO. LAUREN WOLFE. FELICIA PERRY. OKAY. AYANNA WILLIAMS. OKAY. DANIELLE OFORI-ADDO. YES. I'M HERE. CHAIR FRUMIN: SO WHAT I WANT TO DO HERE IS HAVE FORMER COUNCILMEMBER ALEXANDER, AND THEN

DANIEL, IF YOU ARE HERE FOR POPLAR POINT, WE WILL HAVE YOU GO. AND THEN I THINK COMMISSIONER MATT FAY IS ALSO HERE FOR THE REEVES CENTER. MAYBE WE CAN ELEVATE HIM. WE WILL GET TO HIM AFTER THE POPLAR

POINT WITNESSES. AND THEN IS THERE ANYONE ELSE-- THERE IS THE REEVES CENTER TE TEAM. ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC WITNESSES THAT ARE HOPING TO TESTIFY? MR. BRANUM? YOU ARE GOING TO TESTIFY? ON REEVES OR

ON POPLAR? REEVES. REEVES. WE WILL CALL YOU UP WHEN WE FINISH WITH THE POPLAR. OKAY? ALL RIGHT. SO FORMER COUNCILMEMBER ALEXANDER. IF YOU ARE READY. GREAT TO SEE YOU. HELLO. GOOD TO SEE YOU. I HOPE

I'M READY. HOLD ON FOR ONE SECOND. ALL RIGHT. I'M READY. GREETINGS, COUNCILMEMBER, MR. CHAIR FRUMIN AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS YVETTE ALEXANDER. I'M TESTIFYING IN FAVOR OF

B26-046. THE POPLAR POINT-- YEAH. THE POPLAR POINT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANCHOR DISPOSITION ACT OF 2026. I HAD THE PLEASURE AND HONOR OF SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN

PARTICULAR, WARD 7, FOR TEN YEARS. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING WITH THE MAYOR FOR LIFE, THE LATE MARION BARRY, AND WE OFTEN REFERRED TO OUR COALITION AS WARD 15. WARDS 7 AND 8 COMBINED. BECAUSE

OFTENTYPES, WE ENCOUNTERED NEW DEVELOPMENT DEALS EAST OF THE RIVER TO BE THE LAST CONSIDERATION, AND TO DATE, WE HAVE NOT YET CAUGHT UP WITH THE ADVANCEMENTS IN OTHER AREAS OF OUR CITY. THE

DEVELOPMENT THAT THERME WANTS TO BRING TO WARD 8 WILL BE A BENEFIT TO THE RESIDENTS. SPECIFICALLY, TO THOSE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY WHO WILL BENEFIT IN MANY WAYS, FROM THE MUCH- MUCH-NEEDED, FROM THE MUCH-

NEEDED JOBS TO COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS ALTERNATIVES. TO PROMOTE EQUITY MANY MEASURABLE WAYS. IT WILL ALSO BE A MAJOR ATTRACTION TO GENERATE REVENUE FOR OUR CITY. AS THE FORMER CHAIR

OF THE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, I CAN ATTEST TO THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT ONLY PRIMARY CARE FROM MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, BUT ALSO ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS TO PROMOTE WELLNESS SUCH AS THE SERVICES

OFFERED BY THERME. WARD 8 HAS SOME OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF MORTALITY AND CHRONIC ILLNESS, AND THIS WOULD OFFER ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. I'M CERTAIN YOU WILL HEAR FROM MOTHER THAT

IS WILL AGREE WITH THE BENEFITS OF THIS DEVELOPMENT THAT THE LOCATION. AND THE ACRES OF POTENTIAL AT THIS LOCATION, IN ADDITION TO WHAT THERME OFFERS. I THINK IT'S ALWAYS, IT 50'S ALWAYS AN ADVANTAGE

TO HEAR PREVIOUS TESTIMONY. I WOULD LIKE TO JUST COMMENT ON A FEW THINGS THAT WERE STATED IN EARLIER TESTIMONY. SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE HAD. FOR ONE, I'M CONFIDENT THAT ANY OF THE

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES WILL BE REMEDIATED. ANY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS WILL BE REMEDIATED BEFORE THIS DEVELOPMENT TAKES PLACE. THAT IS ONE THING. TWO, I HAVE NOT-- OH, I WANT TO MAKE A FULL

DISCLOSURE. I HAVE NOT BEEN PAID. I'M NOT A PAID PERSON BY THIS, BY THIS ORGANIZATION. THIS BUSINESS. AND I ALSO HAVE NOT BEEN SPONSORED TO A TRIP TO ANY OF THEIR LOW KAIGS TO VISIT ANY OF THEIR OTHER

AMENITIES IN OTHER COUNTRIES OR WITHIN THE U.S. AND FOURTH-- THIRD, I WANTED TO SAY THAT BEING A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EAST OF THE RIVER, IT IS REALLY A CHALLENGE OFTENTIMES FOR DEVELOPERS TO EVEN WANT

TO BRING ANYTHING, ANY AMENITIES OR NEW DEVELOPMENTS INTO THE WARD BECAUSE OF SOME OF OUR ECONOMIC CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE. AND SOMETIMES DEVELOPERS FEEL THAT IT'S NOT WORTH THEIR TIME OR EFFORT TO

BRING THESE THINGS. SO WE HAVE TO BE CREATIVE IN WAYS TO BRING DEVELOPMENT. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT A DOLLAR FOR THE LAND OR WHATEVER. BUT YOU HAVE TO BE CREATIVE IN GIVING INCENTIVES FOR

DEVELOPERS TO COME EAST OF THE RIVER. AS WE ARE THE LAST FRONTIER, AND SOME CONSIDER IT TO BE RISKY TO BRING DEVELOPMENT HERE. WE DO HAVE TO BE CREATIVE AND KEEP IN MIND IN THE LONG RUN, IT WILL BE AN

ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE TO OUR CITY. TO BRING THESE AMENITIES HERE. THIS WILL DEFINITELY BE AN ANCHOR AND ATTRACT MORE DEVELOPMENT TO COME TO THE CITY, AND IT WILL STILL RESERVE THE GREEN SPACE AND THE

OTHER REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE SET FOR POPLAR POINT. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I WOULD BE MORE THAN GLAD TO ANSWER THEM. IT IS ALWAYS AN HONOR AND PLEASURE TO COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL TO TESTIFY.

CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT TO SEE YOU. DANIELLE OFORI-ADDO. IF YOU ARE READY. GOOD EVENING. COUNCILMEMBER FRUMIN. MY NAME IS DR. DANIEL OFORI-ADDO. I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE UNITED

PLANNING ORGANIZATION. UPO. TO SHARE OUR P PERSPECTIVE ON TE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF POPLAR POINT AND THE OPPORTUNITY IT PRESENTS FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY. FOR MORE THAN 60

YEARS, UPO HAS BEEN A CORNERSTONE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR DISTRICT RESIDENTS. ESTABLISHED IN 1962, UPO IS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA'S DESIGNATED COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY. I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT I SERVED THE

EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT AND CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER. WE ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING FAMILIES ACHIEVE ECONOMIC SECURITY THROUGH EDUCATION, JOB TRAINING, FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT, HOUSING, AND OTHER ASSISTANCE.

OTHER ESSENTIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY. AT UPO, WE UNDERSTAND THAT PROVIDING SOMEONE WITH A JOB IS IMPORTANT. BUT PROVIDING THEM WITH THE SKILLS, RESOURCES, AND SUPPORTS TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE

CAREER CAN CHANGE THE ECONOMIC TRAJECTORY OF AN ENTIRE FAMILY. THAT IS WHY WE ARE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THERME D.C. AT POPLAR POINT. F

THERME D.C. HAS PROJECTED APPROXIMATELY 5,000 CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND MORE THAN 700 PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ONCE THE FACILITY IS OPERATIONAL. THOSE NUMBERS REPRESENT POTENTIAL CAREER PATHWAYS

FOR D.C. RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY AND PARTICULARLY INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN WARD 7 AND 8 WHO HAVE HISTORICALLY FACED BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT. THROUGH OUR UPO WORKFORCE INSTITUTE

BUILDING CAREERS ACADEMY, THE EMPLOYMENT PLACE SERVICES WE ALREADY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND EXPERIENCE TO HELP RESIDENTS PREPARE FOR THESE MEANINGFUL JOB OPPORTUNITIES. MEMBERS OF THE THERME D.C.

TEAM HAVE VISITED OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FACILITY TO SEE FIRSTHAND THE WORK UPO IS DOING TO PREPARE DISTRICT RESIDENTS FOR EMPLOYMENT. DURING THAT VISIT, THERME D.C. REPRESENTATIVES LEARNED THAT--

LEARNED MORE ABOUT UPO TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS OUR PARTICIPANTS ARE EARNING. THE RESOURCES WE PROVIDE TO HELP INDIVIDUALS ENTER CAREERS IN THE WORKFORCE. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS TYPE OF DIRECT

ENGAGEMENT IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP FORWARD BUILDING A MEANINGFUL PARTNERSHIP THAT CONNECTS COMMUNITY-BASED WORKFORCE TRAINING AND ACTUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. WE SEE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR UPO AND

THERME TO ESTABLISH A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP BUILT AROUND THREE IMPORTANT PRIORITIES. TRAINING, EMPLOYMENT, AND LONG-TERM CAREER ADVANCEMENT. FIRST, WORKFORCE TRAINING. UPO WILL COLLABORATE

WITH THERME D.C . TO IDENTIFY THE SKILLS AND CERTIFICATIONS NEEDED DURING BOTH THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONAL PHASES OF THE PROJECT. WHETHER IN CONSTRUCTION WHO IS BY FAULTY,-- HOSPITALITY OR

OPERATIONS, WE WANT TO HELP PREPARE D.C. RESIDENTS TO COMPETE FOR THESE OPPORTUNITIES. SECOND, LOCAL HIRING. WE WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE WITH THERME D.C. ON RECRUITMENT EVENTS, JOB

READINESS, WORKSHOPS, APPRENTICESHIP PATHWAYS AND EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT INITIATIVES THAT PRIORITIZE RESIDENTS OF COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING POPLAR POINT. WE WILL ADVOCATE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS TO BE MORE THAN

SPECTATORS WATCHING DEVELOPMENT HAPPEN IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE WANT THEM TO BE PARTICIPANTS IN BIDDING-- BUILDING IT AND BENEFITING FROM IT. THIRD, LONG-TERM CAREER ADVANCEMENTS. A JOB SHOULD BE

THE BEGINNING OF AN OPPORTUNITY, NOT THE END. AT UPO, WE RECOGNIZE THAT INDIVIDUALS SOMETIMES NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT AND ADVANCE PROFESSIONALLY. THROUGH OUR CASE MANAGEMENT,

CAREER COUNSELING, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, WE HELP RESIDENTS ADDRESS CHALLENGES SUCH AS TRANSPORTATION, CHILD CARE, FINANCIAL INSTABILITY, AND OTHER AREAS THAT CAN INTERFERE WITH LONG-TERM

EMPLOYMENT. WE BELIEVE THESE SERVICES COULD COMPLEMENT THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS AND HELP EMPLOYEES BUILD LASTING CAREERS. JUST IMAGINE A YOUNG ADULT FROM WARD 8 RECEIVING CONSTRUCTION

TRAINING THROUGH UPO, HELPING TO BUILD THERME D.C. FACILITY AND GETTING THE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE NEEDED TO PURSUE LIFELONG CAREER. WE IMAGINE PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO FIND STABLE EMPLOYMENT, RECEIVING

JOB READINESS TRAINING AND BEGINNING A NEW CHANNELER THE OF FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE. THESE ARE THE KINDS OF OUTCOMES WE WORK TOWARDS EVERY DAY. BUT FOR THIS TO SUCCEED, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MUST BE

INTENTIONAL. WITH THERME D.C. AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, THROUGH ESTABLISHED CLEAR LOCAL HIRING AND ACCESSIBLE TRAINING FOR D.C. RESIDENTS. UPO STANDS READY TO EXPLORE A MEANINGFUL WORKFORCE

PARTNERSHIP THAT HELPS AND TURNS DISTRICT RESIDENTS INTO PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTE MEANINGFULLY TO THE DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR COMMUNITY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW UPO'S WORKFORCE

DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE CAN SUPPORT THERME D.C. PROPOSED TRAINING EFFORTS WHILE ADVANCING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT ANACOSTIA AND THROUGH THE D.C. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO

SHARE THIS TESTIMONY. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY, DR. OFORI-ADDO. FOR ALL OF THE WITNESS, PLEASE BE SURE TO UPLOAD YOUR TESTIMONY IF YOU HAVEN'T SUBMITTED IT. SO WE HAVE IT TO BE

INCLUDED IN THE RECORD. I AM GOING TO TURN NOW-- WE ARE GOING TO TURN NOW TO THE REEVES CENTER ISSUES, AND I'M GOING TO CALL UP THE WITNESSES. THE IN-PERSON WITNESSES RELATED TO REEVES CENTER. THE

PUBLIC WITNESSES, NOT THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM. WE WILL HAVE THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM COME AFTER THAT. ROBERT VINSON-BRANUM. PASTOR KEVIN HART. OKAY. DWREAF YARBOROUGH. DAVEY YARBOROUGH. NOPE. JAMES SHEARIN.

AND I DO NOT SEE BERNIE DEMCZUK. OH. OKAY. OKAY. AND WE HAVE ONLINE, WE HAVE CHRIS OTTEN. AND COMMISSIONER MATT FAY. AND SO I THINK WE ARE GOING TO GO WITH THE IN-PERSON WITNESSES FIRST. THEN WE WILL

HAVE MR. OTTEN, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE THE COMMISSIONERS. JUST SO WE HAVE SOME PREDICTABILITY HERE. AND MR. ROBERT VINSON-PEDESTRIANIUM, WHEN YOU ARE READY. ROBERT VINSON-BRANUM. GREETINGS AND

SALUTATIONS, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I AM ROBERT VINSON-BRANUM, PRESIDENT EMERITUS OF THE D.C. FEDERATION OF CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS AND THIRD VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP D.C. BRANCH.

BILL 26-0834, REEVES CENTER SURPLUS D DECLARATION AND DISPOSITION APPROVAL ACT OF 2026 I SUPPORT, AND IT IS-- THE INTENDED DEVELOPMENT PROPERTY IS FOR MIXED-USE BUILDING WITH MULTIPLE USES, INCLUDING

OFFICE SPACE, ANCHORED BY NEW HEADQUARTERS FOR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE, THE NA NAACPMENT A HOTEL, RESIDENTIAL UNITS, RETAIL, COMMERCIAL SP SPACE, ARTS, AND

ENTERTAINMENTS, OUTDOOR PLAZA, PARKING GARAGE, AND OTHER PURPOSES. THE HOUR IS LATE, SO I AM CUTTING BACK ON MY TESTIMONY, BUT I'M GOING TO FOLLOW YOUR LEAD, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND I'M GOING TO CALL AN

AUDIBLE. I AM GOING TO EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THE LOCAL MEDIA MADE SOME ERRONEOUS REPORTS THAT CAUSED YOUR COLLEAGUE COUNCILMEMBER ROBERT WHITE TO MAKE A DECISION THAT I THOUGHT WAS

INAPPROPRIATE, AND THAT IS TO RESIGN AS A COUNCILMEMBER ON NOVEMBER 2, PROVIDED THERE IS NOT "A LEGAL METHOD FOR HIM TO STAY." THIS REPORT DEALS WITH A SUPPOSED STATUTE IN 1970 THAT SAYS THAT A PUBLIC

OFFICIAL CANNOT, CANNOT SERVE OR STAY AND RUN FOR THE POSITION OF DELEGATE. I'M NOT A LAWYER. I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY. I'M NOT GOING TO PLAY ONE FOR THE COUNCIL. I DON'T DO IT ON TELEVISION. I AM

DISAPPOINTED THAT THAT REPORT HIGHLIGHTED A CONTROVERSY THAT DOES NOT EX EXIST. NO ONE IN THE PUBLIC CHALLENGED HIS CERTIFICATION. THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND ETHICS CERTIFIED HIM AS A VIABLE QUALIFIED

CANDIDATE TO RUN FOR THAT OFFICE. AND THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE BEFORE I CLOSE IS THAT THE SAME STATUTE THAT THAT REPORT CITED AND WHAT OTHERS ARE REPORTING ALSO SAYS AND EXPLICITLY STATES THE PRONOUN

"HE SHALL." IF PUBLIC SERVICE IS GOING TO BE EQUATED WITH ELECTED OFF OFFICE-- FOR ELECTED OFFICE THAT WAS NOT IN EXISTENCE IN 1970, THE LAW WAS IN 1970. OUR COUNCIL WAS NOT ELECTED UNTIL 1974. SO IF

WE ARE GOING TO USE THAT PURE INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW, THE LAW ALSO SAYS IN PRONOUN, HE. HE. THAT MEANS THAT NO WOMAN WHO IS A "PUBLIC SERVANT" SHOULD BE QUALIFIED TO RUN FOR DELEGATE. THAT'S A

REASONABLE INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW. THAT SOME PUSH FORWARD. IF YOU WANT TO GO-- THE LAW WAS NOT DESIGNED FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS BECAUSE ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR COUNCIL WERE NOT IN EXISTENCE. WAS NOT IN

EXISTENCE. SO I WILL ACCEPT HIS DECISION TO RESIGN ON NOVEMBER 2, ALTHOUGH IF HE CANNOT-- IF THERE IS NO OTHER LEGAL INTERPRETATION, BUT I DO THINK IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT HE HAS TO RESIGN PREMATURELY.

AND HE IS A VALUABLE MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL, AND HE SHOULD STAY AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. AND I AM HOPING THAT MY AUDIBLE RESULTS IN A TOUCHDOWN. THANK YOU. IF NOT A FIELD GOAL. CHAIR FRUMIN: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. PASTOR HART? OH. I'M SORRY. CAN YOU SAY YOUR NAME? DAVEY YARBOROUGH. WONDERFUL. MR. YARBOROUGH, IF YOU CAN-- WHEN YOU ARE READY. GREETINGS, CHAIRMAN FRUMIN AND

COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS DAVEY YARBOROUGH. I'M A PERFORMING MUSICIAN, EDUCATOR, PROUD NATIVE AND LIFELONG RESIDENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, LIVING IN WARD 4 FOR 69 OF MY 73 YEARS. I AM A PRODUCT

OF THE D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND WAS EDUCATED IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FROM PRE-SCHOOL THROUGH MY MASTER'S DEGREES. I FOUNDED THE JAZZ STUDIES PROGRAM AT THE DUKE ELLINGTON SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

WHERE I TAUGHT FOR 38 YEARS DURING MY 42 YEARS OF TEACHING IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. I AM CURRENTLY CELEBRATING 29 YEARS AS CO-FOUNDER, PRESIDENT AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE WASHINGTON JAZZ ARTS

INSTITUTE. W JAI. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING CONSIDERED FOR SPACE IN THE PROPOSED FRANK D REEVES PROJECT. WE ARE A CITY-WIDE CULTURAL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FREE

MUSIC EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND AMERICAN-FORM OF MUSIC CALLED JAZZ FOR 7 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR. WE SERVE YOUTH IN THE DISTRICT OF THE-- DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12-24. WE ARE AND HAVE

BEEN A HOST SITE FOR THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS, ALLOWING OUR YOUTH WHO NEED TO BE EMPLOYED DURING THE SUMMER TO TRAIN AND GAIN PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD OF MUSIC WITH

PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS ON STAFF. OUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE HOME-GROWN LOCAL LEADERS, SOME WHO HAVE COME BACK TO OUR PROGRAM AFTER COLLEGE TO TEACH AND GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT RAISED THEM. THE

SPACE IN THE PROPOSED LOCATION WILL ALLOW WJAI THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND AND PROVIDE A RECORDING STUDIO FOR PARTICIPANTS TO PREPARE AUDITION RECORDINGS FOR COLLEGE ADMISSION, PORTFOLIO BUILDING, AND

TO LEARN RECORDING TECHNIQUES THAT WILL ENHANCE THEIR CAREERS IN THE FIELD OF MUSIC. THE FRANK REEVES CENTER IS LOCATED CLOSE TO METRO CENTER, ALLOWING TIMELY ACCESS FROM ALL QUADRANTS AND AFFORDING

OUR PARTICIPANTS LESS TRAVEL TIME. OUR PROGRAM WILL OPERATE IN THE HART OF THE HISTORIC AFTER KAHN-AMERICAN HERITAGE TRAIL AND BLACK BROADWAY. WE WOULD BE CLOSE TO THE MARION BARRY AMPHITHEATER

PERFORMANCE SPACE WITHIN THE CENTER AS WELL AS VENUES PROVIDING LIVE JAZZ TO GENERATIONAL AUDIENCES ON THE U STREET CORRIDOR. THE WASHINGTON JAZZ ARTS INSTITUTE IS GRATEFUL TO THE URBAN PARTNER

DEVELOPMENT GROUP FOR OFFERING TO BUILD SPACE IN THE PROPOSED FRANK D. REEVES PROJECT TO HOUSE OUR RECORDING STUDIO. WE HOPE THE D.C. CITY COUNCIL VOTES IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSAL. THANK YOU. CHAIR

FRUMIN: THTHANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. MR. SHEARIN? GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL FOR HAVING ME SPEAK TODAY. WHEN I FIRST CONSIDERED JOINING THIS PANEL TODAY, I THOUGHT WHO AM I,

ONE PERSON OF THE TENS OF THOUSANDS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS IN OUR CITY WHO ARE IMPACTED BY DEVELOPMENTS. I HAVE LIVED IN D.C. FOR TEN YEARS. I CAN'T SAY I WAS BORN HERE, BUT MUCH

TO MY MOTHER'S DISMAY, IT IS WHERE I CALL HOME. AND ALWAYS WANT TO CALL HOME. THE CORNER OF 14TH AND U IS A SPECIAL PLACE TO SO MANY PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN D.C. I THINK ALMOST EVERYONE IN THE CITY

PROBABLY HAS AT LEAST ONE SPECIAL MEMORY, MAYBE A MEMORY WE WOULDN'T WANT TO REPEAT ON A PANEL AS WELL. THAT BEING SAID, IT'S-- I HAVE LIVED WITHIN A FEW BLOCKS FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS. AT VARIOUS

PLACES. IT HAS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART AND IN MANY. MY PARTNER AND I RECENTLY BOUGHT A HOUSE A FEW BLOCKS AWAY ON 12TH STREET. I CAN'T SAY IT WASN'T A SCARY BET ON THE CITY. THERE IS A LOT

HAPPENING IN THE WORLD AND IN OUR CITY. AND IT WAS QUITE SCARY. IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE CONTINUE INVESTING IN THE CITY. I ALSO DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE A

HOUSE. IF YOU HAD TOLD ME FIVE YEARS AGO I WOULD HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, I WOULDN'T BELIEVE YOU. I KNOW THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN OUR CITY WHO ARE RENT-BURDENED. I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SAY THAT ABOUT

MYSELF. I CAN DEFINITELY SAY I HAVE BEEN RENT-STRESSED IN THE PAST. I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A SMALL BUSINESS IN THE CITY. I HAVE ALMOST LOST IT TWICE. I HAVE LOST MY JOB BEFORE, AND THOSE

EXPERIENCES WERE NOT FUN. AND I DO KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR CITY. MUSIC IS ALSO EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. MY PARTNER IS A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN. MOST OF HIS AND OUR

FRIENDS ARE PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS. OUR BEST FRIEND IS A SOOKS PHONE PLAYER AS WELL. SAXOPHONE PLAYER AS WELL. HAVING THE JAZZ INSTITUTE IN OUR AREA IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO US AND THE COMMUNITY. I

KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS-- FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN PURSUE THEIR DREAMS AND TO PURSUE THEIR TALENTS. I ALSO-- WE WILL BE CAREFUL WITH HOW WE PHRASE IT. D.C. AND THE WORLD HAVE BEEN

THROUGH A LOT THE PAST COUPLE YEARS. WE HAVE ALL BEEN IMPACTED BY FORCES OUT OF THEIR CONTROL. A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY DO FEEL SMALL. WE FEEL LIKE OUR VOICES HAVE BEEN SHRUNK. THE NAACP FIGHT FOR

PEOPLE WHO DO FEEL SMALL, WHO DO NEED A VOICE. FOR THE PEOPLE OF D.C. TO WALK PAST THEIR HEADQUARTERS AND SEE PEOPLE THAT ARE FIGHTING FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE HEARD. I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER

INSPIRATION FOR PEOPLE IN THIS CITY. I'M NOT A DEVELOPER. I DO FOLLOW REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALLY. I KNOW IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT DEVELOPERS WORK SO CLOSELY WITH THE CITY, AND SO CLOSELY WITH THE COMMUNITY

TO BUILD SPACE TO SERVE COMMUNITY. I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE. WHAT THE PARTNERS ARE DOING TO BUILD THIS DEVELOPMENT. SO WITH THAT, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH

FOR YOUR TESTIMONY, AND THANK YOU TO THE IN-PERSON WITNESSES FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T TOUCH IT, MR. BRANUM. ON THE AUDIBLE. I DON'T-- I MEAN, THERE IS A PROVISION IN THE LAW, I DON'T

UNDERSTAND WHY THAT PROVISION IS IN THE LAW. IT CREATES A CONUNDRUM BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE A CLOUD OVER -- I HAVE UNDERSTAND THE POSITION. I UNDERSTAND HIS POSITION. YOU KNOW, BUT THE ENTITIES

THAT PRESENTED THAT SHOULD HAVE LOOKED AT THE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE LAW AND THE INTENT OF THE LAW. THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE NOT ELECTED IN 1970. CHAIR FRUMIN: NO. I HEAR YOU. IT IS A LEGAL

ARGUMENT. I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY. CHAIR FRUMIN: GOTCHA. VALUABLE FOR YOU TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS YOUREN YN THE OPINION. I AM AN ATTORNEY. I HAVE NOT LOOKED CLOSELY THAT THE LAW. IT IS A HARD

SITUATION. YES. CHAIR FRUMIN: MR. YARBOROUGH, I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE YOU. WE HAVE NOT MET. YOU ARE AN INSTITUTION. I'M HONORED TO HAVE YOU COME TO TESTIFY. I MEAN, I HAVE HEARD ABOUT ALL OF LIVES THAT YOU

HAVE-- NOT ONE BY ONE, BUT YOU HAVE HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES. REALLY GRATEFUL YOU CAME OUT. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR WORK. AND GRATEFUL THAT YOUR WORK CAN BE INCLUDED GOING FORWARD. OH, OKAY.

WE WILL INCLUDE HIM AMONGST THE FOLKS ONLINE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BUT WITH THAT, I WILL THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. THANK YOU. CHAIR FRUMIN: MR. OTTEN, YOU WERE TANTALIZINGLY CLOSE TO BEING READY

TO GO. THEN I MOVED THINGS AROUND. BUT NOW IT IS YOUR TURN. CHAIRMAN, CAN YOU HEAR ME? CHAIR FRUMIN: SURE CAN. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. BEFORE I EVEN GET INTO MY TESTIMONY, I'M REPRESENTING A

COUPLE OF GROUPS. D.C. FOR REASONABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE PUBLIC LANDS WORKING GROUP. AND I GUESS I JUST WANTED TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE, DID YOU SEE OUR ANALYSIS THAT WE PUT ON THE RECORD ABOUT THIS

DEAL? CHAIR FRUMIN: I THINK I HAVE IT HERE IN THE TESTIMONY. I HAVE NOT READ IT YET. OKAY. SO THE REEVES CENTER IS ONE OF THE SIX LAST BATCH OF BOWSER'S OUT THE DOOR FIRE SALES. THE DOLLAR LAND DEALS.

YOU KNOW? WE HAD THE HAPPY MEAL DOLLAR LAND DEALS ON THE WAY OUT. AND WE ARE AT AN INTERESTING PERIOD OF TIME FOR THIS PROJECT THAT THE REEVES CENTER AT 14TH AND U, AT THE CENTER OF BLACK BROADWAY,

WHERE YOU HAVE THE MAJOR PARTNERS ALSO SHEDDING FROM THE PROJECT. KARLA HALL IS OUT. CELEBRITY CHEF. DAVE CHAPPELLE HAS GONE SILENT. MRP REALTY IS OUT. I JUST KIND OF WANT TO FRAME A LITTLE BIT OF MY

TESTIMONY WITH THOSE REALITIES. THAT THIS IS SORT OF A DEAL THAT IS KIND OF FALLING APART ON THE WAY OUT THE DOOR OF THIS EXISTING ADMINISTRATION. THE REEVES CENTER DEAL RAISE IT IS FUNDAMENTAL

QUESTION, HOW CAN THE DISTRICT JUSTIFY GIVING AWAY VALUABLE PUBLIC LAND WITHOUT ESTABLISHING WHAT IT'S WORTH NOW OR DEMONSTRATING THAT THE PUBLIC BENEFITS JUSTIFY THE COST? THE DISTRICT IS

SURRENDERING MORE THAN 2.2 ACRES OF PUBLIC PROPERTY AT 14TH AND U. THE DEVELOPER PAYS ONE DOLLAR FOR PERMANENT OWNERSHIP OF ONE PARCEL. THE OFFICE. AND $999 FOR A GROUND LEASE ON THE HOTEL/HOUSING.

$100. FOR THIS PUBLIC LAND. YET THE DEAL DOCUMENTS REVIEWED PROVIDE NO APPRAISAL ESTABLISHING THE LAND'S FAIR MARKET VALUE. AND THE COST TO TAXPAYERS DOESN'T END THERE. THE REECE CENTER PREVIOUSLY

HOUSED D.C. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN A PUBLICLY OWNED BUILDING. NOW TAXPAYERS MAY HAVE TO PAY A PRIVATE LANDLORD TO LEASE OFFICE SPACE THAT WE JUST GAVE AWAY FOR THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT USES. THE DISTRICT

LEAVES US 50,000 SQUARE FEET WHICH IS WHAT IS BEING CONSIDERED AT THE RATES OF $44 TO $52 PER SQUARE FOOT ANNUALLY. THAT IS ABOUT $52 MILLION IN RENT OVER TWO DECADES. THESE ARE ESTIMATES. NOT

CONFIRMED LEASE COMMITMENTS. WHERE IS THAT ANALYSIS ON THIS RECORD? IT DOESN'T EXIST. THE DISTRICT MAY BE GIVING UP PUBLIC PROPERTY FOR $100, THEN PAYING MILLIONS TO RENT SPACE IN THE FUTURE TIME FROM

THIS BUILDING. MEANWHILE, THE PROJECT'S FINANCING FIGURES COME-- THE CFOIDE FACE UP TO $32 MILLION IN TIF FINANCING. WE FRONT THE MONEY. THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN LISTS $63 MILLION THAT WE ARE GOING TO

FRONT. WHAT IS THE NUMBER HERE? RIGHT? WE ARE AT THE END OF THIS TR TRAIN. WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT ACTUAL NUMBERS ARE AT PLAY. WHAT IS THE PUBLIC RECEIVING IN RETURN? THE LARGER RESIDENTIAL HOTEL

PART INCLUDES UP TO 322 HOMES. 97 THAT ARE BEING SO-CALLED AFFORDABLE. BUT THE PLAN IDENTIFIES JUST ONE, ONE AFFORDABLE THREE-BEDROOM APARTMENT. WE ARE GOING TO GET LOTS OF UNAFFORDABLE STUDIO 1

BEDROOMING PER USUAL. PER BUILDING AS USUAL. WE GET ONE AFFORDABLE THREE-BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR A FAMILIEN U STREET ON BLACK BROADWAY. IT IS SORT OF APPALLING. TO THINK ABOUT IT. OUR PUBLIC LAND NEEDS

TO BE USED TO REPAIR THE DISPLACEMENT HARMS OF THE PAST. AND THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THE U STREET AREA THAT SHOULD BE MORE IMPORTANT TO DO RIGHT NOW AND ESPECIALLY IN THIS DEAL. TO REPAIR THE

DISPLACEMENT HARMS OF THIS AREA IN WARD ONE WHICH HAS SEEN SOME OF THE GREATEST DISPLACEMENT, ESPECIALLY OF OUR BLACK FAMILIES. BEFORE APPROVING THIS DEAL, THE COUNCIL SHOULD DEMAND AN INDEPENDENT

LAND APPRAISAL, A COMPLETE ACCOUNTING OF ALL THE PUBLIC SUBSIDIES, TO CLARIFY THE CONFUSIONS THAT ARE VERY EVIDENT RIGHT NOW IN THIS DEAL. THE ACTUAL TERMS AND PROJECTED KOHS OF GOVERNMENT OFFICE

LEASES, AND ENFORCEABLE COMMITMENTS TO AFFORDABLE FAMILY HOUSING. YOU CANNOT DETERMINE WHETHER THE PUBLIC IS GETTING A GOOD DEAL WITHOUT CALCULATING WHAT IT PAYS AND WHAT IT GETS IN RETURN. PUBLIC

LAND BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE OF D.C. WE DESERVE A FULL ACCOUNTING BEFORE THE LAND IS GONE AND IT WILL BE GONE PERMANENTLY. I ASK YOU TO DO THAT AS CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE. THANKS, COUNCILMEMBER FRUMIN.

CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU. I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. CHAIR FRUMIN: WONDERFUL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. PASTOR HART. OH. HERE WE GO. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, GOOD EVENING,

EVERYONE. MY NAME IS PASTOR KEN HART. -- KEVIN HART. I SERVE AS THE SENIOR PASTOR HERE AT THE TABERNACLE CHURCH. WE HAVE BEEN SERVING IN THE CITY SINCE 1974. AS PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF

LOVE FIRST CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT 1,000 B STREET NORTHWEST A FEW BLOCKS DOWN THE STREET FROM THE PROPOSED PROJECT, I AM HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE B-26-0834. EVERY DAY I WATCH FAMILIES AS

THEY WALK PAST 14TH AND U. I SEE A MOTHER WORKING TWO JO JOBS. SHE IS DROPPING OFF HER CHILDREN AT OUR CENTER BEFORE SUNRISE. WONDERING IF SHE W WILL EVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO STAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

WHERE SHE WAS RAISED. FOR TOO LONG, THE REEVES CENTER HAS STOOD AS A REMINDER, AS A REMINDER OF WHAT THIS CORNER USED TO BE. THE BUILDING BECOMES A PROMISE OF WHAT THIS CORNER CAN BE. THIS PROJECT

BRINGS MIXED-INCOME HOUSING WITH A MEANINGFUL SHARE SET ASIDE FOR FAMILIES EARNING AT OR BELOW 30% AND 50% OF THE MEDIAN INCOME. IT BRINGS A TERM PERMANENT NATIONAL HOME FOR THE NAACP. SPACE FOR THE

ARTS AND EDUCATION. JOBS AND NEW LIFE TO A PLACE WE ONCE CALLED BLACK BROADWAY. AND IT IS LED BY A TEAM OF DISTRICT-BASED MINORITY-OWNED FIRMS. THAT IS NOT JUST DEVELOPMENT. THAT IS RESTORATION. AT

OUR CHURCH, WE SAY LOVE FIRST AND ASK QUESTIONS LATER. LOVE IS NOT ONLY A FEELING. IT IS A DECISION TO INVEST IN PEOPLE. THIS BILL IS THAT DECISION. IT TURNS A SURPLUS BUILDING INTO HOUSING, CULTURE,

OPPORTUNITY FOR THE VERY RESIDENTS WHO HAVE HELD THIS COMMUNITY TOGETHER. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THIS COMMITTEE SUPPORT B26-0834 AND MOVE IT FORWARD WITHOUT DELAY. WHILE CONTINUING TO HOLD THE

DEVELOPMENT TEAM ACCOUNTABLE TO ITS AFFORDABILITY AND COMMUNITY COMMITMENTS OUR FAMILIES HAVE LONG BEEN WAITING FOR. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. CHAIR FRUMIN:

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY AND THANK YOU FOR COMING IN ONE MINUTE EARLY. COMMISSIONER FAY. GREAT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER FRUMIN. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY TODAY.

COUNCILMEMBER-- I'M SORRY. COMMISSIONER TRINADE. DRAMO WAS ALSO GOING TO TESTIFY TODAY. I'M TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION. IN ADDITION TO BEING THE COMMISSIONER, I CHAIR THE ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WHICH HAS PURVIEW OVER DISCUSSIONS REGARDING DISTRICT-OWNED PROPERTIES. BECAUSE OF THAT, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE HAS HOSTED A NUMBER OF HEARINGS, PUBLIC HEARINGS AND

ENGAGED THE COMMUNITY WELL BEFORE MY TERM WHICH IS THIS TWO-YEAR TERM. THIS HAS BEEN A CONVERSATION IN THE COMMISSION FOR MANY YEARS. THE COMMISSION APPRECIATES THE ENGAGEMENT OF D MP AD. WE RECOGNIZE

THAT MUCH OF THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK REGARDING THE DESIRED COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT WOULD BE BROUGHT TO U STREET, THE BLACK BROADWAY WOULD BE BUILT INTO THE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE RFP AND URBAN PARTNERS.

THEIR PROPOSAL HAS INCLUDED THOSE PUBLIC BENEFITS. AS WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED FIVE SPECIFIC BENEFITS THAT ARE OF PRIORITY TO THE COMMISSION AND TO THE

RESIDENTS OF THE COMMISSION AREA. FIRST AND FORE MOE IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE COMMITMENT TO DEVELOP AT THE 30% AMI IS CRITICAL IN TERMS OF PROVIDING ACCESS. TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THE COMMISSION SHARES THE CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED BY MR. OTTEN REGARDING THE LIMITED AVAILABILITY OF FAMILY-SIZED UNITS. BUT ALSO RECOGNIZES THAT THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE AFFORDABLE UNITS IS IN LINE

WITH THE UNITS THAT ARE BEING BUILT MORE BROADLY THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING. THE SECOND COMMUNITY BENEFIT AND I APPRECIATE MR. YARBOROUGH'S COMMENTS AND PRESENCE HERE. THE COMMITMENT TO THE CREATION OF

PERFORMING ARTS SPACES. WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAD LONG CELEBRATED AND HAS REALLY LOST. VERY FEW OF THOSE SPACES REM REMAIN, AND SO A COMMITMENT TO CREATING THAT KIND OF SPACE AND

THOSE TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES IS IMPORTANT. THE CREATION OF THE PUBLIC SPACE, THE PLAZA AND THE AMPHITHEATER IS ALSO A PRIORITY BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY WHICH WE RECOGNIZE. ONE THAT THE COUNCIL MAY NOT

BE AWARE OF, BUT WE APPRECIATE THE DEVELOPER WORKING ON THIS. MAINTAINING THE ENTRANCE TO THE PARKING RAMP ON THE BUSIER SIDE OF THE DEVELOPMENT ON U STREET WHICH IS THE CURRENT ENTRANCE TO THE

PARKING RAMP. AND KEEPING IT OFF OF V STREET TO THE NORTH. WHICH IS PRIMARILY A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. A QUIETER STREET,LESS TRAFFIC. AND THEN FINALLY, WE APPRECIATE THAT THE BENEFIT TO THE

COMMUNITY WILL BE THE ACTIVATION OF THIS NOW MANY YEARS DORMANT SPACE. THIS IS A CRITICAL INTERS INTERSECTION, A CRITICAL PLACE ON THE U STREET CORRIDOR, AND TO HAVE IT SIT EMPTY AND VACANT BRINGS

DOWN THE COMMUNITY. THE IMMEDIATE DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT IN THE AREA BRINGS A LOT OF IMMEDIATE DIRECT BENEFITS AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL DOWNSTREAM BENEFITS. THERE WERE QUESTIONS AND

CONCERNS RAISED BY THE COMMUNITY, AS WE HAVE HAD MEETINGS. WE APPRECIATE CSG URBAN PARTNERS JOINING US IN JUNE TO SHARE THEIR PLANS. COMMISSION 1B VOTED UNANIMOUSLY IN SUPPORT OF THE PLANS IN OUR JULY

MEETING, AND WE WILL BE HAPPY TO SUBMIT THAT. WE ALSO HAD A PRESENTATION AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A COMMUNITY QUESTION-AND-ANSWER AT OUR OCTOBER MEETING. THE COMMISSION WILL BE VOTING AGAIN IN SUPPORT.

THERE WERE QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT THE DOLLAR PURCHASE PRICE AND THE DOLLAR LEASE VALUE. AS WE DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE COMMUNITY, AS WE HEARD FEEDBACK AND JUSTIFICATIONS PROVIDED BY THE ORGANIZATION,

THE POSITION OF THE COMMISSION IS THAT THE REDUCED VALUE AND THE PURCHASE PRICE IS OFFSET BY THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT HAD BEEN DESCRIBED. BUT ALSO RAISED AS CONCERNS BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND

EVEN MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION IS THAT THE AGREEMENT THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING DRAFTED BETWEEN THE DEVELOPER AND THE DISTRICT MAY NOT PROVIDE AS MUCH OF A ROBUST FRAMEWORK AS WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE TO

ENSURE AND TO GUARANTEE THOSE COMMUNITY BENEFITS. THE COMMISSION DOES NOT FEEL LIKE WE ARE QUALIFIED TO CRAFT STRONGER LANGUAGE, AND WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THE COUNCIL DOES. BRING THAT SKILL SET TO THE

TABLE. WE WOULD ASK THAT IN PARTICULAR, THE PUBLIC HOUSING COMPONENTS ARE COMMITTED TO THE PERFORMING ARTS SPACES ARE REALIZED. WE SHARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED AT SOME OF THE BIG

NAMES HIGHLIGHTED EARLY ON, HAVE SINCE DROPPED OUT. WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT AS AN EXCUSE FOR THOSE SPACES NOT TO BE ACTIVATED AND FOR-- THE COMMISSION SUPPORTS THIS GO. AND HOPES THE COUNCIL WILL

WORK HARD WITH THE RESOURCES IT HAS AVAILABLE TO CRAFT LANGUAGE THAT ENSURES THAT THESE BENEFITS THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THAT HAVE BEEN COMMITTED BY THE DEVELOPER ARE REALIZED. WE

LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MR. KING AND HIS COLLEAGUES AS THEY CONTINUE THEIR WORK FORWARD AND BEING GOOD PARTNERS AND NEIGHBORS INTO THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR

YOUR TESTIMONY. I THINK WITH THAT, WE HAVE COMPLETED THE PUBLIC WITNESSES ONLINE. AND WE ARE READY TO TURN TO THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM FOR THE REEVES PROJECT. SO CHARLES KING. QUENTIN PRIMO. PATRICE

WILLOUGHBY. ARE THERE ANY OTHERS FROM YOUR TEAM WHO YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE JOIN YOU AT THE TABLE? GREAT. AND THEN WITH THAT, THERE IS NOBODY ELSE HERE WHO IS WAITING TO TESTIFY BESIDES THE GOVERNMENT

WITNESSES AFTER THIS. GREAT. ALL RIGHT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A PREFERRED ORDER FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. OKAY. GREAT. GREAT, THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN FRUMIN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND

STAFF. MY NAME IS CHARLES KING. I AM COFOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL OF CSG URBAN PARTNERS. I'M TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF THE REEVES CMC VENTURE WITH COMASTER DEVELOPER CAPRI INVESTMENT GROUP WHO IS REPRESENTED

TODAY BY ITS FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT QUENTIN PRIMO. AND THE DEVELOPMENT PARTNER NAACP WHO IS ALSO REPRESENTED TODAY BY PATRICE WILLOUGHBY, CHIEF OF LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY AFFAIRS IN SUPPORT OF B26-0834,

APPROVING THE DISPOSITION OF THE FRANK D. REEVES MUNICIPAL CENTER. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR TWO OUTSTANDING PROJECT ARCHITECTS. MICHAEL MARSHALL AND SEAN PICHON. THEY HAVE CREATED A UNIQUE

WORLD-CLASS CAMPUS FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF COMMUNITY RESIDENTS AND VISES OR THE ALIKE. THE DISTRICT SELECTED OUR TEAM IN 2023 FOLLOWING ITS EQUITY RFP PROCESS. GIVEN THE NUMEROUS BENEFITS STEMMING FROM

OUR DEVELOPMENT PLAN, OUR COMPATIBILITY WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE DUKE PLAN AND THE MANY POLICY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ADVANCED BY OUR MIXED-USE PROGRAMMING. OUR TEAM IS A UNIQUELY STRUCTURED

JOINT VENTURE THAT BRINGS TOGETHER THE COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCES OF CSG, CAPRI AND NAACP. CSG IS A MINORITY-AND WOMEN-OWNED ENTITY FOUNDED IN 2003 WITH LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY. WE

BRING LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE. CAPRI BRINGS EXTENSIVE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCE EXPERTISE, AND THE NAACP BRINGS AN ENDURING CIVIL MISSION AND HAS AN EQUITY

OWNERSHIP STAKE IN THE PROJECT. TOGETHER WE HAVE DEVELOPED A PLAN TO DELIVER ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND PUBLIC VALUE. OUR DEVELOPMENT PLAN INCORPORATES THE BEST ELEMENTS OF THE DUKE PLAN WHICH THE COUNCIL

APPROVED AND AS A LANDMARK URBAN DESIGN INITIATIVE. OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS TO THRENCH NEIGHBORHOOD'S RICH AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY ARTS AND JAZZ HERITAGE, TO TRANSFER THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR INTO A

VIBRANT-18-HOUR CULTURAL AND WORLD-CLASS RETAIL DESTINATION WITH A MAXIMUM OF COMMUNITY IMPORT AND PARTICIPATION. THE PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT COMPRISES APPROXIMATELY 552,000 SQUARE FEET OF MIXED-USES,

INCLUDING DISTRICT AND NAACP OFFICES, 150-ROOM HOTEL, LOCAL SERVING RETAIL, ART, AND EDUCATION SPACES, PUBLIC GATHERING AREAS, AND MIXED-INCOME HOUSING. THE NAACP, I WILL MENTION AGAIN, WILL OWN ITS

50,000-SQUARE-FOOT HEADQUARTERS SPACE. THAT PERMANENT PRESENCE IS CENTRAL TO THE DEVELOPMENT'S CIVIL IDENTITY. THIS IS ALSO A PROJECT ROOTED IN PLACE. THE REEVES SITE SITS AT AN IMPORTANT INTERSECTION

OF THE SHAW AND U STREET CORR DOSES. OUR VISION INCLUDES SPACE FOR THE WASHINGTON JAZZ ARTS INSTITUTE AND DANCE SCHOOL. ALONG WITH A PUBLIC PLAZA AND AMPHITHEATER. THESE USES ARE INTENDED TO KEEP

ARTS, CULTURE, AND NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVITY AT THE CENTER OF DEVELOPMENT, NOT JUST AT ITS MARGINS. WHILE OUR ORIGINAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN CONTEMPLATED A FULL BILL-OUT OF PROGRAMMING SIMULTANEOUSLY, WE ARE

MODIFIED OUR IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY IN RESPONSE TO CHANGE, MARKET, AND FINANCING CONDITIONS. WE NOW PROPOSE THE BUILD PROJECT IN TWO PHASES. PHASE ONE WILL DELIVER THE NAACP HEADQUARTERS. DISTRICT

OFFICES, ARCH-RELATED PROGRAMMING AND HOTEL AND INITIAL RETAIL. IT WILL ESTABLISH THE CIVIC AND CULTURAL CORE AND BEGIN REACTIVATING THE SITE. PHASE TWO BUILDS UPON THE MOMENTUM OF THE FIRST PHASE,

EXTENDING VITALITY INTO THE RESIDENTIAL AND RETAIL SECTORS. PHASE TWO IS PROPOSED TO INCLUDE 322 MIXED-INCOME RENTAL HOMES WITH 30% RESERVE FOR HOUSEHOLDS EARNING 50% OR LESS OF MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.

TOGETHER WITH ADDITIONAL RETAIL AND PUBLIC AREA CONNECTIONS. BY PHASING THE PROJECT, THE TEAM IS ABLE TO PURSUE A DUAL-PRONGED APPROACH TO INCREASE RESIDENTIAL DENSITY. THROUGH THE POTENTIAL

ACQUISITION OF THE ADJACENT PROPERTY AND MODIFICATION OF THE SITE ZONING WHICH WE WILL TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT LATER IF YOU LIKE. IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE DISTRICT'S CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY GOALS, THE

DEVELOPMENT WOULD INCORPORATE ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES, ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDING SYSTEMS, AND THE USE OF GREEN MATERIALS AND THE INTEGRATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

SOLUTIONS WHICH WILL HELP REDUCE THE PROJECT'S ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT. IN CONCLUSION, THE REEVES CENTER PROJECT REPRESENTS AN EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE THE DISTRICT'S VISION FOR THE

REVITALIZATION OF THE SITE. WITH THE JOINT EFFORTS OF OUR DIVERSE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS AND CONSIDERABLE COMMUNITY INPUT, WE ARE ALL WELL-POSITIONED TO DELIVER A TRANSFORMATIVE ENDURING AND COMMUNITY-

DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT TO. RECAP, THIS IS A GENERATIONAL PROJECT THAT PROVIDES UNPARALLELED NEIGHBORHOOD BENEFITS SUCH AS THOSE JUST RECITED AND WIDER VALUES FOR CITIZENS OF THE ENTIRE CITY, INCLUDING

HELPING DISTRICT BUSINESSES BY DEVOTING 20% OF OUR PLANNED 40,000-SQUARE FOOT OF RETAIL SPACE TO BE DEDICATED TO LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS, PROVIDING BELOW-MARKET RENTS TO COMMUNITY-FOCUSED TENANTS,

BUILDING ALMOST 100 DEEP WILL AFFORDABLE RENTAL UNITS FOR HOUSEHOLDS AT 50% OR LESS OF MFI. AND A 20-YEAR PROJECTED INCREASE IN THE TAX BASE OF OVER $60 MILLION. WE SUPPORT THE QUESTION FOR TIF OF

HALF OF THAT AMOUNT. SUBSTANTIAL JOB TRAINING AND CREATION WITH OUR TEAM, EXPECTING 3,000 CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND 500 PERMANENT JOBS AND MANY OTHER BENEFITS THROUGH A FUTURE COLLABORATIVE ACTIVITIES AND

COMMUNITY OUTREACH. SUCH AS POSSIBLY ESTABLISHING A NEW FARMER'S MARKET. ON BEHALF OF CSG AND OUR PARTNERS, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE COMMIT'S THE'S SUPPORT FOR B26-0834. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND

CONSIDERATION. I WILL NOW ASK QUENTIN PRIMO FOR HIS REMARKS. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, CHARLES. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN FRUMIN, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND STAFF, F FOR THE

OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER TESTIMONY AS DEVELOPERS OF THE REEVES CENTER PROJECT. MY NAME IS QUENTIN PRIMO. I'M FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF CAPRI INVESTMENT GROUP. AN ORGANIZATION THAT I CO-FOUNDED 34

YEARS AGO. AND WHICH I'M PRIMARY OWNER TODAY. AS CHARLES HAS INT MAITDED, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG JOURNEY, INDEED. FOR CAPRI, IT STARTED WITH A CALL FROM OUR ARCHITECTS NEARLY SIX YEARS AGO. REQUESTING

OUR INVOLVEMENT TO RESPOND TO THE RFP ISSUED FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE BUILDING. MICHAEL AND SEAN REACHED OUT TO CAPRI BECAUSE OF OUR LONG TRACK RECORD IN REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPMENT.

-- INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT. AND A DEMONSTRATED COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY. OVER THE LIFE OF THE FIRM, CAPRI HAS INVESTED IN MOST ALL MAJOR PROPERTY MARKETS AND ACROSS ALL PROPERTY TYPES. BUT HAVE BEEN

ESPECIALLY ACTIVE IN MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENTS. COMPLETING OUR FIRST DEAL IN 199 8. WE BRING THIS EXPERTISE TO THE SUBJECT DEVELOPMENT. FOR MOST OF OUR HISTORY, WE HAVE ACTED ON BEHALF OF

THE NATION'S LARGEST PENSION FUND AND OTHER INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS. AS A REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISOR. WITHIN THE LAST TEN YEARS, WE HAVE EVOLVED INTO A DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL

INVESTOR. FOR INSTANCE, ONE OF OUR SIGNATURE PROJECTS IS THE 1.3 MILLION-SQUARE-FOOT REDEVELOPMENT OF THE JAMES THOMPSON CENTER IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO. WE WILL COMPLETE BASE BUILDING AFTER NEARLY A

THREE. YEAR DEVELOPMENT CYCLE AND PROFITABLY SELL THE COMPLEX TO GOOGLE IN EARLY 2027. CAPRI HAS OFTEN BEEN INVOLVED IN MAJOR TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS LIKE THE THOMPSON CENTER AND PRIDE OURSELVES IN

SUCH MATTERS AS. ONE, DELIVERING BUILDINGS ON TIME AND WITHIN BUDGET AND ACCORDING TO PLAN'S SPECIFICATIONS. TWO, UTILIZING A DIVERSE SET OF SUPPLIERS, INCLUDING CONTRACTORS, SUBCONTRACTORS AND

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FIRMS SUCH AS ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, AND LAWYERS, AMONG OTHERS. THREE, EMBRACING EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN. A BUILDING MAY BE BEAUTIFUL, BUT IT MUST FUNCTION WELL OPERATIONALLY AND AND

IDEALLY, HAVE MINIMAL IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT. AND FOUR, EMBRACING COMMUNITY. WITH DEVELOPMENTS THAT CONNECT WITH NEIGHBORHOODS VS. DIVIDE THEM. IN SHORT, WE PURSUE PROJECTS THAT CAPTURE THE

IMAGINETATION AND MAXIMIZE THE POSITIVE IMPACT ON ON OUR TENANTS, OUR RESIDENTS, OUR COMMUNITIES, AND THE ENVIRONMENT. BUT CONCURRENTLY OFFER MARKET-RATE OF RETURNS TO OUR INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS.

WE PURSUE THESE GOALS WHETHER WE ARE THE SOLE GENERAL PARTNER AND DEVELOPER OR IN JOINT VENTURE AS IS THE CASE WITH REECE. AS CHARLES HAS SUGGESTED, THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE FRANK D. REEVES CENTER

WITH THE NAACP IS OUR LEAD OFFICE AND PARTNER IS A LEGACY PROJECT, ONE THAT WE WISH TO HOLD FOR THE LONG TERM. WE ARE MOST PLEASED TO JOIN FORCES WITH CSG URBAN PARTNERS AND THE NAACP TO REALIZE OUR

COLLECTIVE VISION FOR THE PROJECT AND THE DISTRICT AND ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COMMITTEE OR THE PUBLIC MAY HAVE REGARDING THIS PROJECT. CHAIR FRUMIN: AND NOW WE WOULD LIKE TO

HEAR FROM PATRICE WILLOUGHBY FROM THE NAACP. CHAIR FRUMIN: WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN FRUMIN AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME TODAY. MY NAME IS PATRICE

WILLOUGHBY. I'M A RESIDENT OF WARD 5 IN D.C., AND I ALSO SERVE AS CHIEF OF POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS FOR THE NAACP, THE NATION'S OLDEST AND LARGEST CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION. OUR PRESIDENT AND

CEO DERRICK JOHNSON SENDS HIS REGARDS. HE WILL APPEAR NEXT MONTH BEFORE COUNCIL, BUT TODAY HE IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS. SO WE APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION OF THE NAACP'S

VIEWS ON THE HISTORIC REDEVELOPMENT OF THE FRANKLIN D. REEVES CENTER AND WE RESPECTFULLY ENCOURAGE YOUR SUPPORT OF B26-0834 TO DECLARE SURPLUS AND AUTHORIZE THE DISPOSITION AND REDEVELOPMENT OF THE

REEVES CENTER. SO THE NAACP, BEING FOUNDED IN 1909, WE NOW COMPRISE 2,300 UNITS. THAT IS EITHER IN COMMUNITY OR STATE CONFERENCES. IN 47 STATES WITH NEARLY 3 MILLION MEMBERS. AND WITH THAT SIGNIFICANT

MEMBERSHIP, THE ASSOCIATION ADVANCES NONPARTISAN PUBLIC POLICY GUIDED BY THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES. F THAT COMMITMENT INFORMED OUR DECISION SEVERAL YEARS AGO TO RELOCATE OUR HEADQUARTERS TO

WASHINGTON, D.C. WHICH IS THE CENTER OF FEDERAL POLICY-MAKING. PUBLIC POLICY CONNECTS THE PRESENT TO OUR PAST. AND FOR THE NAACP, EQUITABLE POLICY MUST RESPOND DIRECTLY TO COMMUNITY NEEDS. WHEN MAYOR

BOWSER AND PRESIDENT JOHNSON CONNECTED YEARS AGO, THE MAYOR'S COMMITMENT TO AN EQUITABLE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL'S PROCESS HELPED CREATE THE FOUNDATION FOR THE NAACP'S PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROJECT. WE

HAVE REMAINED COMMITTED FROM THE OUTSET, AND WE THANK THE MAYOR FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP. FOR THE NAACP, 14TH AND U STREET REPRESENTS MORE THAN A REDEVELOPMENT SITE. THE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT EMBODIES THE

CONTINUING PROCESS AND PROGRESS OF EQUITY AS A CORE VALUE. THE REEVES CENTER IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN BOTH BLACK AMERICAN HISTORY AND THE HISTORY OF THE NAACP BECAUSE BEGINNING IN THE 1870'S, AS YOU ALL

KNOW, THE U STREET CORRIDOR DEVELOPED INTO A HUB OF BLACK COMMERCIAL INTELLECTUAL AND CULTURAL LIFE. BY THE 1920'S, U STREET WAS KNOWN AS BLACK BROADWAY. AND DESPITE JIM CROW, RESIDENTS BUILT

BUSINESSES, PROSPERITY, AND COMMUNITY. THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALSO BECAME A CENTER OF CIVIL RIGHTS ACTI ACTIVISM, AN ORGANIZATION AGAINST SEGREGATION. IN THE 1950'S, NAACP ASSIST ASST COUNSEL FRANK REEVES

WORKED ALONGSIDE THURGOOD MARSHALL AND PLAYED A ROLE IN LANDMARK VICTORIES INCLUDING THE BROWN V. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. UNDER MARION BARRY, THE MAYOR OF THE DISTRICT, THE REEVES CENTER CARRIED THAT

LEGACY INTO THE CIVIC LIFE OF D.C. WHEN IT OPENED IN 1986. THIS REPRESENTED A DELIBERATE PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN RENEWAL EFFORT OF 1968 UNREST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTRAL TO BLACK WASHINGTON'S HISTORY.

THE SITE, THUS CONNECTS REEVES' PURSUIT OF JUSTICE WITHIN THE U STREET'S CORRIDORS OF BLACK ENTERPRISE, CULTURAL ACHIEVEMENT AND CIVIC ACTIVISM. THE NAACP, IN OUR POLICY AND IN OUR ACTION SUPPORTS

REDEVELOPMENT THAT SERVES AND STRENGTHENS THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION TO OUR NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, THE PROJECT INCLUDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, A HOTEL AND SPACES FOR ARTS, COMMERCE, AND

COMMUNITY LIFE, FRAME OUT THE FABRIC OF WHAT A COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE. AND ALIGNED WITH THIS HISTORIC LEGACY, THE PROJECT LINKS CIVIL RIGHTS TO A POWERFUL ECONOMIC OBJECTIVE WHICH IS INCLUSIVE GROWTH.

IN 2023, NAACP PRESIDENT JOHNSON CAPTURED THAT VISION BY STATING THAT HEADQUARTERING OUR OFFICES WITHIN THE NATION'S CAPITAL WILL ALLOW US TO FURTHER OUR MISSION OF EFFECTUATING CHANGE ON THE ISSUES

THAT MATTER MOST TO OUR COMMUNITY. CIVIL RIGHTS PROGRESS DEPENDS ON TURNING THE PROMISE OF EQUALITY INTO MEASURABLE OUTCOMES. REDEVELOPMENT MUST INCLUDE LONG-TIME RESIDENTS, CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS,

SMALL BUSINESSES, AND YOUNG FAMILIES. AND AN INTENTIONAL EQUITABLE APPROACH WILL ENSURE THAT THE HISTORY OF 14TH AND U REMAINS VISIBLE AND MEANINGFUL WHILE GENERATING LASTING ECONOMIC BENEFITS. THE

NAACP LOOKS FORWARD TO SERVING AS AN EQUITY PARTNER IN THIS VENTURE, CONTRIBUTING TO THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF THE HISTORIC CORRIDOR, AND WE RESPECTFULLY ENCOURAGE YOUR SUPPORT OF B26-0834. THANK YOU

AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. WILL YOU BE TESTIFYING? ANSWERING QUESTIONS. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. GREAT. HE IS THE BRAINS OF THE OUTFIT. CHAIR FRUMIN:

WONDERFUL. SO MISS WILLOUGHBY. I MEAN, WE STILL WANT THE NAACP HERE. WE WANT THE NAACP ON THAT SITE. IT MAKES TOTAL SENSE FOR THE CITY. IT MAKES TOTAL SENSE, I HOPE, FOR YOU, AND RESONATES IN LOTS OF

DIFFERENT WAYS FOR ALL OF US. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROJECT AND FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. STILL WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE PROJECT AS WE MOVE FORWARD. I'M GOING TO FIRST-- YOU ARE NOW

IN A PLACE WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO DO IT IN PHASES. AND PHASE ONE, I HAVE THE SITE MAP IN FRONT OF ME. AND SO THE BUILDING FACING U STREET IS PHASE ONE. IS THAT RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT, YES. CHAIR

FRUMIN: THEN WHAT GOES IN THAT BUILDING? THAT BUILDING WILL HOUSE-- CHAIR FRUMIN: OH. CAN YOU SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? SEAN PEESHON, PRINCIPAL OF GRAVES ARCHITECTURE, PC. THE BUILDING ALONG U

STREET WILL HOUSE THE 100,000 SQUARE FOOT OF OFFICE SPACE. BOTH INCORPORATING THE NAACP HEADQUARTERS AND THE 50,000 SQUARE FEET OF DISTRICT OFFICE. IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE ART-RELATED USES. AND THE

HOTEL. SO THOSE ARE THE THREE MAIN COMPONENTS OF THE BUILDING ALONG U STREET. CHAIR FRUMIN: WHAT ARE THOSE ARTS-RELATED USE THAT IS WOULD GO IN THAT BUILDING? IS THAT THE VIVA DANCE? MR. YARBOROUGH?

THAT IS CORRECT, YES. AND POSSIBLY OTHERS. AND POSSIBLY OTHERS. YES. CHAIR FRUMIN: AND POSSIBLY OTHERS. IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE IS A LOT OF CONJECTURE AND RUMOR ABOUT WHO IS AND WHO IS NOT

COMING. WE DO NOT HAVE, AND I WILL BE DIRECT, ANY CONTRACTS WITH ANYONE BECAUSE WE NEVER HAD SITE CONTROL. WE WERE NEVER-- WE WERE NOT ABLE TO HAVE CONTRACTS. WHEN PEOPLE LIKE MS. HALL WOULD SAY, YOU

KNOW, WHERE ARE WE? WE DIDN'T KNOW. BECAUSE WE WERE STILL IN THE MIDST OF PUTTING TOGETHER OTHER THINGS. SO AT THIS POINT, ONCE WE GET THROUGH COUNCIL HEARINGS, ONCE WE HAVE SITE CONTROL, ONCE WE ARE

FURTHER ALONG IN THE PROCESS, THEN WE WILL LOOK AT HAVING ACTUAL CONTRACTS. LOI'S WITH THE TENANT THAT IS WILL BE THERE. BUT YES, THOSE WILL BE SOME OF THE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT TENANTS. BUT WE ARE

LOOKING AT OTHERS AS WELL. WE WANT THIS TO BE AS ROBUST A CULTURAL ICON FOR THE CITY AS POSSIBLE. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. I HEAR YOU. WHAT IS YOUR-- HOW MANY SQUARE FEET ARE YOU SETTING ASIDE IN PHASE ONE

FOR THE ARTS? 30,000 SQUARE FEET. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. SOME OF THAT IS SPOKEN FOR, BUT THERE MAY BE OTHERS THAT ARE NOT SPOKEN FOR? WHAT IS THE TIMELINE? SHOULD THIS GO THROUGH IN THIS SESSION? WHEN

WOULD YOU HOPE TO START AND COMPLETE PHASE ONE? WELL, THE DESIGN PROCESS WILL TAKE APPROXIMATELY A YEAR. AND GET THROUGH CONSTRUCTION, DOCUMENTS AND PERMITS. THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS WOULD TAKE

APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AFTER THAT. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. YOU WOULD GET GOING ON THE DESIGN PROCESS QUICKLY. CORRECT. IF I COULD HAVE ONE-- WE WILL TRY TO MAXIMIZE DENSITY. WE WILL PROBABLY LOOK AT

INCREASING THE ZONING. EITHER THROUGH A MAP AMENDMENT OR A PUD. MORE THAN LIKELY THROUGH A MAP AMENDMENT. SO WE CAN HAVE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF UNITS, THE M MAXIMUM NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.

AND OTHER POSSIBILITIES. SO THAT MAY TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME. WE ARE DOING THE ANALYSIS NOW. WE HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT APPEARS FOR THE QUICKEST EXECUTION AND THE GREATEST RETURN IN TERMS

OF DENSITY, IT WILL BE DOING A MAP AMENDMENT. WE WILL BE DOING THAT CONCURRENTLY. HOPEFULLY, IT WON'T SLOW DOWN TOO MUCH OF THE PROJECT. IT MAY ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME. CHAIR FRUMIN: DOES IT AFFECT

PHASE ONE? BECAUSE THERE IS NOT -- I WAS GOING TO INTERJECT. THAT IS PART OF THE PHASE TWO PROCESS. YES. PHASE ONE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD IMMEDIATELY. BY RIGHT. YES. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. THEN

PHASE TWO. IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN INTERESTING SITUATION IN THAT THERE IS DIFFERENT PERMUTATIONS. RIGHT? IF YOU GET A MAP AMENDMENT, AND IF YOU GET GINO BROANY. THAT IS A DIFFERENT TIMELINE. WHAT IS

THE AMBITION FOR THE PHASE TWO TIMELINE? REALLY IT IS CONTINGENT UPON OUR SUCCESS IN INCLUDING GINO B ER ONI. TO INCLUDE IT IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM. AND TWO, THE OVERALL MAP AMENDMENT, THE LAND

USE ZONING THAT WE WILL PURSUE, WILL HAVE TO BE DONE FOR OVERALL PROJECTS. THE ENTIRE PROJECT. THAT WILL HAVE ITS OWN PERIOD OF TIME TO EXECUTE. CHAIR FRUMIN: SO IN JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR, YOU WOULD BE

COPPING, SEEKING A MAP AMENDMENT. YOU COULD SAY THAT IS PROBABLY THE RIGHT TIMING. TECHNICALLY, WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE THE L DD A SIGNED WHICH ALSO INCLUDES CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL. TECHNICALLY, THERE MAY

BE THREE MONTHS. DELAY. WE INTEND TO MOVE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILMEMBER NADEAU THAT I'M GOING TO ASK. THIS IS A SLIGHTLY NEW DEVELOPMENT. THE

LAST TIME I SPOKE WITH YOU, YOU WERE UNSURE BETWEEN MAP AMENDMENT AND PUD. NOW IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE LEANING PRETTY HEAVILY TOWARDS THE MAP AMENDMENT APPROACH. IS THAT FOR SURE? WE HAVE THE

OPTIONALITY. WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO EITHER IN OUR LDDA. WE BELIEVE A MAP AMENDMENT WHICH ALLOWS US TO ACHIEVE THE SAME RESULT MAY BE MORE EFFICIENT IN GETTING STARTED. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. AND THEN

GINO BARONEY. HOW IS IT GOING? WE HAVE HAD INITIAL DISCUSSIONS. VERY POSITIVE. AND WE WILL CONTINUE THOSE DISCUSSIONS AS WE GO FORTH. CHAIR FRUMIN: IS THIS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE THINGS, LIKE, UNTIL YOU

HAVE SITE CONTROL -- THEY ARE NOT REALLY SERIOUS UNTIL WE HAVE SITE CONTROL. WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY AT THIS POINT. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED. WE ARE INTERESTED. YOU

HAVE TWO RATIONALE RATIONAL INTERESTED PARTIES. IF I WAS A BETTING MAN, I WOULD SAY IT IS GREATER THAN 50. 50 AT THIS POINT. IF DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS AND THE PRICE. BULL YES. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. I

HEAR THE CAVEATS. THE PURSUIT OF A MAP AMENDMENT DOES NOT NECESSARILY SLOW PHASE ONE DOWN. NO. PHASE ONE IS AS OF RIGHT. CHAIR FRUMIN: THEN PHASE TWO, I SUPPOSE, DO YOU NEED TO WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE THE

MAP AMENDMENT UNTIL YOU INVEST IN THE DESIGN AND SUCH? WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE FOR PHASE TWO? THAT IS JUST IT. WE HAVE TO COMMENCE THE MAP AMENDMENT AND THE LAND USE ZONING CHANGE IMMEDIATELY. THEREFORE,

WE WILL HAVE TO INVEST IN DESIGN AND PLANNING. FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT. CHAIR FRUMIN: AHH. EVEN BEFORE YOU HAVE GOTTEN THE MAP AMENDMENT. THE CHANGE IN ZONING IS FOR THE ENTIRE SITE. NOT JUST PHASE

TWO. BOTH PROJECTS HAVE TO BE ESSENTIALLY PLANNED AND DESIGNED. AT THE SAME TIME. CHAIR FRUMIN: YEAH. THIS IS WHERE I'M STILL GETTING STUCK. SEAN MAY NEED TO EXPLAIN IT. SO THE DESIGN PROCESS WILL

HAPPEN FOR THE SITE. CHAIR FRUMIN: THE WHOLE SITE. RIGHT. THE PHASE ONE WILL MOVE FORWARD INTO FURTHER DETAIL DESIGN AND PERMITTING WHILE WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE PHASE TWO COMPLETION SO

CONSTRUCTION C CAN-- THIS GIVES US SOME TIME TO WORK THROUGH THE DETAILS OF WHETHER OR NOT GINO BARONE IS GOING TO BE INCLUDED. F ONCE THAT DECISION HAS BEEN MADE, WE CAN COMPLETE THE PHASE TO

PROCESS. THE INITIAL CONCEPT DESIGNS WILL HAVE THE MAP AMENDMENT INCLUSIVE OF THAT ENTIRE PROPERTY. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. AND JUST-- I MEAN, IT HAS BEEN A LONG DAY. FORGIVE ME. HERE IS HOW I'M

UNDERSTANDING IT. THAT IF WE WERE TO PASS THIS LEGISLATION, THEN EARLY, AS SOON OZ YOU COULD, YOU WOULD PURSUE A MAP AMENDMENT, AND YOU WOULD BEGIN THE DESIGN PROCESS. YOU WOULD BE DRIVING NOT JUST

TOWARDS OVERALL CONCEPT DESIGN, YOU WOULD BE DRIVING AS SOON AS YOU COULD TOWARDS CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS AND PERMITTING FOR PHASE ONE. CORRECT. CHAIR FRUMIN: THAT COULD THEN DELIVER-- WE DON'T KNOW

FOR SURE. TWO, THREE, FOUR YEARS. UNTIL YOU HAVE SECURED THE MAP AMENDMENT AND SECURED GINO BARONE, YOU PROBABLY WON'T MOVE TO CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS AND PERMITTING FOR PHASE TWO. CORRECT. CHAIR

FRUMIN: SO THEN THAT WOULD BE A YEAR OR TWO BEHIND PHASE ONE. IS THAT REALISTIC. CORRECT. BUT WE HAVE A THREE-YEAR WINDOW THAT WE HAVE TO ACQUIRE AND START CONSTRUCTION. THAT'S NOT A LOT OF TIME.

THEREFORE, THE PROCESS H HAS TO BE COMMENCED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF WE ARE GOING TO ACHIEVE THAT. CHAIR FRUMIN: A THREE-YEAR WINDOW -- REALLY FROM THE APPROVAL OF THIS COMMITTEE AND THE CITY COUNCIL.

WE HAVE THREE YEARS FROM THAT DATE. TO NEGOTIATE WITH GINO BARONE, COMPLETE OUR SCHEMATIC DRAWINGS, GET THE PUD OR MAP AMENDMENT APPROVED, AND ACQUIRE AND COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. ON

A VERY COMPLEX PROJECT. CHAIR FRUMIN: ALL RIGHT. SO THERE ARE PIECES, AND I'LL TALK TO THEM ABOUT THIS. THE SECURING THE ZONING CHANGE, THAT IS A THING THAT PERHAPS THE GOVERNMENT PLAYS A ROLE IN. WE

CAN TALK ABOUT THAT. TRADITIONALLY, THAT IS 12-18 MONTHS. CHAIR FRUMIN: 12-18 MONTHS TO GET THAT. RIGHT. CHAIR FRUMIN: THAT IS TIGHT. IT IS VERY TIGHT. SO WE HAVE TO DO BOTH. THAT IS OUR POINT. WE

CAN'T SORT OF FOCUS ON PHASE ONE AND LOLLO LOLLYGAG AND HOPE WE GET THE AMENDMENT. WE LITERALLY HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING AT ONCE. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ART SPACE. IN PHASE

ONE, THERE IS HOTEL. THERE IS NAACP. THERE IS 50,000 SQUARE FEET. OF DISTRICT OFFICES. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? A LITTLE RETAIL. SOME FIRST-FLOOR RETAIL. CHAIR FRUMIN: SOME FIRST-FLOOR RETAIL. DO YOU

HAVE RETAILERS LINED UP? IS IT TOO EARLY FOR THAT? WAY TOO EARLY FOR RESTAURANTS AND THAT SORT OF THING. WAY TOO EARLY. I MEAN, PEOPLE HAVE COME TO US, OBVIOUSLY. AGAIN, NO SITE CONTROL, WE CAN'T SAY

MUCH EXCEPT, YEAH WE ARE INTERESTED IN TALKING TO YOU. PARTICULARLY LOCAL. CHAIR FRUMIN: SO THE SITE PLAN, IT IS THREE BUILDINGS. RIGHT? SO THE BACK BUILDING ON B STREET. I THINK OF IT AS THE BACK. I

THINK OF THE FRONT AS U STREET. BACK BUILDING, THAT IS THE HOUSING. IS THAT RIGHT? YES. THAT IS CORRECT. CHAIR FRUMIN: AND THAT DEPENDS ON GINO BARONE, THE MAP AMENDMENT, AENED THE UNITS. AND IF I

COULD STOP YOU. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU ARE SAYING THIS OR NOT. IF WE DON'T HAVE GINO BARONE, WE WILL STILL HAVE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING. IT WILL NOT BE MAXED OUT FROM A PROGRAMMING POINT OF VIEW OR THE

MAXIMUM NUMBER OF UNITS WE COULD GET. GINO BARONE, YES, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE INCORPORATED. IT IS NOT ESSENTIAL FOR US TO CONTINUE WITH PHASE TWO. CHAIR FRUMIN: I HEAR YOU. AND YOU HAVE A TABLE THAT

SHOWS WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH GINO BARONE WITHOUT GINO BARONE. THAT'S RIGHT. CHAIR OKAY. THE MIDDLE BUILDING. THE PLAZA, THE AMPHITHEATER. WITH A WHAT IS IN THE MIDDLE BUILDING? THAT IS AN OPEN AIR

PLAZA. THERE IS NO BUILDING THERE. THAT IS THE PUBLIC PLAZA AREA. BETWEEN THE TWO BUILDINGS. CHAIR FRUMIN: AND WHEN WOULD YOU COMMENCE TO DEVELOP THAT? BECAUSE THAT COULD, IN THEORY, HAPPEN MORE

QUICKLY. THAN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOUSING. WHAT IS THE TIMETABLE FOR CREATING THAT PLAZA AND AMPHITHEATER? WELL, THE COMPLETE PLAZA WILL NEED THE FULL DEVELOPMENT TO BE COMPLETED FOR IT TO

FUNCTION PROPERLY. SO THAT IS GOING TO BE PART OF THE PHASE TWO. PORTION OF THE BUILDING. CHAIR FRUMIN: IT WILL COME WITH THE HOUSING. IT WILL BE A CONSTRUCTION SITE BETWEEN THE PLAZA AND B STREET.

100%. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. FOR THE HOTEL, DO YOU HAVE-- ARE YOU TALKING TO ANY HOTELIERS AT THIS POINT? WE ARE. AND THERE IS A KEEN AMOUNT OF INTEREST IN IT AT THIS POINT. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. WHERE ARE

YOU-- ONE OF THE THINGS-- SOME RAISED MRP GOT OUT AND-- DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLELE THAT YOU HAVE TO FINANCING TO PROCEED AT THIS POINT? THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR 30-SOMETHING YEARS. YES. CHAIR

FRUMIN: EVEN WITH HAVING LOST MRP. YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. WE HAVE DONE $15 BILLION IN INVESTMENTS WITHOUT MRP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [LAUGHTER] CHAIR FRUMIN: MY JOB TO TRY T TO-- I LIKE

YOUR CONFIDENCE. IT IS MY JOB TO ASK. AND I DON'T WANT TO PAT MYSELF ON MY OWN BACK. WE TEND TO BE EXPERTS IN UNCONDITIONAL FINANCING AS WELL, WHICH WE WOULD LOOK AT FROM THIS PROJECT. NOW, THE

LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED. WITH A CHANGE OF ADMINISTRATION. THERE USED TO BE A LOT MORE PLACES TO GO FOR UNCONDITIONAL FINANCING. PARTICULARLY FOR GREEN SUSTAINABILITY, TRANSPORTATION, A LOT OF THOSE HAVE

BEEN TAKEN AWAY. BUT WE STILL THINK THEY ARE NONCONVENTIONAL SOURCES OF FUNDING THAT CAN ALSO GO. THAT MRP WASN'T INVOLVED IN AS WELL. SO WE FEEL THAT WITH CAPRI AND CSG, THERE WILL BE ROBUST FUNDING,

EVEN IN A DIFFICULT MARKET. CHAIR FRUMIN: SO I MEAN, I SAID HOW EXCITED I AM ABOUT THE NAACP COMING. I MEAN, YOU TALKED ABOUT A THREE-YEAR DEADLINE TO GET THIS ALL DONE. AND YOU HAVE STUCK WITH US.

THE NAACP STUCK WITH US FOR A WHILE. HOW COMMITTED-- HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT THIS HAPPEN NOW IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY SECURES NAACP HEADQUARTERS HERE IN THE DISTRICT? THE NAACP HAS BEEN

COMMITTED FROM THE OUTSET AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE COMMITTED. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. TO MOVE FORWARD. CHAIR FRUMIN: WONDERFUL. OKAY. CAN I ALSO SAY THAT ONE MUST APPRECIATE THAT COME JANUARY, IT WILL

HAVE BEEN SIX YEARS SINCE WE SUBMITTED OUR RESPONSE TO THE RFP. SIX YEARS. THE FIRST RFP WAS LET IN 2020. YES. SO IT IS NATURAL. IT IS REASONABLE TO PRESUME THAT THERE WILL BE SOME FALLOUT. BUT THIS

TEAM HAS STAYED THE COURSE. CHAIR FRUMIN: YEAH. I TOTALLY HEAR YOU. THERE IS FALLOUT IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT PLACES, AND IT'S TAKE AN LONG TIME-- WE HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS. SOMEBODY TESTIFIED THAT

THIS IS, YOU KNOW, SORT OF THE END OF ADMINISTRATION AND THERE IS A NUMBER OF THINGS. I CHAIR THIS COMMITTEE. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THINGS IN THE QUEU. THEY ALL TAKE TIME. YOU HEAR THE WITNESSES TESTIFY

ABOUT THE DIFFERENT THINGS THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT-- THE GOAL IS TO HAMMER THOSE THINGS OUT IN AGREEMENTS. IT IS COMPLICATED. I DON'T WANT TO FORGIVE IT TAKING SIX YEARS. IT IS JUST NOT UNIQUE.

[LAUGHTER] ALL RIGHT. I THINK YOU HAVE GIVEN US A TABLE THAT SHOWS HOW MANY OF THE UNITS WILL BE ONE-BEDROOMS, TWO-BEDROOMS, THREE-BEDROOMS. ONE WITNESS SAID THERE IS ONLY ONE THREE-BEDROOM AFFORDABLE

UNIT IN THE MIX. HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE MIX, AND IS THERE ANY FLEXIBILITY ABOUT PROVIDING MORE FAMILY-SIZED UNITS? PARTICULARLY, IF YOU GOT TO THE-- IF YOU GOT YOUR MAP AMENDMENT AND YOU GOT

GINO BARONE AS THE FLEXIBILITY TO TRY TO ADD ADDITIONAL FAMILY-SIZE UNITS. WELL, THE ISSUE IS THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE TEN THREE-BEDROOM UNITS FOR A DEEPLY AFFORDABLE RESIDENTS, BUT WE CANNOT

CHERRY-PICK. WE HAVE TO HAVE A CONSISTENT OFFERING BOTH IN MARKET RATE AS WELL AS AFFORDABLE. MARKET RATE, THE MIX OF MARKET RATE IS PRETTY MUCH DRIVEN BY JUST MARKET. THREE-BEDROOMS ARE DIFFICULT TO

LEASE ON A MARKET RATE. BASIS. EASY TO LEASE ON AN AFFORDABLE BASIS. WE HAVE TRIED TO COME TO SOME SORT OF COMPROMISE HERE BASED ON OUR ASSESSMENT OF THE MARKET. WE KNOW THAT WE CAN LEASE THIS UNIT

MIX. THIS UNIT MIX IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE MARKET BASED ON OTHER COMPETITIVE PROJECTS. I HAVE TO TELL YOU BECAUSE I HAVE MULTIPLE PROJECTS IN THE DMV, NOT JUST IN THE DISTRICT. THREE-BEDROOMS ARE OUR

HARDEST AFFORDABLE THREE-BEDROOMS ARE OUR HARDEST UNITS TO LEASE. IT'S JUST-- I COULDN'T TELL YOU ALL THE REASONS FOR THAT. BUT IT IS TRUE IN PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IN MARYLAND. AND IN THE DISTRICT.

THREE-BEDROOMING TEND TO LIN LINGER. I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT IS NECESSARILY. BUT IT IS TRUE. CHAIR FRUMIN: THREE-BEDROOM AFFORDABLE LINGER? THEY HAVE IN-- MARKET AS WELL. THE REASON I BRING THAT UP IS

BECAUSE PEOPLE SAY ALL THE TIME, WHERE ARE THE THREE-BEDROOMS? THOSE ARE HARDER ONES TO LEASE. FROM A MARKET POINT OF VIEW. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. I MEAN, HAVE YOU EXPLORED THE IDEA OF PROJECT-BASED

VOUCHERS AS A WAY -- YES. THAT WAS PART OF THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT NUMBER OF UNITS. ALSO HAS TO DO-- PART OF IT IS DRIVEN BY THE MARKET. PART OF IT IS DRIVEN BY FUNDING. IS THERE SUFFICIENT

FUNDING FOR, YOU KNOW, AFFORDABLE UNITS? AS YOU KNOW, IT REQUIRES SUBSIDIES. I THINK GIVEN WHERE WE MAY BE AT THE TIME OF ASKING FOR IT WILL ALSO BE SOME DRIVER OF THAT. AND INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY

AND OBVIOUSLY, THE CITY ABOUT WHAT'S AVAILABLE. CHAIR FRUMIN: AND SO ON THAT, IF YOU HAVE-- THE WALLS ARE THE SAME, BUT IF YOU HAD A PROJECT-BASED VOUCHER FOR THREE BEDROOMS, YOU COULD CONVERT SOME OF

THE MARKET-RATE ONES OVER TO BE AFFORDABLE OR NO? POTENTIALLY. I THINK-- I DON'T THINK-- I WOULD LIKE MORE AFFORDABLE IF THAT WAS POSSIBLE. I DON'T KNOW THAT. BUT I THINK WE ARE NOT WEDDED TO ONE OR

THE OTHER EXCEPT THAT, YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY, I WOULD LIKE MORE AFFORDABILITY, PARTICULARLY AT THAT SPOT. TO THINK THERE IS AN AFFORDABLE FAMILY LIVING AT 14TH AND U WOULD MAKE ME VERY HAPPY. CHAIR

FRUMIN: OKAY. IN ORDER TO MAKE THE NUMBERS PENCIL-- THE NUMBER, JUST FOCUSING ON THREE BEDROOMS, THE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE THREE-BEDROOMS AND MARKET THREE-BEDROOMS HAS TO BE THE MIX THAT IT IS NOW. YOU

BRING SOME OTHER CITY SUBSIDY INTO THE MIX, AND SOME OF THOSE MARKET-RATE THREE-BEDROOMS WITH SUBSIDY BRINGING THEM UP TO A MARKET RATE RENT DELIVERED TO YOU. WE WOULD KELL COM WELCOME SUCH, BUT

OBVIOUSLY THAT, REQUIRES AN ALLOCATION. I MEAN, WE ARE NOT EVEN AGNOSTIC. WE WOULD LIKE TO BE -- 100% AFFORDABLE. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. THE POSITION AGREEMENT STATES THERE WILL BE OVER 40,000 SQUARE

FEET OF RETAIL. DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE OF WHAT THAT MIX WILL BE? EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE SPECK RETAILERS-- SPECIFIC RETAILERS. WHAT YOU ARE THINKING OF, THE DIFFERENT USES. CLEARLY, GIVEN THE EXCELLENT

LOCATION OF THE SITE, GIVEN THAT BUSTLING CORNER, FOOD OFFERINGS WOULD BE A NATURAL. ALSO ON THE FIRST FLOOR, WE ARE GOING TO ALLOCATE 20% TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. ONE OF WHICH IS LOVE FIRST. THAT IS A

CHILD CARE CENTER. YOU HEARD PASTOR HART. THAT WILL BE PART OF IT AS WELL. AND HE IS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT BECAUSE HE IS RIGHT NOW AT THE CORNER OF 11TH AND D. AND I SHOULDN'T SAY THIS BUT HE

IS BURSTING AT THE SEAMS. HE IS LOOKING FOR AN EXPANSION. SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON PRICE AND THE LIKE, ALTHOUGH HE WOULD BE OBVIOUSLY PREF PREFERRED-- A PREFERRED TENANT. HE WILL TAKE A

CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF THAT. IT IS A GREAT SITE. WE WOULD LOVE FOR PEOPLE TO BE WALKING BY AND SEE THAT. BUT U STREET IS VIBRANT WITH RESTAURANT OFFERINGS. ION U STREET, AS WELL AS 14TH STREET. A

ROBUST FOOD OFFERING, TENNANTS WOULD BE IDEAL IN MATERIALS OF MAXIMIZING VALUE OF THE PROJECT. CHAIR FRUMIN: SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU-- OH, IT HAS BEEN A LONG DAY FOR YOU. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN HERE FOR

THE WHOLE DAY. YOU SAW COUNCILMEMBER NADEAU WHEN SHE WAS HERE. SHE TALKED ABOUT THE EMERGING PLACE-MAKING, THE DUKE STREET BID. HOW ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT HOW YOU MIGHT FIT IN, INCLUDING THE NAACP,

INTO THE PLACE-MAKING WORK THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE AREA? WE WERE ASKED THAT QUESTION BY THE ANC. WE WERE TOTALLY BEHIND A BID FOR THE AREA. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS ONE NOW. A FLEDGLING. THERE IS ONE

NOW. WE ARE IN TOTAL SUPPORT AS A DEVELOPER. I WILL LET PATRICE SPEAK FOR THE NAACP, BUT WE WOULD BE VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT AND CONTRIBUTE JUST AS A DOWNTOWN BID AND THE OTHER BIDS THAT I HAVE SEEN. F I

WAS VERY HAPPY TO LEARN THAT THERE IS ONE NOW ESTABLISHED ON THE STREET, AND SO WE WOULD WORK TO HAVE JOINT COLLABORATIVE COORDINATION WITH THE OTHER BUSINESSES THAT ARE HELPING TO, YOU KNOW, FUND AND

COORDINATE. AND IF DONE RIGHT, WE WILL HAVE THE LIVING ROOM OF THE COMMUNITY WITH THE ARTS OFFERINGS, THE AMPHITHEATER, WITH OUR NEARLY 20,000 SQUARE FEET OF OPEN AREA WHICH CAN BE ACTIVELY PROGRAMMED

WHICH WE WILL PURSUE. SO A BID OFFER IS BETTER LIGHTING, BETTER SECURITY, BETTER SAFETY, BETTER GROUNDSCAPE. ART. ALL THOSE THINGS WE FULLY SUPPORT. FULLY SUPPORT VERBALLY AND WE FULLY SUPPORT

FINANCIALLY. CHAIR FRUMIN: AND-- GO AHEAD. I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, THE BID IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE DO PLAN TO ACTIVATE THE PLAZA AND INTERNAL SPACE AS FULLY AS POSSIBLE THROUGH THE YEAR. IN TERMS OF

COORDINATION, WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF INQUIRIES FROM THE YMCA WHICH I HELPED DEVELOP ON W STREET. AND HOW THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE SOME OF THE PLAZA AREA. AS YOU KNOW, THE Y SERVES EVERYBODY FROM

BABIES TO OLDER PEOPLE. SO THEM KNOWING ABOUT IT AND THE PRESIDENT WAS A LONG-TERM CLIENT AND A GOOD FRIEND. SHE WAS JUST SO EXCITED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, US HAVING THIS PLAZA. BUT ALSO IN TALKING TO DAVEY

AND IN TALKING TO-- EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW HOW WE ARE GOING TO PROGRAM THE SITE, HOW WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO UTILIZE IT. SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. I SUSPECT

WE PROBABLY HAVE A PROGRAMMING MANAGER WORK WITH US. I DON'T DO THIS ON A DAILY BASIS. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED. THE BID CAN BE A STABILIZING INFLUENCE ALSO IN INCREASING THE MIX

CONSISTENTLY. AS WELL AS THE OFFERINGS THAT COMMUNITY IS INTERESTED IN. AS WE HAVE SEEN IN THE APPLICATION OF BIDS AROUND THE DISTRICT. CHAIR FRUMIN: AND YOU SPEAK DEFINITIVELY, I'M INTERPRETING IT AS

DEFINITIVELY ABOUT THE AMPHITHEATER. THE AMPHITHEATER IS PART OF IT. IS THAT RIGHT? YES. YES. ABSOLUTELY. NAMED FOR THE MAYOR. YES. CHAIR FRUMIN: HOW FAR ALONG WITH YOU OTHERWISE IN SORT OF CONCEPT

PLAN FOR WHAT THE PLAZA LOOKS LIKE? DO YOU HAVE A PLAN OTHER THAN THE ANCHOR AS THE AMPHITHEATER? WE HAD AN INITIAL DESIGN CONCEPT WHEN WE RESPONDED TO THE RFP. SINCE WE HAVE GONE INTO THE PHASING

APPROACH, WE HAVE HAD TO ADJUST THAT WITH THE NEW PHASING PULLING THINGS TOGETHER. WE WILL START THAT ROBUSTLY AS SOON AS WE GET PAST THIS STEP. MICHAEL AND I WILL GO TO WORK ON THE PROCESS. WE FULLY

EXPECT THAT TO COME BACK TO LIFE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC IN THE RFP RESPONSE. THE AMPHITHEATER AND THE OPEN SPACES ARE CRITICAL TO THIS WHOLE CONCEPT OF BRINGING BACK-- BRINGING

BACK BLACK BROADWAY, IF BECAUSE WE INTEND TO USE THAT SPACE AS AN OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY. FOR INSTANCE, I'M ON THE BOARD OF VISITORS FOR THE DEPARTMENT HEAD. AT HOWARD FOR THE FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT.

AND WHEN I SPOKE TO HER ABOUT IT, SHE SAID YES, YOU KNOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN DO SOME COLLABORATION WITH STUDENTS AND MAYBE PERFORMING ARTS OR THE LIKE. SO I HAVE TOLD HER ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE

WILL HAVE SPACE AVAILABLE. SO IT'S THOSE SORT OF, YOU KNOW, OUTREACH THAT WE ARE VERY EXCITED, AND YOU KNOW, LOOKING FOR COLLABORATIONS IN THE FUTURE. THE AMPHITHEATER IS VERY IMPORTANT. CHAIR FRUMIN:

TO WHAT EXTENT WILL YOU BE ENGAGING WITH THE PUBLIC ON PLANNING FOR THE AMPHITHEATER? JUST AS MUCH AS WE HAVE BEEN. FOR THIS PROCESS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WASN'T MENTIONED. ANC COMMISSIONED-- THEY ASKED

THE SAME QUESTION A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. THEY SAID WE WOULD BE ON THE CORNER EVERY WEEKEND TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND GETTING INPUT. SURE ENOUGH, WE DID THAT FOR EIGHT, NINE MONTHS. WE

WILL HAVE THAT SAME ENTHUSIASM FOR PUBLIC INPUT AND SUPPORT IN THE PLANNING. BUT ALSO JUST HAVING PEOPLE LIKE THE Y AND THE LIKE WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, CONNECTED. IT IS GOING TO BE A PART OF WHAT WE ARE

GOING TO BE DOING AND GETTING INPUT OFTEN. IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY FOR US AND FOR THE COMMUNITY. CHAIR FRUMIN: I MEAN, I LOVE IT, BUT WE HAD LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF US NOW THAT WE WERE

GRAPPLING WITH ABOUT NOISE. AND I THINK WE MAY HAVE-- A NUMBER OF COUNCILMEMBERS MAY GO ON A FIELD TRIP ON FRIDAY NIGHT WITH THE NOISE METER TO SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE. WHO ARE ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT IT?

AN OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER. I LOVE IT. IT IS NEXT TO AN OFFICE BUILDING. IT IS NEXT TO A RESIDENTIAL BUILDING. HOW ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT NOISE MANAGEMENT? WELL, WE WILL TAKE NOISE MANAGEMENT INTO THE

DESIGN OF THE PLAZA INTO CONSIDERATION. AS THE FIRST STEP. I THINK FROM A PEDESTRIANING STANDPOINT, THERE WILL BE TIME LIMITS ON WHEN ACTIVITIES ARE GOING TO HAPPEN AND TAKE PLACE THAT WILL MINIMIZE

THE IMPACT TO WHATEVER NOISE IS GENERATED WITHIN THE PLAZA. TO THE RESIDENTS SURROUNDING F-- AND THE OFFERS TENANTS AS WELL. AND THE OFFICE TENANTS AS WELL. IT WILL BE BAKED INTO THE PROGRAMMING OF

THE PLAZA. WE WILL HAVE A FORMAL CONSULTANT, A SOUND CONSULTANT AND ACTIVATION CONSULTANT HELP US DESIGN THIS AND PRESENT A FULL ACTIVATION PLAN TO THE COUNCIL. THIS ISSUE CAME UP A COUPLE OF TIMES

DURING OUR ANC PRESENTATION. WE HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS. CHAIR FRUMIN: IT IS IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT IN A CERTAIN SENSE, WHOEVER COMES KNOWS IT'S THERE FROM THE FIRST DAY THEY ARE THERE. WHICH

IS DIFFERENT THAN WHEN A NOISY THING MOVES IN NEXT TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME. SO IT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. AND THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN THE EXPOSURE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN

THE PROJECT WHO COME TO THE PROJECT KNOWING IT. AND NOISE BLEEDING OUT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODST. BUT NOISE, YOU CAN BE SURE, WILL BE A SENSITIVE ISSUE. IN TERMS OF THE PLAZA GENERALLY, WILL IT BE THE

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BUILDING MANAGEMENT TO MAINTAIN THE PLAZA? CORRECT. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. AND WHAT ARE YOUR COMMITMENTS ON CBE PARTICIPATION AND FIRST SOURCE? FULLY. WE ARE FULLY COMMITTED AS A

CBE FOR THE LAST 23 YEARS. AND WE HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTS-- WE HAVE WORKED WITH DSL. WE FIRST SOURCE-- ALL THOSE HAVE BEEN SATISFIED IN TERMS OF GETTING ALL OF THOSE DONE. AND FULLY COMMITTED. FIRST

SOURCE AND CBE. I MEAN, THE FIRST REEVES CENTER, MORE THAN LIKELY, THEY ARE GOING TO BUILD THE SECOND ONE. WE ARE COMMITTED TO TRYING TO BE ABOVE THE 35%, IF POSSIBLE. IN TERMS OF SUBS. CHAIR FRUMIN:

OKAY. I ASKED YOU ABOUT FINANCING. YOUR ANSWER IS IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE-- YOU FEEL FULLY CONFIDENT YOU ARE ABLE TO GET THERE. YES, SIR. ABSOLUTELY. CHAIR FRUMIN: I ASKED YOU ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

MAYBE YOU CAN SPEAK TO HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN IN FRONT OF THE LOCAL ANC? WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WOULD LEAD YOU TO GO BACK IN FRONT OF THE LOCAL ANC IN THE FUTURE? CAN I TAKE THE FUTURE ONE

FIRST? CHAIR FRUMIN: PLEASE. SO FUTURE-WISE, OUR DESIGN PROCESS IS GOING TO REQUIRE A HISTORIC APPROVAL AS PART OF OUR OVERALL DESIGN PROCESS. THAT WILL BRING US BACK IN FRONT OF THE ANC FOR APPROVALS

AS A DESIGN MOVES FORWARD. CHAIR FRUMIN: BECAUSE IT IS IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT. OKAY. THE QUESTION WILL BE TO WHAT EXTENT IS IT CONSISTENT -- WITH THE HISTORIC GUIDELINES, YES. OF THE U STREET

CORRIDOR. THAT IN AND OF ITSELF WILL PUT US BACK IN FRONT OF THE COMMUNITY FOR FUTURE DESIGN DISCUSSIONS. BEYOND THAT -- I'M SURE-- I'M NOT OVERSTATING, PROBABLY FIVE OR SIX TIMES BECAUSE REMEMBER,

THE RFP CAME OUT TWICE. AND THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE. THE ADDITION OF THE HOTEL. SO WE HAD TO GO, AND WE HAD TO EXPLAIN OUR PROGRAMMING AND HOW WE WOULD INCORPORATE. INCORPORATE IT. WE HAVE HAD

A NUMBER, PROBABLY MORE THAN THE TYPICAL PROJECT. IT DID COME OUT TWICE. IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH, I HAVE NEVER DONE AS MUCH COMMUNITY OUTREACH ON ANY PROJECT IN THE LAST 25 YEARS LIKE WE HAVE

DONE FOR REEVES. THAT IS WHAT WE PROMISED FOR THE COMMUNITY, TO ANC. WE TOOK IT VERY SERIOUSLY. I SAY WE AS A TEAM WERE OUT EVERY WEEKEND FOR NINE MONTHS. WE WERE ACTUALLY OUT. THEN WE DID A LOT OF

THINGS LIKE THE CHILI BOWL. WE HAD BOOK-SIGNINGS. WE HAD CONCERTS. BERNIE DEMCZUK WOULD COME. WE WOULD DO NEIGHBORHOOD-- GOING INTO ALLEYS. WE DID A LOT. I DON'T WANT TO OVERSTATE IT. BUT WE DID.

CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. THERE WILL BE THE PROCESS. IF THERE IS A MAP AMENDMENT, I WOULD THINK THAT THE ANC WOULD APPLY ON THE MAP AMENDMENT AS WELL. > MORE THAN LIKELY. CHAIR FRUMIN: AT LEAST TWO ROUNDS

WHERE YOU WILL BE IN FRONT OF THE ANC GOING FORWARD. PROBABLY AGAIN, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE FARMER'S MARKET THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY A COMMUNITY FAVORITE, I THINK IT NO LONGER EXISTS. WE PROBABLY GO-- ANC

WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT. THAT YOU KNOW THAT, WE WOULD KEEP THE FARMER'S MARKET. WE OF COURSE, I MET WITH THEM A COUPLE OF TIMES. THE PAST LEADERSHIP. TO SEE HOW WE COULD IMPROVE IT AND MICHAEL

MARSHALL MET WITH THEM A COUPLE OF TIMES. NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT PARTICULAR FARMER'S MARKET IS NO LONGER AROUND. SO WE WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE THAT PROBABLY OR SOMETHING SIMILAR. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A

GREAT BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY. CHAIR FRUMIN: ALL RIGHT. GIVE ME JUST ONE SECOND. OKAY. SURE. ALL RIGHT. ITE IT'S LATE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DO HOPE, KEEPING GOING WITH THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS

GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT. AND SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOUT AFFORDABILITY WHICH I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET THERE, AND SO THERE ARE WAYS TO GET THERE OVER TIME.

I THINK LET'S STAY OPEN TO THAT. BUT WITH THAT, UNLESS THERE IS ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY IN CLOSING, I WILL MOVE TO OUR GOVERNMENT WITNESSES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CHAIR FRUMIN:

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE JOINED BY LATRENA OWENS, DIRECTOR OF REAL ESTATE. IF YOU CAN JOIN US AT THE TABLE IN FRONT OF ME. I WILL ALSO BE JOINED BY THE PROJECT EXECUTIVE AND RANDALL CLARK AT THE

TABLE. CHAIR FRUMIN: ALL RIGHT. SAY THE NAMES AGAIN? RANDALL CLARK? AND. KATEON. CHAIR FRUMIN: I THOUGHT YOU SAID KATE. IT IS THE POLICY OF THIS COMMITTEE TO PLACE OUR GOVERNMENT WITNESSES UNDER OATH.

DIRECTOR OWENS, AND KATEON AND MR.-- AND RANDALL. YOU CAN RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. DO YOU SWEAR OR AFFIRM UNDER PENALTY OF LAW THAT THE TESTIMONY YOU ARE ABOUT TO PROVIDE TO THE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN

SERVICES IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH? I DO. YES. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR TESTIMONY. OKAY. GOOD EVENING, CHAIRPERSON FRUMIN AS WELL AS MEMBERS AND STAFF ON

THE COMMITTEE OF HUMAN SERVICES. I SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF REAL ESTATE WITHIN THE OFFICE OF DEPUTY PLANNER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I'M HERE TO TESTIFY IN IS UP POR OF B26-0834, THE REEVES CENTER

APPROVAL ACT OF 2026. THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE INVALUABLE CRICKS OF THE COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THE PAST AND PRESENT MEMBERS OF ANC-1B, COUNCILMEMBER NADEAU AS WELL AS

RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNER OF THE SHAW NEIGHBORHOOD AND U STREET CORRIDOR. THIS BILL WOULD DECLARE THE DISTRICT-OWNED PROPERTY AT 2,000 14TH STREET NORTHWEST, SURPLUS AND AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO

DISPOSE OF THE PROPERTY FOR DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES. IT WOULD MOVE THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE REEVES CENTER FORWARD, BRINGING A NEW HEADQUARTERS FOR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED

PEOPLE OR NAACP TO THE HISTORIC CORRIDOR. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY GOES BACK DECADES. THE LAND WAS CONVEYED TO THE DISTRICT IN 1984. AND THE FRANK D. REEVES CENTER OF THE MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

OPENED IN 1986. MAYOR MARION BARRY UNDERSTOOD WHAT AN INVESTMENT IN 14TH AND U STREET COULD MEAN FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD STILL RECOVERING FROM THE UNREST FOLLOWING THE ASSASSINATION OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER

KING, JR. IN 1968. HE USED THE DEVELOPMENT TO HELP BRING THE CORRIDOR BACK. WE NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD ON THAT WORK WITH A PROJECT THAT HONORS HISTORY, THE HISTORY OF THIS LOCATION AND BRINGS

NEW INVESTMENT TO ITS FUTURE. TODAY THE U STREET CORRIDOR IS A THRIVING DESTINATION FOR DINING AND NIGHTLIFE WITH A CONVENIENT ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. ITS HISTORY AS THE DISTRICT'S BLACK

BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC CORRIDORS REMAINS CENTRAL TO ITS IDENTITY, REFLECTED IN THE LANDMARKS SUCH AS THE LINCOLN THEATER. THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CIVIL WAR MEMORIAL, AND MUSEUM AND THURGOOD MARSHALL

CENTER FOR SERVICE AND HERITAGE. THIS CORRIDOR IS ALSO PART OF MID-CITY, HOME OF THE HEART OF THE DISTRICT'S LATINO BUSINESS COMMUNITY. THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WILL INTRODUCE DAYTIME PEDESTRIAN

ACTIVITY AND HELP TO CAT LIES ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SIMILAR TO THE IMPACT IMPARTED BE I THE ORIGINAL REEVES BUILDING. WITH THE REBIRTH OF REEVES, THE DISTRICT HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ONCE

AGAIN INJECT VITALITY INTO THIS HISTORIC CULTURALLY RICH NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS TIME, AS A CATALYST FOR CONTINUED ECONOMIC GROWTH. FOLLOWING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN A COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION PROCESS,

REEVES, CMC VENTURE LLC, LED BY CAPRI INVESTMENT GROUP AND CSG URBAN PARTNER LLC, A WOMAN AND MINORITY-OWNED CERTIFIED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE WAS SELECTED AS A DEVELOPMENT TEAM TO DRIVE THE REBIRTH OF

REEVES. THEY HAVE AGREED TO COMPLY WITH THE DISTRICT'S CPE REQUIREMENTS CREATING JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS. UNDER OPTION A, THE PROJECT WILL DELIVER 2,200 RESIDENTIAL UNIT. THE

PROJECT WILL DELIVER 285 RESIDENTIAL UNITS, INCLUDING 86 AFFORDABLE UNITS. BOTH OPTIONS WILL INCLUDE A 150-KEY HOTEL, 40,000 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE AND ARTS AND CULTURAL SPACE. AND

100,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE SPACE ANCHORED BY A PERMANENT HOME FOR THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE NAACP. APPROVAL OF THIS BILL WILL REAFFIRM DISTRICT'S INVESTMENT IN THE U STREET CORRIDOR AND HONOR THE

LEGACIES O'. BLACK BROADWAY, FRANK D. REEVES AND MAYOR MARION BARRY BY BRINGING A HOTELST, RETAIL, ART SPACE, AND MUCH-NEEDED AFFORDABLE AND MARKET-RATE HOUSING TO THE AREA. I RESPECTFULLY URGE THE

COMMITTEE TO MOVE THIS BILL FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. I'M JOINED BY KATEON, THE PROJECT EXECUTIVE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. CHAIR FRUMIN: ALL RIGHT. AND RANDALL

IS HERE FOR A ANY-- TO HELP WITH ANY POPLASH POINT-- POP POINT QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. CHAIR FRUMIN: WONDERFUL. I THINK WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT REEVES. I'M GOING TO DO REEVES. THEN WE WILL COME

BACK TO POPLAR POINT. COUNCILMEMBER NADEAU HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON REEVES. ONE OF THEM WAS SHE SAID SHE HAD CONCERNS THAT THE PROJECT WOULD BE SPLIT INTO TWO PHASES WITH ALL THE HOUSING BEING

DELIVERED AT A LATER DATE, AND SHE IS RIGHT. THAT IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND THEN THERE IS THIS ENT ENTITLEMENT PROCESS THAT'S GOING TO NEED TO HAPPEN. SOUNDED LIKE MORE WEIGHT BEING PUT ON THE

MAP AMENDMENT. WHAT ROLE CAN YOUR ORGANIZATION PLAY TO FACILITATE GETTING THE ENTITLEMENTS RESOLVED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE? WELL, AGAIN, I THINK YOU HAVE HEARD FROM THE DEVELOPERS THAT THIS PROCESS

WOULD HAVE TO BE A COMPLETION AND THEY WOULD ASSIGN AN LDDA BEFORE ANY MAP AMENDMENT. WE GENERALLY OFFER ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOPERS TO HELP THEM MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS MORE SEAMLESSLY. WE WOULD DO

THAT AS WELL ONCE THEY APPLY FOR EITHER A PUD OR A MAP AMENDMENT. I DID EVEN SPEAK WITH COUNCILMEMBER NADEAU EARLIER TO LET HER KNOW THEY WERE PROVIDED THE OPTIONALITY AND THE LDDA. IT WASN'T ONE OR

THE OTHER. CHAIR FRUMIN: THEY HAVE THE OPTIONALITY. ONCE THE LDDA IS DONE, YOU WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE O'. THEIR EFFORTS TO SECURE THE ZONING RELIEF THAT IS BEING -- CORRECT. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. AND I

ASKED ABOUT WHO IS GOING TO MAINTAIN THE PLAZA. THAT IS THE DEVELOPER AND THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY. IT IS NOT THE CITY. NO. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. BECAUSE THIS IS DIFFERENT PROJECTS, DIFFERENT

ARRANGEMENTS. I THINK GENERALLY, DEPENDING ON THE-- THEY ARE GETTING A BID ON U STREET. WHAT YOU GENERALLY FIND IS CORRIDORS WITH BIDS, THEY HAVE A CLEAN TEAM. SOMETIMES IT IS THEIR MANAGEMENT AND

SOMETIMES DEVELOPERS OR MANAGEMENT COMPANIES TEND TO PARTNER WITH THE BIDS AND THEIR TEAMS TO MAINTAIN CORRIDORS. IT IS UP TO THE DEVELOPER. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. THEN WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR MAINTAINING

THE SITE IN THE MEANTIME? THAT IS THE CITY'S OBLIGATION, CORRECT? CORRECT. I WILL LOOK AT KATEON. RIGHT NOW, IT IS STILL WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES. IT IS WITHIN THEIR PORTFOLIO.

BECAUSE THEY DO MAINTAIN THE GARAGE. THAT WE SILL HAVE OPEN FOR RESIDENTS TO UTILIZE WHEN THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, HAVING DINNER OR ATTENDING SOMETHING ON THE U STREET CORRIDOR. CHAIR FRUMIN: SO DGS IS

MAINTAINING THE GARAGE. IS ANYBODY IN THE BUILDING AT THIS POINT? NO. > CHAIR FRUMIN: NO. I'M ASSUMING IT IS DGS MAINTAINING-- IT MAY NOT TAKE A TON OF MAINTENANCE. BUILDING THAT JUST SITS THERE

REQUIRES SOME MAINTENANCE. SO IT IS SECURITY. THEN IT IS ALSO THE GARAGE WHICH IS A CONTRACT. CHAIR FRUMIN: AND THEN THE AREA IMMEDIATELY SURROUNDING THE BUILDING, I GUESS, IS THAT ALL PUBLIC SPACE?

THAT IS MAINTAINED BY THE CITY IN. CORRECT. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY STARTS THERE. BUT YES, IF, YOU KNOW, THEY TEND TO KEEP THAT BUILDING, THE CLEANLINESS UP AROUND THAT BUILDING.

CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. THERE WAS A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS RFP CAME OUT SIX YEARS AGO. BUT CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH THE HISTORY OF THE RFPS IN THIS PROCESS AND WHAT BECAME ON TACKLES OBSTACLES AND WHY AND

WHY THE PIVOTS HAPPENED? YES. IT PREDATES BOTH OF OUR WORK ON THIS, BUT WE CAN WALK YOU THROUGH THAT TIMELINE. HI, COUNCILMEMBER. AGAIN, FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS KATEON GAD ADD. GADA. ON THE RFP

HISTORY, INITIALLY, IT WAS ISSUED IN DECEMBER, 2020. AND SUBSEQUENTLY, I THINK WE, THE DEPUTY MAYOR'S OFFICE ISSUED EQUITY RFP. THAT WAS ALSO DURING THE COVID. THERE WAS A NEED FOR BLACK EQUITY

PARTICIPATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO THE MAYOR BACK THEN ISSUED EQUITY RFP. IN 2022. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT LED TO THAT CHANGE, IN ADDITION TO JUST KIND OF MAKING IT

MORE APPEALING TO THE BLACK DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL LOCAL DEVELOPERS IN THE CITY, WAS THE A IN C AND THE COUNCILMEMBER'S INPUT THAT THEY WANTED A HOTEL. THE RFP BASICALLY INCLUDED OPTIONALITY FOR THE

DEVELOPERS TO HAVE HOTEL PROGRAMMING IN THE RFP RESPONSES. ADDITIONALLY, I THINK-- CHAIR FRUMIN: SO THAT IS IN THE SECOND RFP. NOT THE FIRST. THAT IS CORRECT. THEN ALSO WHAT LED TO SOME OF THE

STRUCTURAL CHANGES THAT WERE DONE WHICH WERE HURDLES TO THE LOT OF DEVELOPERS RESPONDING, THERE WAS A FACILITY THAT HAD TO BE RELOT CADEED. RELOCATED. THAT WAS REMOVED FROM THE SECOND RFP. THE GINO

BARONE ACQUISITION. THERE WERE ISSUES AND CONCERNS AROUND THAT. THE COMPLEXITIES AROUND THAT. WE MADE THAT MORE LIKE A PRIVATE DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE TWO PRIVATE DEVELOPERS INSTEAD OF THE DISTRICT

GETTING IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. FINALLY, IT ALLOWED US SOME TIME TO BASICALLY THINK ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO BE ADDRESSING THE DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING BUILDING. SO THAT LED TO THAT TWO-YEAR WINDOW

AND THE STRUCTURAL CHANGES BETWEEN THE TWO RFPS. CHAIR FRUMIN: SO THE FIRST RFP WENT OUT WHEN IN 2020? DECEMBER, 2020. CHAIR FRUMIN: THAT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF COVID. ALMOST. YES. THAT IS WHEN IT BEGAN.

EARLY ON. THAT'S RIGHT. CHAIR FRUMIN: AND THEN THE EQUITY RFP WENT OUT IN -- SEPTEMBER, 2022. CHAIR FRUMIN: SO IT IS TWO YEARS. YOU HAD RESPONSES TO THE FIRST RFP. THERE WAS NOT SATISFACTION,

APPARENTLY. WE HAD TWO RESPONSES AND THERE WERE THE SAME TWO RESPONSES THAT KIND OF MODIFIED AND AMENDED THE RESPONSES BASED ON THE SECOND RFP. CHAIR FRUMIN: THE SAME TWO GROUPS CAME FORWARD IN BOTH

ROUNDS. THAT IS CORRECT. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. EQUITY RFP AND REGULAR RFP. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? SO THE EQUITY RFP WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS ALSO CHAMPIONED BY COUNCILMEMBER MCDUFFY TO ALLOW MORE BLACK

DEVELOPERS TO BE ABLE TO LEAD DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AT, LIKE, A 51% VS. EITHER HAVING A SMALL PERCENTAGE ON THEIR DEVELOPMENT TEAM. SO IT ALLOWED THEM TO BE LEADERS OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS INSTEAD OF

HAVING THE SAME RESPONSES ALL THE TIME BY DESIGNATING IT TO A CERTAIN GROUP OF DEVELOPERS. IT ALLOWED THEM TO COMPETE, YOU KNOW, ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. TO BE ABLE TO BE LEADERS. WE KNEW THAT THEY

COULD BE. THEY NEED TO BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY. CHAIR FRUMIN: SO THERE IS JUST TWO RFPS. IT IS NOT TWO ROUNDS OF THE EQUITY RFP. NO. THERE ARE TWO RFFPS. THE ANC WANTED TO SEE A HOTEL. A HOTEL WAS

AED TO THE SECOND RFP. WE HAD THE USE FOR THE O CTO AND D-DOT. THE DEVELOPER WOULD HAVE TO RELOCATE THEM AND THE SECOND RFP, IT WAS TAKEN OUT BECAUSE THE DISTRICT RELOCATED THAT USE. THOSE WERE SOME

OF THE CHANGES. CHAIR FRUMIN: AND THE GINO BARONE THING. THE FIRST RFP. IS IT THAT IT REQUIRED THE PURCHASE OF GINO BARONE. CORRECT. CHAIR FRUMIN: THAT CHANGES THE LEVERAGE OF THE NEGOTIATION. THE

SECOND WAS THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE DEVELOPER AND GINO BARONE. NOT A CONDITION OR REQUIREMENT. CHAIR FRUMIN: IS IT 50,000 SQUARE FEET FOR THE DISTRICT TO USE IN THIS PROPOSAL OF OFFICE SPACE? FOR

THE OFFICE SPACE? YES, THAT IS CORRECT. APPROXIMATELY 50,000 SQUARE FEET. CHAIR FRUMIN: HOW MUCH? UP TO 50,000 SQUARE FEET. CHAIR FRUMIN: DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT DISTRICT AGENCIES MIGHT GO THERE?

WE ARE WORKING WITH DDS TO IDENTIFY THAT PROPOSED MIX. CHAIR FRUMIN: SO THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF RETAIL, AND THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF-- ACTUALLY, SOME OF IT IS GOING TO WAIT UNTIL WE ARE FURTHER

DOWN THE LINE. HAS YOUR ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED THEM IN TRYING TO IDENTIFY OTHER OFFICE USES OR BETWEEN NAACP AND THE DISTRICT, IS ALL THE OFFICE SPACE SPOKEN FOR? SO THAT IS A DEAL CONSTRUCT RIGHT

NOW. SHOULD THE DEVELOPER FIND ANY OTHER USER FOR THE OFFICE SPACE THAT THE DISTRICT IS KIND OF LOOKING INTO, WE CAN DEFINITELY HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY.

AND THEN ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT IS 30% UNDER BOTH OPTIONS. SO OF 30 AND 50%. IT COMPLIES WITH 10801. HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONVERSATION ABOUT POSSIBLE ACCESS TO OTHER SUBSIDIES IN ORDER TO ALLOW

FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, INCLUDING PROJECT-BASED VOUCHERS, FOR EXAMPLE? WE HAVE NOT HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS DIRECTLY WITH THE DEVELOPER. I THINK MY FIRST TIME HEARING TODAY WAS THE INCREASE-- MY

FIRST TIME HEARING OF THAT. FOR THE PLAN THAT WE HAVE NOW, I DON'T KNOW THAT T THERE ARE PROJECT-BASED VOUCHERS IN THE REQUEST. BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY HAVE THAT CONVERSATION OFF-LINE. CHAIR FRUMIN:

OKAY. AND THEN ALL THE DISTRICT AGENCIES ARE OUT, SO THERE IS NO MORE NEED TO RELOCATE. THERE IS NOBODY IN THERE NOW. OKAY. IS THIS PROJECT FULLY FUNDED, OR COULD THERE BE A NEED FOR THE COUNCIL DOWN

THE LINE TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH DOLLARS TO SUPPORT IT? THERE ARE TWO PHASES, AS YOU HEARD FROM THE DEVELOPERS. FAST ONE, THE DEVELOPERS INDICATED THAT THERE IS A GAP FUNDING THAT THEY NEED DISTRICT

ASSISTANCE FOR. IN TERMS OF TIF. AND THE COUNCIL HAS ALREADY APPROVED THAT. $32 MILLION ALREADY. THAT IS THE ONLY THING T THAT HS BEEN BEEN PRESENTED FOR US TO KIND OF EVALUATE. PHASE TWO, THE

DEVELOPER WILL PROBABLY APPROACH US LATER ON ONCE THEY HAVE T THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM BASED ON THE ACQUISITION OF GINO BARONE OR NOT. THEY WILL HAVE SOME NEED FOR DISTRICT FUNDING. CHAIR FRUMIN: SO

THAT IS GOING TO BE-- COULD BE TWO YEARS DOWN THE LINE. YEAH. BECAUSE THEY HAVE THREE YEARS TO CLOSE IN THE LDDA. PROBABLY ABOUT TWO YEARS. . CHAIR FRUMIN: AND AT THE TIME WHEN THERE MAY BE A REQUEST

FOR OTHER FUNNING, THIS COULD BE A TIME TO REVISIT THE AFFORDABILITY MIX SUPPORTED BY OTHER SUBSIDIES. CORRECT. SINCE THAT IS IN PHASE TWO OF THE PROJECT. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. WE TALKED ABOUT-- I

TALKED WITH THE DEVELOPER ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. WHAT KIND OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING ON THIS PROJECT? SO THERE IS A HISTORY OF SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH OR WITHOUT

THE DEVELOPER, WE HAVE JOINTLY DONE SINCE 2020. I HAVE A LIST OF ALMOST A DOZEN MEETINGS THAT THE DISTRICT HAS DONE WITH THE ANCS. AND EVER SINCE THIS TEAM TOOK OVER, WE ARE WORKING ON THE PROJECT, I

HAVE KIND OF HAD THREE ANC MEETINGS IN THE LAST NINE MONTHS. WE HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY ENGAGED. OUR BASICALLY SIMPLE APPROACH, WE HAVE TOLD THE ANCS WE ARE HAPPY TO PRESENT UPDATES ANY TIME THEY WANT US

TO COME. THEY HAVE ASKED US TO COME TWICE IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. I THINK FROM THE ANC1B'S TESTIMONY, THEY PROVIDED A LETTER OF SUPPORT IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR AND THEN ALSO ANOTHER ONE AGAIN IN

AUGUST. SO THAT IS THE MOST KRE RECENT MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE ATTENDED. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. LET'S PIVOT OVER TO THE THERME DISPOSITION. WHAT KIND OF RFP PROCESS WAS DONE FOR POPLAR POINT? SO FOR THE

POPLAR POINT THERME, WE RELEASED-- THERE WAS A REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST RELEASED IN AUGUST, 2024. AND IN THAT REQUEST, IT EXPRESSED THAT IT HAD TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH A WATERFRONT PARK. IT

HAD TO BE SOMETHING THAT BROUGHT SIGNIFICANT JOB CREATION TO THE DISTRICT. IT ALSO HAD TO BOLSTER TOURISM, CREATE WALKING TRAFFIC, FOOT TRAFFIC, BUT ALSO TO BE SOMETHING FOR RESIDENTS IN THE WARD. WE

KEPT IT OPEN. I WOULD HAVE TO DOUBLE-CHECK THE TIME. FOR ABOUT 30-45 DAYS. WE RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THERME, FROM THERME. CHAIR FRUMIN: NO OTHER RESPONSES? NO. CHAIR FRUMIN: SO YOU DESC DESCRIBED,

YOU DESCRIBED WHAT IT WAS. I MEAN, IT HAD TO HAVE A WATERFRONT PARK? NO, NO, NO. COMPATIBLE WITH THE WATERFRONT. IT WILL SIT ALONG THE WATER. CHAIR FRUMIN: OH. ANACOSTIA. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. F BUT

ALSO BUILT IN WAS THE IDEA THAT IT WOULD-- COULD BE A TOURIST ATTRACTION. SO RIGHT NOW, AND I THINK YOU HAVE HEARD FROM A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS IN ANACOSTIA AND BUSINESSES, WHAT WE ARE SEEING AND WHAT

WE ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH, WE HAVE SUPPORTED THROUGH OUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM QUITE A FEW BUSINESSES IN ANACOSTIA. WHAT THEY LACK IS FOOT TRAFFIC. SO UNLESS YOU ARE-- YOU MAKE IT A POINT TO

TRAVEL THERE TO GO TO SOMETHING, THEY LACK THE FOOT TRAFFIC. SO WHAT WE ARE SEEING ARE A LOT OF BUSINESSES CLOSING TOO SOON. SO WITH SOMETHING THAT WOULD CREATE A BUILT-IN FOOT TRAFFIC TO BE ABLE TO

GO FROM THE POPLAR POINT TO THE BRIDGE TO ANACOSTIA IS ALL CONNECTIVITY THERE. IT WO WOULD NEED TO BE AN ATTRACTION TO BRING PEOPLE TO THE AREA. CHAIR FRUMIN: I HEAR YOU. THE 11TH STREET BRIDGE. IT IS

A DISTANCE. HISTORIC ANACOSTIA IS ALSO A DISTANCE. RIGHT. CHAIR FRUMIN: FOOT TRAFFIC OR SHUTTLE? I MEAN, WELL, RIGHT NOW, YOU HEARD CHRIS KRISTINA NOELL. THEY DO OFFER A SHUTTLE. THAT RUNS FROM 11TH

STREET ALL THE WAY TO CONGRESS HEIGHTS. DAILY. THAT IS TO GET PEOPLE MOVING SO THEY CAN SUPPORT THE LOCAL BUSINESSES, SO THEY CAN STAY IN BUSINESS. SO YES, I THINK WE WOULD SEE MORE OF THAT ACTIVITY.

PROBABLY SOME TYPE OF AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES ONCE THINGS ARE BUILT OUT. WHERE IT CAN, YOU KNOW, DRIVE PEOPLE JUST ALONG THE ENTIRE LOOP. CHAIR FRUMIN: I MEAN, GOING BACK TO THE RFP FOR A SECOND, I MEAN,

WHY DO YOU THINK YOU ONLY GOT ONE RESPONSE, AND DID YOU THINK ABOUT, SHOULD WE DO SOMETHING SO WE COULD GET MORE RESPONSES TO THIS? SO I THINK ANYTHING RELATED TO THIS POPLAR POINT SITE WE KNOW IS

GOING TO REQUIRE A LOT OF CLEANUP. EVEN WHEN YOU ARE RESPONDING, YOU ARE AT RISK. YOU ARE TAKING LAND THAT IS GOING TO REQUIRE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT. THE CLEANUP AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE. IF THE CITY

HAD SAID HEY, WE WANT TO PUT $150 MILLION INTO THE CLEANUP, OF COURSE, WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF RESPONSES. WE ARE OFFERING CLEAN LAND. PEOPLE CAN JUST COME IN AND BUILD. F BUT THAT IS NOT

SOMETHING THAT WE WANTED TO UTILIZE FUNDS TO JUST INVEST IN. THE CLEANUP OF THAT SITE. CHAIR FRUMIN: DID YOU HEAR THE TESTIMONY ABOUT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAVING A CLAIM AGAINST, I GUESS, THE FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT, THE NAVY? SO I HEARD IT. WE WILL HAVE TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO LOOK AT. THAT I WILL LET RANDALL RESPOND TO THE CLEANUP AND WHAT THE-- WHAT WE SEE AS THE REQUIREMENT, YOU KNOW, ONCE THE

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT IS COMPLETED. SURE. COUNCILMEMBER, THERE ARE SOME REQUIREMENTS OR OBLIGATIONS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE FOR CLEANUP ON THE SITE. THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR

EVERYTHING. IT DEPENDS ON WHAT IT IS, WHERE IT IS, WHEN IT IS. AND SO THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL EVALUATION OF THAT. AND TO KIND OF DRILL DOWN INTO WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THAT OR WHAT PORTION OF THAT THE

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAY HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR AND WHAT THE DISTRICT WILL HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR. BUT I WOULD NOT WANT TO LEAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY WILL HAVE ALL OF IT. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY.

THEY MAY BE A CONTRIBUTOR TO GET IT DONE. THE FOLKS FROM THERME SAID THEIR LIABILITY IS, IN EFFECT, CAPPED, BUT THEY FELT COMFORTABLE THAT THEY WOULD COME IN UNDER THE CAP. WHEN I ASKED WHAT THE CAP

WAS, THEY ARE GOING TO CHECK. DO YOU KNOW? WE DO NOT KNOW. AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE OUR AGREEMENT WITH THEM DOES NOT HAVE A CAP. THEY MAY HAVE ONE FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT. AS TO H HOW MUCH THEY ARE

ABLE O ABSORB FOR THE TRANSACTION TO MAKE SENSE. BUT THE DEAL BETWEEN THERME AND THE DISTRICT IS THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP ON THEIR PORTION OF THE SITE. CHAIR FRUMIN:

OKAY. SO AND THE WAY IN WHICH THIS PROCESS WOULD ROLL OUT IS THERE WOULD BE AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT. THERE WILL BE AN ASSESSMENT OF WHAT THE COST IS. IT MAY COME MORE INTO FOCUS, HOW MUCH OF A

ROLE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL PLAY. AND THEN THERE WILL BE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF EXPOSURE FOR THERME, FOR THEIR SITE. AND THE OTHER PLAYERS FOR THEIR SITE. AND-- OR IS IT THE CITY FOR THE OTHER

SITES? THE CITY FOR THE BALANCE OF THE OTHER SITES. THAT WOULD DEPEND, THE SPLIT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD COME BEFORE THE CITY'S BALANCE OF THE CLEANUP. CHAIR FRUMIN: I HEAR YOU. WHAT I'M

HEARING FROM RANDALL IS THERE IS NO CAP IN THE AGREEMENT, BUT THERME MAY HAVE A CAP WHERE THEY THINK THIS THING IS OVER X MILLION DOLLARS. WE ARE OUT. THEORETICALLY, YES. CHAIR FRUMIN: AND WE WILL

CHECK WITH THEM. THAT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDER UNDERSTAND. YEAH. BUT I GUESS FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THERE IS NO CAP IN OUR DEAL WITH THEM. CHAIR FRUMIN: RIGHT. WELL, THAT IS WHAT-- YOU KNOW, ONE SET OF

WITNESSES COMES AND THEN ANOTHER ONE COMES AND EVENTUALLY, THE PICTURE COMES CLEARLY INTO FOCUS. SO THE RFP, AND YOU ARE GOING OR THE HEARENNING ABOUT THIS, WHERE DID YOU GET INPUT IN YOUR CRAFTING OF

THE ORIGINAL-- NOT RFP, WHATEVER REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST ARE, RFEI? SO I WILL REALLY HAVE TO GET BACK WITH YOU WITH JUST THE PROCESS BECAUSE AGAIN, IT PREDATES ALL OF US SITTING AT THE

TABLE. BUT I DO KNOW THAT THERE WAS JUST, IN OUR LAND USE PLAN, WE KNOW THAT WE NEEDED AN ANCHOR, SO WITH THE OFFICE OF PLANNING, AND SOME OF YOU KNOW, INFORMATION AROUND AN ANCHOR TENANT, IT WASN'T,

YOU KNOW, IF IT IS AN ATTRACTION, IT COULD HAVE BEEN ANY OTHER THING OR ANY OTHER PERSON. I MEAN, ANY OTHER ENTITY, BUT THIS IS WHO RESPONDED. SO I DON'T THINK IT WAS-- I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WOULD FEEL

LIKE A SOLE SOURCE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE SPHERE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, ANY OTHER TYPE OF USE. THAT IS ALSO AN ATTRACTION. I WILL GET BACK TO YOU WITH THE DETAILS. OF THE RFEI. CHAIR FRUMIN:

OKAY. THEN AS I RECALL, THE RFEI WOULD HAVE GONE OUT. YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE RESPONSE. THTHEN THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT TO NEGOTIATE EXCLUSIVELY WITH THERME FOR SOMETHING LIKE A YEAR. IS THAT CORRECT?

CORRECT. CORRECT. IT WAS AWARDED IN MARCH OF 2025. CHAIR FRUMIN: SO THE RFEI GOES OUT IN 2024. THERME IS THE ONLY RESPONDENT. YOU GUYS SAY OKAY, YOU ARE THE ONLY RESPONDENT. WE WILL NEGOTIATE WITH YOU

EXCLUES ILY FOR A YEAR. THEN A YEAR LATER, WE GET TO WHERE WE ARE. RIGHT. RIGHT. WE WILL GET BACK WITH YOU ON THE DETAILS. ON THE RFEI, IT COULD ROLL RIGHT INTO AN AWARD. BUT I'M CERTAIN THAT THAT HAD

TO BE IN FOR US TO MOVE TO AN AWARD OF THERME. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. AND THEN WE CAN LOOK AT THE RFEI. WAS THERE ANY GUIDANCE ABOUT HOW BIG OF AN ATTRACTION, 15 ACRES IS A CHUNK OF WHAT'S THERE. WAS

THAT PART OF IT? OR JUST NEEDED TO INCLUDE IN THE ATTRACTION -- INCLUDE AN ATTRACTION. ANACOSTIA IS AN ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS DISTRICT NOW. IT HAD TO BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD-- PEOPLE MAY TRAVEL TO THE

AREA, SO WE CAN INCREASE TOURISM. SO IT COULD HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF THINGS. BUT AGAIN, WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU WITH THE DETAILS. CHAIR FRUMIN: I MEAN, THERE WAS A LOT OF TESTIMONY ABOUT FEARS OF

DISPLACEMENT. I WONDER IF YOU HAVE A REACTION TO THE TESTIMONY ABOUT FEARS OF DISPLACEMENT AND WHAT KINDS OF THINGS THAT THE CITY MIGHT DO TO AVERT THAT. SO YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU HEAR THAT ALL THE

TIME. IN DEVELOPMENT. THAT IS WHY WE DO THINGS LIKE UNDER 10801, TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO THAT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LIVE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD CAN STAY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. AGAIN,

THERE IS A COMMITMENT TO EMPLOYMENT THERE. I'M NOT SAYING THAT SOME PEOPLE WON'T BE DISPLACED. F BECAUSE WE DO SEE NATURAL DISPLACEMENT WHEN THINGS COME, BUT THEY ARE-- I KNOW THAT THE DEPUTY MAYOR

SAYS SHE WILL LOOK INTO-- WE DO HAVE HOMESTEAD PROGRAM AND OTHER TAX PROGRAMS. PEOPLE CAN STAY IN THEIR HOME. WE WANT TO PROVIDE A MORE THOUGHTFUL RESPONSE JUST AROUND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE

THERE. WE HAVE THE HOUSING PRODUCTION TRUST FUND FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP. PEOPLE CAN GET UP TO $202,000 FOR DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE ON A HOME. IF THERE IS HOMEOWNERSHIP. THERE ARE WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO STAY. I

THINK THE DISTRICT HAS DONE A GREAT JOB WITH CREATING PROGRAMS SO THAT PEOPLE WANT TO STAY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. THERE ARE THINGS PROVIDES. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. AND ON THE FINANCING, THERE I IS-- IT'S

INTRING. BECAUSE NOTHING HAPPENS UNTIL THE NPS HEADQUARTERS HAVE BEEN MOVED AND IT'S BUILT. AND THAT IS GOING TO-- FROM THE DIFFERENT TESTIMONY, AND YOU CAN TELL ME IF IT IS DIFFERENT THAN THIS. I'M

THINKING THE CURRENT ESTIMATE IS LIKE $240 MILLION. THAT IS THE CURRENT ESTIMATE. CHAIR FRUMIN: AND SO THEN ONE OF THE THINGS ADVERTISING FOR THEM THERME IS THEY WOULD HAVE A REVENUE STREAM THAT COULD

HELP SUPPORT MAKING THAT HAP HAPPEN, BUT THAT REVENUE WOULD NOT COMMENCE UNTIL AFTER IT HAPPENS. YEAH. IT WILL PROBABLY BE A RECAP IN REVENUE. AGAIN, BECAUSE THE MP S FACILITY HAS TO BE RELOCATED.

THEY HAVE TO OCCUPY THE SPACE. AND THEN THERME WILL TAKE CONTROL OF THAT SPACE. CHAIR FRUMIN: SO THE CITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO FUND UP FRONT THE RELOCATION. HOW DOES THE RELOCATION OF NPS SITE GET

DONE? I THINK WHEN THE DEPUTY MAYOR SPOKE, SHE SAID WE WILL GO RIGHT INTO THE DESIGN WITH NPS TO DESIGN A NEW FACILITY. WHAT WE HAVE ARE ESTIMATES. IT IS NOT BASED ON ANY TYPE OF DESIGN. IT IS BASED

ON MARKET ESTIMATES, SO WE CAN GET A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW MUCH IT WILL COST. AS IT STANDS, UNDER THE AGREEMENT TO SECURE THIS LAST BIT OF LAND AT POPLAR POINT, THAT IS A REQUIREMENT THAT THE

DISTRICT HAS TO RELOCATE THE NPS FACILITY. HOW THE FUNDING-- I THINK WE STILL NEED TO MAKE A DETERMINATION WITH HOW IT WILL BE FINANCED. CHAIR FRUMIN: BUT UP FRONT, IT WOULD LIKELY BE DISTRICT

DOLLARS, AND THEN IT COULD BE RECAPPED FROM THE REVENUE -- FROM THE REVENUE FROM THE TAX. DAY ONE WHEN THEY OPEN. WE KNOW RIGHT NOW THERE IS $35 MILLION IN THE BUDGET. SO WE WILL USE THAT TO FINANCE

THE DESIGN COST. SO THAT WE CAN SORT OF START TO ACCELERATE THE DESIGN AND GET A FACILITY DESIGN. CHAIR FRUMIN: ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE BACK-AND-FORTH, AND IT IT MAY BE THAT WE JUST NEED TO DO THIS

MORE PRECISELY. MR. SKINNER SAID THAT THE PROJECT HE WAS WORKING ON, HE ANTICIPATED HAVING $5 MILLION AN ACHIER IN TAX RETURN TO THE DISTRICT. AND THERME, WHEN THEY SAID IT IS 15 ACRES AND $60 MILLION

AN ACRE IN RETURN. DOES THE THERME PROJECT DEL DELIVER-- HAVE YOU GUYS DONE THE MATH TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE TAX REVENUE THAT THE CITY WOULD RECEIVE IS AS HIGH UNDER THE THERME PROPOSAL AS IT

WOULD BE IF IT WERE OTHER FORMS OF MIXED-USE? AND I ASK THAT-- I CAN SEE AN ARGUMENT THAT NO, IT MIGHT BE LOWER RIGHT ON THE SITE, BUT ATTRACTING TWO MILLION PEOPLE TO COME TO THE AREA HAS OTHER KINDS

OF BENEFITS, BUT I AM CURIOUS ABOUT THE RELATIVE BENEFIT TO THE CITY OF DOING SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE THERME AS OPPOSED TO SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE REDBRICK. SO I HEARD TOM AND JOHN BRIEFLY. I

WOULD LIKE TO DO A BETTER ANALYSIS. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HAVING THERME ON THE SITE. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE TAX REVENUE. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT HOTEL STAYS ALSO. FOOT TRAFFIC, PEOPLE EATING IN LOCAL

RESTAURANTS. SO ALL OF THAT NEEDS TO BE CAPTURED. PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT WHEN THEY COME HERE. AND RANDALL, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO -- THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD WITH THAT IS IT IS ALSO A FUNCTION OF

WHICH TAXES, WHICH REVENUE WE ARE LOOKING AT. IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THERME, THERE IS PROPERTY TAX, VARIOUS SALES TAXES FOR THE OPERATIONS HAPPENING ON THE SITE. RESTAURANTS THERE AS WELL. NOW WE

HAVE RESTAURANT TAXES WHICH ARE A HIGHER RATE THAN THE OTHER SALES TAXES. AS OPPOSED TO SOMETHING LIKE RESIDENTS WHERE YOU HAVE INCOME TAX. RESIDENTIAL USES. I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO SEE THE INPUTS THAT

THEY WERE USING IN THEIR CONVERSATION BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT BE TALKING ABOUT APPLES TO APPLES THERE. SO WE WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM WHEN WE CAN CIRCLE BACK ON THE DISPARITIES. CHAIR FRUMIN: I

DO THINK-- I THINK GETTING CLARITY ON IT COULD BE USEFUL. I ALSO WILL SAY THE WAY THAT THE THERME FOLKS TALKED ABOUT IT, TWO-THIRDS OF THE PEOPLE GOING THERE WOULD BE TOURISTS AND FROM THE-- FROM

OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT. SO TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE IS SALES TAXES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THOSE ARE SALES TAXES THAT ARE PAID MORE HEAVILY PROBABLY BY NON-DISTRICT RESIDENTS THAN IN THE REDBRICK

SETTING. BUT THE PART OF THE ARGUMENT HERE IS THE WAY IN WHICH THE THERME INVESTMENT COULD BE A CATALYST. AND SO-- BUT A CLOSE ANALYSIS OF THE NUMBERS IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT. OKAY. SO WHAT ARE THE

REQUIREMENTS ON CB AND FIRST SOURCE BUILT INTO THE THERME? SO THEY SIGN A FIRST SOURCE AGREEMENT. 35% CBE. CHAIR FRUMIN: OKAY. ON THE REDBRICK, SO I THINK IT IS INTERESTING. THAT THE AFFORDABILITY

REQUIREMENTS ARE DIFFERENT ON THE REDBRICK SITE THAN SOMETHING ELSE THAT MIGHT HAPPEN ON THE ANACOSTIA WATERSHED. ON THE REDBRICK SITE, IT WAS FEDERAL LAND THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE REQUIREMENT. CORRECT.

CHAIR FRUMIN: DOING THE SWAP. THEY BRING WITH IT THAT BEN BENEFIT. CORRECT. CHAIR FRUMIN: WHAT OTHER OBLIGATIONS DOES-- IS REDB REDBRICK-- DO THEY HAVE THE REQUIREMENTS? NO. FEDERAL LAND DOESN'T HAVE

THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THE DISTRICT HAS. CHAIR FRUMIN: I MEAN, IN A CERTAIN SENSE, F THIS IS IF REDBRICK DID THE SAME DEVELOPMENT ON JOINT BASE ANDREWS, THEY WOULDN'T BE SUBJECT TO THAT. SO THEY ARE

NOT GOING TO DO THAT THERE. THEY ARE GOING TO DO IT HERE. BUT IT'S DIFFERENT. OKAY. GIVE ME JUST A SECOND. I JUST HAD TO CHECK WHETHER OR NOT I HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS. IT TURNS OUT I DO NOT. OH,

OKAY. CHAIR FRUMIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. I JUST WANT TO ADD A LITTLE STATEMENT. I WANT TO SAY WITH THE POPLAR POINT PIECE, THAT THIS ALSO REPRESENTS A CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT IN

CONGRESSWOMAN ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON'S LEGACY REFLECTING HER TIRELESS WORK THROUGHOUTLER TENURE TO SECURE FEDERAL LAND FOR THE DISTRICT'S FUTURE. WALTER REID, THE WHARF, THE YARDS, THE RFK CAMPUS. SHE

AUTHORED THE 2006 LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF POPLAR POINT TO D.C. THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY'S MOVE TO THE EAST-WEST CAMPUS. I WANT TO THANK HER FOR HER TIRELESS WORK AND ALSO TO

UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE LAST PIECE OF PROPERTY, POPLAR POINT, THAT WOULD BE UNDER HER TENURE TO TRANSFER TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THANK YOU. CHAIR FRUMIN: WELL, I WILL SAY WELL-TIMED, AND

NICELY PLAYED, ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON. WITH THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND THIS HEARING IS-- OH. DO I HAVE TO SAY STUFF? ONE SECOND. OKAY. SO THIS CONCLUDES TODAY'S PUBLIC ROUNDTABLE. IF YOU PLAN ON

SUBMITTING WRITTEN TESTIMONY FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE DO SO BY UPLOWING IT TO THE COUNCIL'S ONLINE HEARING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM BEFORE THE RECORD CLOSES AT 5:00 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4. THE TIME IS

NOW 7:47, AND THIS ROUNDTABLE IS ADJOURNED.