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The final plans for the long-anticipated Canal Park at Third and M streets SE were unveiled at the November meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D. Chris van Arsdale of Canal Park Development Associates presented the scheme for the three-block swath of green space that extends north to Virginia Avenue, facing the former Washington Post printing plant on Virginia Avenue that will house District agencies. The park is an echo to a historic canal that ran through the area.

The park, which has been in the planning stages since 2000, was originally a project of the Anacostia Waterfront Corporation, and with that agency’s demise, planning for the park was moved to the Mayor’s Office for Economic Development. For a long period, van Arsdale said, designers tried to fit many new elements into the original design, and they finally realized that they had to start over from scratch with a new architect.

Van Arsdale compared the new design to New York’s Bryant Park, with active features like a skating rink (transformed into a plaza during non-ice months), a full-service restaurant, and a large water jet for getting wet in the summer. The new design is for a more active park and will also feature a canal-like feature and family areas where toy boats can be sailed. Finally, the area closest to Virginia Avenue will feature an expansive lawn with tables and chairs where people can picnic and relax.

Incorporated into the design are sustainability functions including water-collecting cisterns, storm water management and possible grey water reuse for irrigation. They are also in discussion with the developers of 225 Virginia Ave. SE about the possibility of their using geo-thermal well and photovoltaic cells for energy on the building.

The park is being funded by a $15 million appropriation from the District and $5 million in contributions from Southeast developers. There will also be a $5 million maintenance endowment, so it will stay in good shape into the future, and they are working with the Capital Riverfront Business Improvement District and the Earth Conservation Corps to implement those plans.

Saying that the input of residents was important, Commissioner Ron McBee expressed his concern, echoed by other members, that displaced residents of Arthur Capper Houses who are returning to the new Hope VI project replacing their former homes, some of which were on the site of the new park, be included on the board of the park.

Mr. van Arsdale expects that construction documents for the park will be completed by January, and they should have their construction permits by June.

Old Friendship Baptist Church: Another Project Delayed by the Economy
Plans for the unique development planned for the Old Friendship Baptist Church will be put on hold until the economy improves. Steven Tanner, the developer of a small residential project of about 28 apartments, that will incorporate the historic church as offices for a nonprofit organization, asked the ANC for support for a two-year delay in beginning construction of the planned unit development (PUD) for the property.

The building is located on First and H streets SW, behind the Randall School, and was the subject of controversy when it first came before the commission several years ago. The parishioners of Friendship Baptist, who built a new sanctuary on I Street SW, were concerned about losing their original building, one of the first freedman’s churches in the District. Tanner undertook to acquire landmark status for the church and agreed not to construct apartments in the sanctuary and to use it only for rental to a nonprofit agency.

Another problem facing Tanner is the status of the Randall School. The Corcoran Gallery and School is currently having problems of its own, and has not begun construction on its planned renovation of the Randall School. Its original developer, Monument Realty, pulled out, and the Corcoran is now seeking a new developer or a sale of the building. According to Tanner, “They may be coming close to doing that.”

Commissioner David Sobelsohn expressed concern about the pick-up of litter around the site and on the ball fields behind it. Tanner said that he has contorted for monthly pick-up with the Earth Conservation Corp.

The commission voted to support Tanner’s application to the Zoning Commission for a two-year extension on his PUD, with the requests that the ball fields are kept clean and the historic preservation elements of the property are maintained.

Safeway Voluntary Agreement Still in Works
Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee Chair Coralie Farlee reported that the voluntary agreement with the new Waterfront Station Safeway, which will be selling wine and beer, has now been through 18 versions but will be ready to sign at the December ANC meeting. She said that she has still not received any suggestions from the commission’s Safeway Task Force. Sobelsohn, who serves on the task force, continues to be concerned that the draft agreement has not been shared with task force members. The Alcoholic Beverage Commission hearing on any protest to the agreement has been postponed until January.

Other Issues
The commission also:

• Agreed to send a letter to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) about the fact that Fourth Street SE was switched from two-way to one-way as part of the changes made to access the ballpark parking lots. There was no input from the community, and there is no need for it to remain one-way out of season.