Courtesy of the NoMa Parks Foundation.
A piece of land originally intended for condos will become NoMa’s first park, according to the NoMa Parks Foundation. The lot at 3rd and L St. NE will serve residents “and their 4-legged friends,” says Robin Eve-Jasper of the NoMa Business Improvement District.
Plans for a N St. Park were terminated in 2014 after the land was sold to a private developer “despite a vigorous effort” by the foundation.
Securing land for green spaces has proven much more difficult than expected due to the competitive market, says the foundation’s board chair Charles Sandy Wilkes. After learning that the L St. property was up for grabs, the foundation had just 30 days to seal the $3.2 million acquisition with Cohen Siegel Investors. Now, the land will be part of a roughly 8,000 square foot park.
In the neighborhood’s original plan, parks were non-existent. In response, the NoMa BID created the parks foundation to exclusively focus on developing public and green spaces for the rapidly evolving neighborhood. In September 2012, then-Mayor Vincent Gray committed $490,000 to jumpstart planning efforts. And in May 2013, the D.C. Council approved $50 million for NoMa parks and public spaces in the city’s 2014 budget.
So far, projects like the underpass art parks have created a successful beautification buzz. The foundation is also planning a town square for events like farmer’s markets, concerts, fairs and festivals, another outdoor space dubbed “NoMa Green” for recreation and community gatherings and a promenade with even more green spaces, seating, water elements, retail options and a Landmark Theater. And if those aren’t enough, a few “pocket parks,” are in the works, too.
Through the foundation’s partnership with the District government, all park sites acquired for NoMa will be District-owned property and titled to the city.
The NoMa Parks Foundation is hosting a “Community Conversation to discuss plans for NoMa Parks and public spaces” on November 19, 2015 at 6:30 pm at the Hilton Garden Inn (1225 First Street, NE.)
