BISNOW, July 11, 2023, Emily Wishingrad, Washington, D.C.

The D.C. government is steadily overhauling its fire station fleet. Over the past five years, D.C. has put a half-dozen stations in the redevelopment pipeline, with the properties either set to become revamped firehouses with additional mixed-use components or be fully redeveloped with the fire stations moving elsewhere.

It is part of an effort by Mayor Muriel Bowser‘s administration to convert aging assets owned by the city, including schools, the St. Elizabeths East hospital campus and the Reeves Center.

Engine 9

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Engine 9 at 1617 U St. NW, Washington, D.C.

• Station Established: 1960s
• Address: 1617 U St. NW and 1620 V St. NW
• RFP: TBD
• Size: 81,981 SF

A 1.88-acre property on U Street, home to a fire station, police headquarters and fuel station is slated for redevelopment. DMPED announced during March Madness it would release an RFP this May, but it has still hasn’t issued the request. DMPED noted the city’s 2021 Comprehensive Plan envisions the land for high-density mixed-use.

The property is going through the Zoning Commission to change the zoning from MU-4 to MU-10, which would convert the usage from low-to-moderate density to medium-to-high density mixed-use development. 

The plans have sparked backlash from neighbors who argue the city didn’t seek their input and that the new development would drive up the cost of living in the neighborhood, WUSA9 reported. Hundreds of letters in support of or opposition to the development have been filed with the commission. 

A DMPED spokesperson said the agency continues to support the rezoning and pointed to “extensive” meetings with the community and the support from two local Advisory Neighborhood Commission groups.