Thursday, August 14, 2014

Vacant Property not Unclaimed Property

4 bills and changeLooking at the stats for this website, it appears I get a few people looking for unclaimed or abandoned property, which is not what this site is about. This site is about vacant buildings and land.
If you are looking for unclaimed property go to
http://cfo.dc.gov/service/unclaimed-property
Unclaimed property may include: wages, bank accounts, money orders, traveler checks, CDs, overpayments, deposits, life insurance payouts, and stocks and dividends and the like. The District of Columbia's CFO's site has a database (love open government) where one may search to see if they have any unclaimed property. If you got something in the mail from someone saying you or a family member has unclaimed property, don't waste a dime paying them. Get it yourself. Just go to the website, mail in the form, and if you are the rightful recipient, you will get it back for free.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Florida and Q (Sq 0615, lots 75, 149, 152, etc) NW

Vacant Q St 4This is old news, but the city is soliciting offers for several parcels of property owned by the District of Columbia, with the goal of making them into something useful. This includes the lots at Q and Florida Avenues NW, which is across the street from Joe Mamo's lot.
There was a hope to turn this sunny lot into a community garden, but the tide in the city seems to be turning away from green spaces to mixed use development.
Since the property is currently owned by the city, it pays no taxes, and as with the city, it takes a while for things to eventually get developed. Thankfully, it is not a school.
A quick look at the solicitation it appears the city wants a developer-buyer to create a mixed income and mixed use development, with the residential units being 51% affordable (residents at 80% AMI). Luckily, the city defines AMI (Area Median Income) with 1 person household earning $59,920, a 2 person household at $68,480, a 3 person household $77,040, 4 person $85,600 and so forth. The city wants it to be a LEED building, and there are other requirements that deal with the city.
According to the Department of Housing and Community Development developers have until October (10th or 24th) to submit proposal applications.