SHAW: Odd Fellows Building on 9th Street NW Stumbles at BZA Meeting

On Tuesday 28th plans were submitted to the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) concerning the plans for 1851 9th Street NW. The building which sits on the corner of 9th and T Streets NW, was most recently Hospitality High (a Hotel Services and Culinary School)and is a historic structure built in 1932, designed by Albert I. Cassell, for the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows Temple. (Odd Fellows was a Black American fraternal organization created in 1843)

The Hollow Creek Investment Group, with architects Arcadia Design wants to convert the structure into a condo building. The Condo would have 29 units, which requires the addition of another (5th) floor - this was not viewed positively by the BZA, and a hold was put on progress by the committee until the new regulations governing pop-ups can be reviewed and applied correctly (The BZA was confused as to whether the project should have the old or new R-4 zoning regulations applied). You can see the meeting here  not very clear to the uninitiated, but the video does clearly show the confusion over understanding the new regulations, there is also an opportunity to see the plans as they now stand.

“We’re gonna have to have some regrouping,” said BZA Chairman Lloyd Jordan, who opted to delay further review of the project until the R-4 question is answered.

So no decision yet....stay tuned