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B 26-0689

Closing of a Portion of a Public Alley in Square 785, S.O. 21-03369, Act of 2026

26th Council Period (2025-2026) Introduced by Phil Mendelson

authorizes closing a 261 sq ft portion of a public alley between 308 and 310 A Street NE, reassigning it to the adjacent lots as private land to expand yard space.

Referred to Committee of the Whole
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · B 26-0689

Summary of Bill: Closing of a Portion of a Public Alley in Square 785, S.O. 21-03369, Act of 2026 (B 26-0689)

Purpose and Intent

  • Authorizes the closure of a narrow portion of a public walking alley in Square 785 to enable two adjacent residential properties at 308 A Street NE (Lot 844) and 310 A Street NE (Lot 28) to incorporate the alley area into their lots.
  • The action aims to convert approximately 261 square feet of alley (unevenly distributed between the two properties) into private land for private use, effectively creating additional yard/open space for the two homes.
  • The legislation follows the District’s street and alley closing process, with title to the closed land reverting to the abutting property owners as specified in the accompanying survey plat.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • The act designates the closing of a 261 square foot portion of the public alley behind 308 and 310 A Street NE (Square 785, Lots 844, 27, 28, 29, 30). The closed alley would be reallocated to the adjacent property owners:
    • Approximately 105 square feet would vest with Lot 844 (308 A Street NE).
    • Approximately 156 square feet would vest with Lot 28 (310 A Street NE).
  • The closing is subject to satisfaction of all conditions in the official Street and Alley Closing file (S.O. 21-03369) and pursuant to the DC Street and Alley Closing Acquisition Procedures Act of 1982.
  • The act incorporates a survey plat showing the closure, the new building restriction line, and title vesting details.
  • Fiscal impact statement: The Chief Financial Officer confirms funds are available to implement the closure in the FY 2024–FY 2028 budget and financial plan. No ongoing costs to the District are identified.
  • Effective date mechanics: The act takes effect upon the Mayor’s approval (or Council action to override a veto), followed by a 30-day congressional review and publication in the DC Register.

Who and What Would Be Affected

  • Abutting property owners:
    • 308 A Street NE (Lot 844) would gain about 105 square feet of the alley area as private property.
    • 310 A Street NE (Lot 28) would gain about 156 square feet of the alley area as private property.
  • Public agencies and utilities:
    • Several agencies reviewed the proposal (DDOT, DPW/SWMA, Pepco, DC Water, Verizon, Washington Gas, Pepco, NCPC, ANC 6C, Office of Planning, Historic Preservation), with initial objections largely resolved (notably DDOT’s relocation of underground conduit; SWMA maintained concerns about trash collection, though subsequent DDOT findings indicated no impact on residential trash collection).
    • Pepco’s comments contained a square-number error in an earlier submission; the applicant sought corrections but Pepco had not responded as of the provided materials.
    • NCPC found the alley closing exempt from its review.
  • Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC 6C) supported the proposal (June 12, 2021).
  • No displacement of retail tenants is anticipated; the plan is focused on private residential redevelopment.
  • Property valuations: The Office of Tax and Revenue estimated the alley closing as creating taxable land values for the two abutting lots (post-closing), relevant for 2025 assessments.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Background and references:
    • The Surveyor’s Office filed S.O. 21-03369 for public alley closing.
    • Multiple agency and stakeholder reviews occurred between 2021 and 2024, with DDOT’s final position in 2024 stating no objection after asset relocation was completed.
    • The DC Attorney General issued a legal sufficiency memorandum in May 2025 affirming the bill’s legality for Council consideration.
  • Legislative path:
    • The bill is introduced by the Mayor (with a co-sponsor, Council Chair Phil Mendelson).
    • Action history shows referral to the Committee of the Whole on May 19, 2026.
    • If enacted, the act would become law upon the normal approval/veto override and congressional review process, with publication in the DC Register.

Practical Impact and Considerations

  • Private benefit: The closure enables the two adjacent homeowners to expand their lots and private open space, potentially affecting property taxes and development plans.
  • Public realm: DDOT and planning staff concluded the alley closure would not disrupt trash collection access or broader alley connectivity, given the remaining alley network and absence of vehicular access on the closed segment.
  • Historic and planning alignment: Planning staff indicate the closure is not inconsistent with Capitol Hill’s planning objectives and does not impair the historic fabric, given the walking alley’s width and lack of vehicular access.

If you’d like, I can provide a concise one-page briefing or a side-by-side comparison of before/after land square footage and tax implications.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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