A major commercial property in the Historic District is on the market.
The former home of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, a 115,000-square foot building which dates to 1939, is listed for sale by Ideal Realty Group.
The building has been empty since the water agency moved to Laurel in 1991.
Washington, D.C. developer Douglas Jemal won a contract to buy the building in 2004 and has removed and contained asbestos, but things like wiring and copper pipe have been stolen over the years, according to a 2010 Hyattsville Life and Times article.
The land is currently zoned for low-density residential, much like the nearby single-family homes. But a sales flyer says it could be rezoned and converted to about 150 apartments, like the Top of the Park apartments across the street, or 68 to 95 condos.
“Alternatively, since the grandfathered use is for offices, commercial development such as office buildings, schools and other offices uses would be allowed,” the flyer states, adding that “art studios and other art-related uses” would also be appropriate.
No price is listed for the building, but it is currently assessed at around $600,000. The sales flyer includes a nearby four-acre parking lot.
I vote for condos and a community garden in a substantial part of the parking lot. I know converting to condos would require parking and there is not enough in the lot in the back (Gallatin Street side) for the number indicated in the article. I also think condos are a good idea because they would add to the housing mix nicely. There are already loads of single family homes and apartments, so condos would round out choice.
Why a community garden? Well, the one on Hamilton across from Bestway seems popular and I think converting the lot to useful green space makes a great deal of sense. A community garden would provide a place for people to gather and learn and would be a much better use of that space than more blacktop.
Ultimately, I hope whatever happens does not involve the kind of discussions and fights had last time about the property.