Tonight, Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker will hold a virtual meeting about Metro’s development plans at Brookland station and Fort Totten station (register for link). The meeting will present a 30,000 foot view of the plans as Metro begins the development process at both stations.

Fort Totten station

Metro recently authorized moving forward with a solicitation for joint development of the large parking lot at Fort Totten station (see this post on the authorization). As outlined in the board document, Metro believes there is potential for 750 housing units with retail and expanded Metro Transit Police precinct facilities, along with a parking garage for no loss of long-term Metro parking spaces (408 spaces). Metro plans to keep the small parking lot in front of the 7-Eleven (approximately 58 spaces, which I believe is more than the lot holds today). (Update 8/23: During the meeting, Metro officials stated that they do not plan to change or increase the number of parking spaces in the short-term lot, which is currently around 32 spaces). In the board document, Metro states, “A Compact Public Hearing is not required because there are no changes to the capacity of or access to transit facilities.”

My understanding is that a project at Fort Totten station will require some local funding in order to be viable. So realistically a project is some ways off (and may not happen at all).

There are some questions worth raising. I sent a few questions to Councilmember Parker’s office about Metro’s plan to keep and perhaps even increase the number of parking spaces in the small parking lot, needed site circulation improvements, the decision to cut yellow line service to Fort Totten, Metro’s retail plan, and the need for environmental improvements on the large parking lot, particularly if a development project does not move forward. I believe a representative from Metro will attend CM Parker’s tonight, but I do not know if they will be prepared to answer questions.