Approval of the Proposal from the Eugene B. Casey Foundation for an Official Residence of the Mayor Resolution of 2001
PR 14-179

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the "Approval of the Proposal From the Eugene B. Casey Foundation for an Official Residence of the Mayor Resolution of 2001 ".

Sec. 2. (a) Pursuant to section 6 of the Mayor's Official Residence Commission Establishment Act of 2000 ("Act"), effective October 21, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-179; to be codified at D.C. Official Code § 1331.05), the Mayor has submitted to the Council a request to approve the proposal of the Eugene B. Casey Foundation to designate the site at 1801 Foxhall Road, N.W., as the official residence of the Mayor.

(b) Pursuant to section 4 of the Act (to be codified at D.C. Official Code § 1331.03), the Mayor's Official Residence Commission ("Commission") has prepared and submitted to the Council and the Mayor a report that includes a recommendation on the most appropriate site in the District for the Mayor's official residence. This recommendation is based on exploration of the appropriateness and cost of using property that the District government owns at 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E., and comparison of the cost and appropriateness of this property with the cost and appropriateness of the property proposed by the Eugene B. Casey Foundation and other properties. As required under section 4 of the Act, the Commission held a public hearing on April 17. 2001. at which interested members of the public were given an opportunity to present their views on the issue of an official residence for the Mayor.

(c) Among other things, the report of the Commission finds that the Old Naval Hospital building at 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E., is of a size sufficient to accommodate a high quality official residence for the Mayor, but that this property would entail costs of renovation of between $2.1 million and $4 million and total capitalized costs of operation over a 50-year period of between $40 million and $50 million. All these costs would have to be met through funds to be raised or provided by the District government. In addition, only a minimum amount of required parking would be available on site (approximately 5-10 spaces) and, for security purposes, the building would be exposed by virtue of its close proximity to Pennsylvania Avenue. The report of the Commission also finds that while the use of this site as the Mayor's official residence would have a positive impact in many respects on the adjacent neighborhood, such ongoing use would have a negative traffic impact on the area.

(d) The report of the Commission finds that, as an alternative, the Eugene B. Casey Foundation proposes to establish the Casey Mansion Foundation to acquire a 17acre site at 1801 Foxhall Road, N.W., to build a significant structure that would be designated as the Mayor's official residence, and to endow the Foundation for the purpose of funding, in perpetuity, all operating costs for the building and grounds, including furnishings, housekeeping, insurance, landscaping, maintenance, security,  staffing, and utilities. The report also finds that this alternative would provide a high quality official residence for the Mayor, the design and construction of which would be carried out in consultation with the government. The report finds that, in contrast to the use of the property at 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E., acceptance of the proposal from the Eugene B. Casey Foundation would entail no costs to be met through funds raised or provided by the government. In addition, a substantial amount of parking would be available on site (in excess of 75 spaces), and the proposed site and building would be large enough to accommodate all reasonable security concerns. The report of the Commission also finds that the use of this site as the Mayor's official residence would have only very limited impact on the adjacent neighborhood.

(e) At the public hearing on April 17, 2001, the Committee made available its preliminary draft report, the Act, and the February 26, 2001 letter proposal from the Eugene B. Casey Foundation. The report of the Commission states that there were approximately 20 individuals who presented testimony and that the majority supported the proposal from the Eugene B. Casey Foundation.

(f) After considering the proposed sites at 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E., and 1801 Foxhall Road, N.W., and other available sites, the report of the Commission concludes that the proposal of the Eugene B. Casey Foundation offers the best opportunity to realize an official residence for the Mayor that achieves the maximum programmatic goals of such a residence at the least expense to the citizens of the District. Acceptance of this proposal will obviate the need for any plan by the District government to raise funds to provide for acquisition, renovation, or maintenance of property for use as the Mayor's official residence. In his letter transmitting this proposed resolution to the Council, the Mayor categorically endorses the Commission's recommendation.

Sec. 3. Based on the circumstances enumerated in section 2 and the report of the Commission, the Council hereby approves the proposal of the Eugene B. Casey Foundation to designate the site at 1801 Foxhall Road, N.W., as the official residence of the Mayor.

Sec. 4. The District government's acceptance of the proposal of the Eugene B. Casey Foundation, as described in section 2 and the report of the Commission, will have no fiscal impact on the District government.

Sec. 5. The Secretary to the Council shall transmit a copy of this resolution, upon its adoption, to the Mayor.