October 15, 2024
Nyasha Smith, Secretary
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20004
Dear Secretary Smith:
Today, I am introducing the “Closing of a Portion of a Public Alley and Dedication of Land for Alley
Purposes in Square 756, S.O. 24-00310, Act of 2024”. Please find enclosed a signed copy of the legislation.
St. Joseph’s Church on Capitol Hill (“St. Joseph’s”) has served as a place of worship, celebration, and
support for Ward 6 families and District residents alike for more than 150 years. St. Joseph’s is currently
embarking on a six-year strategic plan, which, among many initiatives, includes the construction of a new
5,220 square foot building that will serve as a dynamic meeting space for events and activities to enhance
St. Joseph’s core functions. The new building will allow for additional parish and community events, food
donation services for the District’s underprivileged, migrant surge operations and support, and a
collection and support location for disaster response.
To facilitate the construction of the building, St. Joseph’s needs to close a portion of a public alley,
approximately 270 square feet in length. Simultaneously, St. Joseph’s will also dedicate 105 square feet
of land to the District to widen the public alley at the northern end of the property. St. Joseph’s filed the
application on October 17, 2023, and has received or expects to receive support or no opposition from all
utilities and District agencies. ANC 6C voted to provide a provisional letter of support on March 13, 2024.
Please feel free to reach out to me or my Legislative Director, Antonio Nunes, with any questions or for
additional information.
Sincerely,
Councilmember Charles Allen, Ward 6
Chairperson, Committee on Transportation & the Environment
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2 Councilmember Charles Allen
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6 A BILL
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11 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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16 To order the closing of a portion of a public alley in Square 756 abutting Lot 47, and the
17 dedication of a portion of Lot 806 for public alley purposes in Ward 6.
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19 BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
20 act may be cited as the “Closing of a Portion of a Public Alley and Dedication of Land for Alley
21 Purposes in Square 756, S.O. 24-00310, Act of 2024”.
22 Sec. 2. (a) Pursuant to section 201 of the Street and Alley Closing and Acquisition
23 Procedures Act of 1982 (“Act”), effective March 10, 1983 (D.C. Law 4-201; D.C. Official Code
24 § 9-202.01), the Council finds that the portion of the public alley in Square 756, as shown on the
25 Surveyor’s plat filed under S.O. 24-00310, is unnecessary for alley purposes and orders it closed,
26 with title to the land to vest as shown on the Surveyor’s plat.
27 (b) Pursuant to section 302 of the Act (D.C. Official Code § 9-203.02), the Council
28 accepts the dedication of a portion of Lot 806 in Square 756 for public alley purposes, as shown
29 on the Surveyor’s plat filed under S.O. 24-00310, contingent upon the satisfaction of all
30 conditions set forth in the official file of S.O. 24-00310.
31 Sec. 3. Transmittal.
32 The Council shall transmit a copy of this act, upon its effective date, to the Surveyor of
33 the District of Columbia and the District of Columbia Recorder of Deeds.
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34 Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement.
35 The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal
36 impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975,
37 approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).
38 Sec. 5. Effective date.
39 This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the
40 Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as
41 provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December
42 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of
43 Columbia Register.
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