2 Elementary Schools Available For Development In D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Mayor Muriel Bowser and the District's office of the deputy mayor for planning and economic development has revealed a new strategy for enhancing equity and making D.C.’s prosperity more inclusive. An equity inclusion prioritization has been established for future request for proposals (RFP) that will increase access to development opportunities for entities or organizations that are owned or majority controlled by individuals determined to be part of a socially disadvantaged population.

This week, the first RFP including this equity inclusion priority was released by DMPED, which seeks to redevelop 30,000-square-foot Langston and Slater Schools located at 33-45 P Street NW. This property was formerly used as two elementary schools – Slater Elementary School and John Mercer Langston Elementary School. Slater Elementary School was constructed in 1891 as a school for African American students; the school was part of a complex of schools for Black students along First Street N.W. between L and P streets. The John Mercer Langston Elementary School was built in 1902 to handle the overflow of students from the adjoining Slater School.

The site is in Ward 5, zoned RF-1, with boundaries marked by Bates Street N.W. to the north, North Capitol St N.W. to the east, P Street N.W. to the south and 1st Street N.W. to the west. Mundo Verde Public Charter School is located across the street and Paul Lawrence Dunbar Senior High School and Friendship-Armstrong Public Charter School are in close proximity.

To facilitate equitable access to District development projects, DMPED will begin incorporating a prioritization in their RFPs for teams that maximize, by percentage of ownership and control, entities designated as disadvantaged business enterprise and residence owned business, or any entities including non-profits and community institutions led by, or majority controlled by, individuals designated as socially disadvantaged under the Small Business Administration’s definition.