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“INTRODUCTION OF THE OXON RUN PARKWAY LAND TRANSFER AND RESTORATION ACT” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E2045 on Oct. 22, 1997.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2045]
[[Page E2045]]
INTRODUCTION OF THE OXON RUN PARKWAY LAND TRANSFER AND RESTORATION ACT
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HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON
of the district of columbia
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, October 22, 1997
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduced the Oxon Run Parkway Land Transfer and Restoration Act, a bill which directs the National Park Service to convey to the District of Columbia all right, title, and interest of the United States to approximately 25 acres of land in Southeast DC, in Ward 8. The purpose of my legislation is to enable a group of churches, the Washington Interfaith Network [WIN], working with the District of Columbia government, to build more than 300 units of low- and moderate-income housing, almost entirely with church-
gathered funds. WIN is a coalition of 43 churches. They stand ready to invest $2.5 million at no interest to finance the construction of these homes. Among the major contributors are: First, the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, second, the Episcopal Archdiocese of Washington, third, the United Methodist Church, and fourth, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
My understanding is that the Interior Department supports this transfer. The land is bordered on the northeast by South Capitol Street, on the west by Oxon Run Parkway, and on the southeast by the Maryland-DC border. Presently, the land is administered by the District of Columbia but is actually owned by the National Park Service. In 1972, the Park Service transferred jurisdiction to the District of Columbia of approximately 100 acres of land in Southeast DC, that includes the approximately 25 acres addressed in my legislation. However, the transfer was made under condition that the land be used for recreation and related purposes. My legislation removes this legal impediment to construction of low and moderate income housing on this land and enables the future homeowners to own full title to their property.
The transfer which I propose is a modest but important step in restoring one of the city's vital residential neighborhoods and the city's overall morale and financial health. Ward 8, the most disadvantaged in the city, has experienced devastating loss of population in significant part because of the absence of affordable housing. In addition, the land which I propose to transfer from the Park Service to the District is currently in a deplorable condition and is an embarrassment to the Park Service and the city. Although this piece of land is ostensibly recreational parkland, it has become unsightly neighborhood dumpyard. Transfer of this land to the District for construction of a residential neighborhood will not only enable environmental cleanup of the property but will also provide desperately needed housing at a site that has become a terrible eyesore.
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