[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 22, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2045]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE OXON RUN PARKWAY LAND TRANSFER AND RESTORATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       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.

                          ____________________