West End Library and Fire Station development project breaks ground Monday

Rendering courtesy of EastBanc

From a press release:

“On Monday, December 15, EastBanc, Inc. will break ground and begin construction on the highly anticipated West End Library and Fire Station project at 2301 L St, NW. The official groundbreaking ceremony is open to the public and hosted by DC Mayor Vincent Gray and numerous city officials and community leaders.

Plans for EastBanc’s West End Library and Fire Station development project call for a new 21,000-square-foot library and 7,300 square feet of retail topped by 164 market-rate units – 71 condos and 93 rentals – and a new fire station topped by 55 affordable units and Squash on Fire — a state-of-art squash facility with eight courts and full-service restaurant.

On March 11, 2010 Mayor Fenty selected EastBanc W.D.C Partners to redevelop the District’s West End Library, Police Special Operations Building, and Fire Station. Over the last several years, EastBanc worked closely with Mayor Gray’s administration and the community to plan, design, and entitle two buildings to house a new library, residential condominiums, and retail space on Square 37, and a new fire station with affordable housing above, on Square 50. The company is committed to bringing more residents to the West End neighborhood, expanding retail offerings and delivering world-class architecture. EastBanc has engaged world-renowned architect Enrique Norten of T.E.N. Arquitectos of Mexico City to design both buildings.

Both complexes are being built as a public-private partnership between the District of Columbia, EastBanc, The JBG Companies and Clark Enterprises. The project has received enthusiastic support from the DCPL, DCFEMS, ANC 2A, U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and the West End/Foggy Bottom communities as a whole.”