Development

Metropolitan Overlook Condominiums Coming to Eckington

By Prince Of Petworth


1831 2nd Street NE

From a press release:

2nd Street Community Partners, a joint-venture between Ward 5 real estate developers The Menkiti Group and Dantes Partners, announces construction will begin on Metropolitan Overlook – a sleek, modern residential condominium community in the Eckington neighborhood. The project is a rehabilitation of an existing 37-unit apartment building that has stood vacant for more than two decades.

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at the building site, 1831 2nd Street NE. Members of the press and local community are encouraged to attend.

Metropolitan Overlook will feature a mixture of market rate, workforce and affordable for sale condominium units. By joining forces with DC-based non-profit City First Homes, 2nd Street Community Partners has guaranteed that 11 of the 37 units will remain affordable in perpetuity. City First Homes will provide ongoing stewardship and support for affordable unit owners.

“We are committed to creating workforce and affordable housing of the highest quality – housing that is on par with market rate units across the District,” said Bo Menkiti, founder and chief executive of The Menkiti Group. “With this project, we intend to raise the bar on what is achievable in workforce and affordable housing and set new expectations in the marketplace.”

The development team acquired the building through a property disposition agreement with the District’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). A solicitation for development proposals was advertised to the public by DHCD in October 2010.

“The development of this project fits our mission to create and preserve affordable housing options for District residents or people interested in making this city their home,” said DHCD Director Michael P. Kelly. “As housing prices increase, our long term goal is to provide homeownership opportunities that remain accessible for low- to moderate-income households.”

The project was designed by Miner Feinstein Architects in collaboration with Indigo Engineering, M. A. Design Group, ReStl Designers and Capitol Engineering Group. Additional consulting services for the project were provided by Compass Design and Development and CDKM Consulting. The General Contractor is Keystone Plus Construction.

Mayor Gray Announces District’s Five-Year Economic Development Strategy

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user sciascia

From a press release:

Mayor Vincent C. Gray and Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Victor L. Hoskins today announced the delivery of one of the Mayor’s key promises: a Five-Year Economic Development Strategy for the District. The strategy provides a roadmap for creating 100,000 new jobs and attracting $1 billion in new revenue for the District over the next five years.

The Five-Year Economic Development Strategy includes six transformative visions for the D.C. economy:

· Create the most business-friendly economy in the nation;
· Grow the largest technology center on the East Coast;
· Be the nation’s destination of choice;
· End retail leakage;
· Develop a best-in-class global medical center; and
· Become the top North American destination for foreign investors, businesses and tourists.

These visions are tied to 52 specific and achievable initiatives. District businesses and universities will play a central role in working with city government to implement these initiatives.

The Gray Administration has been busy at work since January of 2011 making concerted efforts to chart the course to a better District of Columbia. Notable milestones include:

· Launching $2 billion in long-stalled development projects, creating 4,600 construction and 7,600 temporary jobs;

· Placing more than 5,000 D.C. residents in jobs at 800 companies through creative initiatives like One City ● One Hire;

· Completing master plans for St. Elizabeths and Walter Reed;

· Completing 1,428 units of affordable housing and breaking ground on 1,655 more affordable units;

· Establishing the D.C. China Center in Shanghai to promote international trade and investment; and

· Leveraging a newly created business development team to facilitate economic-development opportunities like the consolidation of LivingSocial’s headquarters in the District, attracting Fortify.vc’s business incubator (The Fort) and launching Hub DC to help local businesses acquire federal contracts.

A Strategy Advisory Group helped develop the Five-Year Economic Development Strategy. Advisory group members included local elected officials, District government agency directors, university presidents, and leading employers in seven target sectors: 1) Federal Government and Federal Government Contractors; 2) Higher Education and Health Care; 3) Hospitality; 4) Professional Services; 5) Real Estate and Construction; 6) Retail; and 7) Technology.

The Five-Year Economic Development Strategy is available to the public on the website of the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development.

Friday Question of the Day – What Retail Would You Like to See Come to CityCenter DC?

By Prince Of Petworth


City Center Rising Downtown at 9th-11th Street, NW

The huge CityCenter DC development on the site of the former Convention Center has been the subject of much speculation about who may or may not be going into the many available retail spaces. One of the biggest teases we’ve heard was the possibility of an Eataly (market place and restaurants.)

CityCenter DC’s Website says:

“Retail emphasis will focus on a broad range of distinctive restaurants and cafes, grocery/market foods, entertainment and performance venues, fashion and specialty retail, and neighborhood services. Thirty percent of retail space will be devoted to merchants with six or fewer stores in the United States.”

But last week a commenter felt strongly that:

“As for Apple, they probably won’t go to Union Station; however, they are going to City Center… They plan to open a flagship store at the corner of 11th and NY… Watch for this and more official announcements soon (think Top Shop, Uniqlo, etc.)”

So what would you rather see come to CityCenter – more restaurants including something on the scale of an Eataly or more fashion and specialty retail like an Apple store, Uniqlo etc.? In reality do you think this development can/will have a mix of both restaurants and specialty retail?

The New Anthony Bowen YMCA Looking Good at 14th and W St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user dullshick

dullshick snaps a great photo of the progress at 14th and W St, NW. From YMCA:

“This state-of-the-art mixed-use development in the vibrant U Street Corridor, will honor 160 years of impact while laying the foundation for the community’s future. The new 44,000 sq. ft. facility will feature a 6-lane indoor pool, 3 group exercise studios, a Wi-Fi café, a rooftop terrace, a youth development center, a demonstration kitchen and space for our life-changing wellness programs.”

Check out what it looked like in Jan. 2011 here.

And don’t forget a Sweetgreen and a Greek restaurant are coming here too.

Say Goodbye to the old Fidelty Storage Sign

By Prince Of Petworth

I’ve always loved this old Fidelity Storage sign touting 1000 indestructible rooms seen from 14th Street, NW just south of U Street. Well the cranes have gone in for the coming Louis at 14th development so not sure how much longer we’ll get to see it. Fortunately there is another sweet old sign closer to U street that should still be visible but it doesn’t mention the indestructible rooms. All will be forgiven when Trader Joe’s opens…

Dear PoPville – Anyone Know What’s Happening at 5th and R St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I believe it was an old car repair shop back in the day, but it has sat empty for a while now. Construction started on it a couple days ago… looks like they are knocking everything down to the ground and will be building back up. Do you know what is going in?”

Looks like it’ll be a development from Community Three:

“Community Three’s mission is to create value within communities through the successful development of underutilized real estate. Community Three seeks investments that, with the addition of relevant expertise, knowledge and skill, improve the fabric of the community while rewarding investors for their measured risk. Our company is committed to the timely evaluation of investment opportunities and mindful of its commitments to all stakeholders, with the ultimate goal of successfully implementing practical and innovative development solutions.”

Though no address is listed it looks like it might be called “four thirty five”.

Former “Goins Building” to be Redeveloped including a 4,000 Sq. Ft. Restaurant in Petworth

By Prince Of Petworth


Shepherd and Georgia Ave, NW

More great news for Petworth this week – I’m told the long vacant “Goins Building” at the corner of Shepherd and Georgia Ave, NW has been purchased and will be redeveloped along the same lines of the building that was redeveloped at 11th and Monroe St, NW currently home to condos up top and The Coupe in the retail space. I’m not sure if the residential units will be rentals or condos but I’ll share more info as soon as I get it. I’m especially looking forward to hearing about the retail space which I hear could become a 4,000 square foot restaurant.

Stay tuned!

Wonder Bread Factory Signs Jones Lang LaSalle to Lease Remaining Office Space – Retail Space Still to be Leased as Well

By Prince Of Petworth


641 S Street, NW

From a press release:

Douglas Development is pleased to announce the selection of Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) to lease the remaining 53,108 square feet of office space in the former Wonder Bread building, located at 641 S Street NW. Currently under construction, the building will deliver in the 1st quarter of 2013.

WorkSpaces, LLC, an office space and furniture consultancy, committed in March 2012 to become a tenant in the building, pre-leasing 20,817 square feet of office space on the third floor. JLL has been hired to lease the remaining office space.

The renovated Wonder Bread Factory building will feature loft-like office space, with industrial-style skylights and high ceilings, giving the building modern touches with a historical façade and feel. The renovated building will also feature 16,859 square feet of retail space on the ground floor, to be leased by Douglas Development.

Here’s what a reader saw inside the building back in 2009.


October 2012

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