Development

Huge Project, including new hotel, Coming next to Nationals Park

By Prince Of Petworth


Rendering via Grosvenor Americas

From a press release:

Grosvenor Americas (GA) and Skanska USA Commercial Development Inc. today announced plans for a mixed-use project of more than 650,000 square feet directly north of the new Washington Nationals ballpark in the Capitol Riverfront district of Washington, DC.

The site, which offers direct access to Metrorail’s Navy Yard station, comprises the eastern half of Square 701, bounded by N Street, SE to the south, M Street on the north, 1st Street on the east, and Cushing Place on the west.

On October 1, 2012, the Washington, DC Zoning Commission supported plans with minor modifications for this mixed-use development in conformance with the District’s Capitol Gateway Overlay District. Final approval is expected later in the month. On September 10, the project received support from Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D. The plans allow:

· A 224,000 SF Class A office building, to be developed by Skanska on the northern end of the site fronting M Street. This building, with direct access to the Metro station, is designed to meet the criteria for LEED Platinum certification and include 11,000 SF of ground-level retail space, a green roof, rooftop terrace, and below-grade parking for over 140 cars.

· A 170-key hotel, to be developed by GA directly south of the office building fronting 1st Street.

· Two residential buildings with 285 units, 23 of which are designated affordable dwelling units. The two structures, to be developed by GA, would be separated by a courtyard and connected by a trellised glass bridge. This new community would feature a green roof as well as a rooftop pool, spa, and garden terrace. It would provide approximately 180 below-grade parking spaces

· 43,000 square feet of retail space on the ground level of the office, hotel, and residential buildings, as well as in a separate two-level structure to be developed by GA on the corner of 1st and N Streets.

Old KFC Demoed at 15th and Pennsylvania Ave, SE Will Become Two Story Office Building

By Prince Of Petworth


1442 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE

Thanks to a reader for sending photos from the corner of 15th and Pennsylvania Ave, SE next to Wisdom. From ANC6B09 Rep Brian Flahaven:

Douglas Development plans to begin demolition of the building on Tues., Sept. 25 and start construction on a new building in the next 2-3 months. Instead of the four-story mixed-use retail/residential building reviewed by ANC 6B in 2011, Douglas plans to build a two-story retail/office building.

Rendering and more info here

Sierra Club Opposes McMillan Development Plan

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user hellomarkers!

We last spoke about the development plans and saw lots of photos for the McMillan Sand Filtration Site here [Located on the north by Michigan Avenue, on the east by North Capitol Street, on the south by Channing Street and on the west by First Street].

From a press release:

The DC Chapter of the Sierra Club has come out against the current development plan proposed for the McMillan Park Reservoir site. In its letter to the Historic Preservation Review Board, the Club asks the HPRB to “reject the currently-proposed master plan” because it contains far too little contiguous public park space.

“The present design plans do too little to preserve the parklike characteristics that dominate the present space,” Jim Dougherty, the Club’s Conservation Chair, tells the HPRB. “A more balanced plan for the McMillan Park site would devote half or more of the surface to contiguous park and park-like use.”

The local Sierra Club thus joins Howard University, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1B, and community groups representing Bloomingdale, Pleasant Plains, and Stronghold in opposition to the current plan.

Full Text of the Sierra Club Letter:

On behalf of the Sierra Club and its 2,500 members living in the District of Columbia, I write to express our concerns regarding the proposed master plan and design guidelines for development of the McMillan Park and Sand Filtration Site.

In our view, the present design plans do too little to preserve the parklike characteristics that dominate the present space. Though the site has, regrettably, been fenced off over the past decades, its vast green vistas have always given us hope that the inevitable commercial development plans would honor that tradition and provide nearby neighborhoods with the myriad blessings of accessible parkland. A more balanced plan for the McMillan Park site would devote half or more of the surface to contiguous park and park-like use. Further, this park space should be unfenced and thus available for the use and enjoyment of all of the City’s residents and visitors.

The Sierra Club therefore asks that the Board reject the currently-proposed master plan and insist on the submission of creative alternative plans that achieve a better balance of commercialization and parkland preservation.

Front Half of “Slum Historique” Building Now Transformed Too!

By Prince Of Petworth


9th and Rhode Island Ave, NW

Back in July we noted the transformation of the back half of the former “Slum Historique” building at 9th and Q St, NW. Now the front half at 9th and Rhode Island, Ave is looking equally as nice. Looks like it’ll be 2 apartments upstairs plus retail space on the first floor. Looking forward to seeing who takes the retail space. I can’t believe how great this corner now looks. Amazing.

Buildings Rising at 8th and P St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Back in April 2011 we learned of the development coming to the vacant lot at 8th and P St, NW. From the developers website:

751 P Street NW consists of twelve new construction 2 BR / 2-2.5 BA boutique condominiums. This new construction building is designed to look like a row of six townhomes that blend in well to the historic Shaw neighborhood of Northwest Washington DC. The construction of this project coincides with the revitalization plans of the Shaw neighborhood to include the CityMarket at O Street, which includes 87,000 square feet of retail and a colossal new Giant Food Store. Just 4 blocks to both Shaw and Mt. Vernon Square metros.

The Avenue at Park Morton Grand Opening on Friday, September 21

By Prince Of Petworth


Georgia and Newton Pl, NW

From a press release:

The Avenue at Park Morton will celebrate its grand opening with a ceremony and reception on Friday, September, 21 from 12:30pm – 2:30pm. The Avenue is located at 3506 Georgia Avenue, NW.

The Avenue is a new, 83-unit mixed-use community designed as the first phase of the Park Morton New Communities Initiative. A 100% affordable rental building, the Avenue includes a mix of 1 and 2-BR units, amenity spaces such as meeting rooms, lounge, fitness center, underground parking, and ground floor retail. The Avenue is an energy-efficient and sustainably designed development and is targeting certification through the Enterprise Green Communities program.

Remember the Newton Variety Mart and Car Wash? See what it looked like in Feb. 2011 and a heartbreaking reward poster from that time here.

For the record, I think the building looks fantastic. Do you like the way it turned out?

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