These are the condos coming next to AYT Auto and Miss Pixie’s at the corner of 14th and R St, NW. These luxury condos will be going for “$300s-$1.1M”.
What do you think of the rendering – thumbs up or down?
Development
Last week the Washington Post reported:
“Living Social continues to rapidly expand and consume new office space in the District to accommodate that growth.
The online coupon company plans to lease 1005-1011 7th Street NW, a historic property across the street from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center commonly referred to as the Acme Stove Building, owned by Douglas Development.”
Walking by last weekend I was surprised to see the building completely covered as work had already begun.
Rendering courtesy of Roadside Development
From a press release:
“Roadside Development , the community-focused Washington, D.C.-based real estate development firm, along with Mayor Vincent Gray, Acting Assistant HUD secretary and Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Commissioner Carol Galante, and District of Columbia Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, will officially commemorate the commencement of work on CityMarket at O, a one-million square-foot mixed-use development in the historic Shaw neighborhood at 7 th and O streets NW on Friday, November 18 th at 10 am.
The development project, a landmark project for Housing Urban Development (HUD), is the only mixed-use development (and non-infrastructure project) to be fast-tracked for funding by the Obama administration. A key component in the revitalization of the Shaw neighborhood, CityMarket at O will boast 635 residential units, 84 of which are set aside for seniors which will also be affordable, 401 market-rate apartments, and 150 high-end condominiums.
The event will include a dramatic start of construction: the demolition of one of the walls of the former Giant grocery store. This project will include the restoration of the historic 1881 O Street Market Building. Like Eastern Market in Capitol Hill, the building was one of the five original brick market buildings in Washington. 1881 O Street will be restored to house a flagship 72,000-square-foot Giant Food supermarket. The development will also include retail and restaurants, a 182-room Cambria Suites hotel, over 500 vehicle parking spaces, 300+ indoor bike parking stalls, and a 270-linear-foot rooftop dog park.
CityMarket at O is estimated to bring 1,000 new residents to the Shaw neighborhood. Over 2400 jobs will be created, from construction jobs to factory jobs and permanent jobs on site. This does not include jobs that will be generated by the local economic activity brought to the Shaw community by CityMarket at O.
Construction on the Giant Food supermarket is slated to be complete Summer 2013. The 182-room hotel and 401 units of market rate rental housing will open in early fall 2013. Completing the project, the 84-unit affordable senior housing building and 150-unit condominium will be delivered in fall 2014.”
We last spoke about the O Street Market here.
Photo of Butcher at original O St Market, courtesy of Roadside Development
14th and Wallach Place NW
Well, yesterday was a confusing day for Post Office news. First Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton sent out a press release saying there would be no closures:
“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) has confirmed that there are no current plans to shut down any D.C. post offices. Norton contacted the U.S. Postal Service after being informed that District residents had heard that two post offices would close in December.”
Then later in the evening CM Graham wrote:
“I am advised by the employees at the “T Street Post Office” (14th and Wallach Place NW) that operations will close on December 31st of this year. They have also been told that there is no plan to open a new post office location.
If this is in fact the case, it is a serious blow to Ward 1 postal services. As we all know, “T Street” is typically jammed with people, as is the much smaller operation at Kalorama and 18th St. The Temple Heights office at 1921 Florida Avenue is also very busy..
Losing “T Street” or any of those facilities will have an adverse impact to be sure.
Development is planned for that site and the USPS lease is expiring. But the new construction could have included a post office and, obviously, another site could still be found.
I have today contacted DC Postmaster Roane requesting confirmation that the “T Street” postal facility will be relocated, and can thus be counted on to serve our residents. I support Congresswoman Norton’s position that neighborhood post offices should not be reduced.
Please email the DC Postmaster and his assistant at these addresses:
[email protected]
Postmaster of the District of ColumbiaAnd his assistant
[email protected]Bests, Councilmember Jim Graham”
I asked both offices to reconcile the conflicting info and CM Graham writes:
“The building in which “T Street” is located is about to be demolished and developed. I have spoken to both USPS employees there, and the developer, and—as relevant to them– they all confirm that there are no apparent plans to either include “T Street” in the new building or to find another location.
Since all of this is about to happen very soon, if there is no concern, then USPS should announce the new location or the plans for a new location.”
Rep. Norton’s office writes:
“We were referring to post office closures as a result of the U.S. Postal Service’s nationwide study to determine which, if any, post offices should be shut down. Our office has confirmed with the USPS that the lease for the “T Street Post Office” expires at end of February 2012, but that the post office is not on the USPS list of postal facilities to study for closure. The Congresswoman continues in her view that District residents must have convenient access to postal services. Because the “T Street Post Office” is not on the list of possible closures, she will insist that the USPS finds a new location in the neighborhood before the lease expires so residents are properly served without interruption.”
So there it is – certainly seems like the T Street Station will be closing. Though to be honest, it’s not clear to me, how many tears will be shed for that particular Post Office…
Do you think a new location should be found for the T Street Station?
“Dear PoPville,
When I walked past this building at the corner of 12th and S sts NW today I noticed they had recently done a lot of work. Wasn’t this going to be a deli or something? Do you know anything about it?”
Back in May ’10 we heard a deli could be coming to the space at 12th and S St, NW. Anyone live nearby – know what’s going on? Who’s coming?
Back in Feb. ’10 this lot/playground was the subject of a What the Helen of Troy is This? post. It is located at 910 S St, NW. I’m psyched to see it will be part of a government auction on Nov. 10th. You can see a list of all the properties to be included in the auction here. Hipchickindc explained a previous year’s government auction to us here.
It’ll be great to see this old lot finally get some love.
With Taco Bell and her other neighbors closing over the summer we knew Chidogo’s days were numbered at 14th and U St, NW (home of the old Seafood & Crab takeout.)
Chidogo’s opened up back in Nov. ’10 to mixed reviews. As for why they completed a significant renovation to be open for only a year – that is not entirely clear. My guess is that they wanted to get their name out and introduce folks to the brand but that’s just a guess.
So, for the fans fear not – Chidogo’s will be opening locations in College Park and National Harbor. I’m also told that when the new development from JBG is completed – they may return to one of the retail spaces.
Those who’ve walked south on 14th St, NW past the former Taco Bell space have likely noticed the wrapping on the windows (see above.) You may have heard of this development referred to as the Utopia project. It is no longer being called the Utopia project but it is still being developed by JBG. I’m told that demolition of the former Taco Bell and other spaces will commence in December. Stay tuned for more details on the project including the residential spaces as well as any new retailers who sign leases.
I was finally able to get a look inside the new building, The Griffin, located at the corner of Georgia and Quincy Ave, NW by the Petworth metro. Last we heard the whole building was for sale but it’s looking like it could become rentals sooner rather than later. I’ll update with prices when they become available. Anyway, thought folks would like to see how the units came out:
Lobby
Lots more photos after the jump. (more…)
It’s become a complete skeleton. See what it looked like in April ’11 here. And today below -totally wild:
More info on retail and restaurants coming to the space here.
