Thanks to a reader for the heads up on the work going on at 3543 Georgia Ave. across from the EL Haynes charter school. Sadly, there was a bit of a language barrier in my brief chat with the workers out front. They did however confirm that a restaurant was going in. When I asked what type they said American but I’ll be sure to follow up when they open. And in nearby news it was nice to see the new Senior Center rising a half block to the south at Georgia and Newton:
Yesterday a reader asked in the before and after photos of 14th Street what was happening with the old Nehemiah Shopping Center land (on west side of 14th Street north of Florida Ave and the Solea). Well, above is a rendering I was able to get from Level 2 Development. The information given was that construction is expected to begin in Fall 2010. It is now owned by the firm UDR. There will be 240,000 square feet of which 16,000 will be retail and the rest will be 225 apartments. I will update info on the project as more details emerge.
“Dear PoP,
I was over in Wesley Heights recently and noticed some construction going on in front of the New Mexico Ave Chef Geoffs. In the same complex there used to be a market. I can’t recall the name now but it was a chain and a few area locations closed. I’ve heard a couple rumors that space will become a Trader Joes but can’t find any mention of it anywhere. Wondering if its true a trader joes is going in there, and what the construction going on is, and if it’s related. It looks like the outdoor seating in front of chef geoffs is getting dug out.”
I stopped by Chef Geoff’s at 3201 New Mexico Ave., NW on Sunday, by the by they had some great live music going on, to ask if they had heard anything. They told me they had heard a number of rumors that a bookstore was coming or possibly American University administrative offices. They never heard anything about a Trader Joes going in. I’ll inquire with Trade Joes but I’ve found grocery stores never confirm rumors even if they are true. Seeing it in person though, I doubt there’d be enough parking for a Trader Joes. If I were a betting man, I’d think AU admin offices would be a much more likely tenant. I’ll be sure to update as more info becomes available. Chef Geoff’s did however say that they will continue to have outdoor seating, which is seasonal, out front. They expect all the construction to be completed by the spring.
Wow, there are tons of plans in the works. The question as always is when they will begin. You can see the locations and renderings here. I’ll be sure to update as these projects move along.
Ed. Note: This is one of my favorite homes in Brookland… But this is exciting news!
Thanks to a reader for send this Post article – Abdo Sets Sights on Revival in Brookland:
“Abdo’s plan includes a public square and clock tower that would be similar to piazzas in Europe with cobblestones, cafes and restaurants; an arts walk that would provide artists’ work space; an arts building that would offer room for recitals and artists’ demonstrations; and a college main street that would be filled with eclectic mom-and-pop shops.”
Sounds awesome, yeah? Read the full story here.
Details from Park View ANC Rep Cliff Valenti:
“Good news! The Park Morton redevelopment contract was awarded to Landex. Even better news is that they are purchasing the property on Georgia Avenue currently owned by Central Union Mission. This frees the mission up to pursue the Gale School on Mass Avenue for an emergency shelter, and they will no longer be land owners at 3506-3512 Georgia Avenue. We really owe Councilman Graham and Mayor Fenty a round of applause on this. Back in June after Landex, Neighborhood Dev. Corp, and Penrose presented their plans to ANC1A I thought they had the second best deal (I preferred NDC only because it was 50/50 owner/renter), but I think with some of the modifications they have made to the plan sense then Landex really is the best option for the neighborhood. The following are my notes about Landex from the ANC1A meeting back in June:
Landex building design looks great, and they are proposing a 9,000 square foot park at the center of the development. I loved their economic model of 30% low income, 35% work force, and 35% market rate income levels for housing, I do not like that they are developing 100% of the units as rental.
If I understand this correctly, all of the above still applies but 30% of the units built will be owner occupied. Additionally, the 499 units to be built does not include the property they are acquiring from Central Union Mission.”
A rendering can be seen at DC mud. Thanks to all who sent me emails about this. Totally wild. Remember the discussions we had about the Central Union Mission here and here? Nevermind. How do the Landex plans sound?
Press release from Mayor Fenty after the jump. (more…)
It was great fun looking at the changes in Columbia Heights from 2002 to today. Another kind reader, the Shah of Shaw, sent in some great photos of the U Street area from 2004. I have to say it’s equally wild. Above is a photo of the Beauregard building located at 11th and V Streets, NW. Here’s what the area looked like in 2004:
After the jump you can see what the PNHoffman building, Union Row, looked like on 14th and V from 2004. (more…)
Thanks to a reader for sending a new birdseye look at the plaza. We’ve been following this development closely, and whatever frustration and/or delay there has been I think most of us can agree that it came out great and is certainly a fantastic addition to the neighborhood. Even the solar trees can look awesome:
Photo by Barbara Krawcowicz
It can be hard to imagine this happening 10 years ago. I was lucky enough to have a reader send some photos from 7 years ago. I don’t think anyone can deny that this is progress:
Lots more photos of the area from 7 years ago after the jump. (more…)
“Dear PoP,
You may already have an idea about what’s going in on that huge lot along 14th that used to be a strip mall, but if not, for the first time, I’ve just seen guys with blueprints wandering the area, clearing scouting the site and, actually, talking about the rest of the block from what I could hear.”
Demolition began back in Nov. ’08 so this it’s great to finally hear some progress is on the horizon. Note the big shell in the back of the photo is no longer standing.
The great publication DC North has some great articles this month. But one that really jumped out at me was their scoop on the U Street Flea Market, located at 9th and U, development plans. They report:
“Per an application for Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits filed with the District’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) in July, the Jazz will bring some 153,770 square feet of new apartments and retail to the current site of Shaw’s U Street Flea Market. In total, WMATA owns three separate properties between Seventh and Ninth streets on the north side of Florida Avenue, totaling nearly 29,000 square feet, above the Green Line tunnel linking the Howard-Shaw and U Street-Cardozo stations.”
Sadly, the online version doesn’t have a photo of the rendering so be sure to pick up a paper copy outside the metro for that.
This section of U Street is on fire. First we learned of Dickson Wine Bar coming to 903 U Street, then we recently learned about the the tavern coming to the corner of 9th and U with rumors of Marvin/Gibson involvement. And now this.
I suspect some folks may miss the Flea Market. Even though I almost got my ass kicked for taking photos there, I do kinda dig it and it does seem to be a popular spot. The DC North article also says that there will be “three public, open-air plazas along Eight Street, Ninth Street and Florida Avenue” so perhaps those plazas can absorb some of the market.
Dig the plans?