Development

Hine Redevelopment Proposals by Nichole

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Mark Borden

With Eastern Market having its grand reopening this weekend, the next big thing for 7th and Pennsylvania SE is the redevelopment of the Hine Jr. High site. This is going to change the face of Eastern Market and Capitol Hill as we know it, and go a long way to the unification of Eastern Market and Barracks Row. DCPS closed Hine and the city will be leasing the property to the developer in a 99-year agreement.

The crop of proposals for the site was recently whittled to four, and the four developers have all been doing their best to inform and woo the neighbors.

I’m not an urban planning expert. I took one urban planning class in undergrad, and though I think I got a B, that was 15 years ago, and I don’t understand a lot of the terms that get thrown around in these discussions. (Particularly the really intense ones over at Greater Greater Washington – I love those guys, but I don’t know what the hell they’re talking about half the time!) So, with that caveat, here are my very brief overviews (with some help from GGW, EMCCA, the CityPaper, The Hill is Home, and CHAMPS) of the 4 plans.
 Continues after the jump (more…)

Coming to 1300 Block of L Street, NW – Pizza Autentica and NYU

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to a reader for sending the news. The reader hears Pizza Autentica, located at 1331 L Street, NW, will open in around a month or so. Anyone ever hear of Pizza Autentica before?

The reader also writes that on the same block:

“NYU plans to build its first

DC Office of Planning Seeks Your Help To Create a Vision and Revitalization Plan for Mt Pleasant St

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Yonas Hassen

First we learn the Raven was getting renovated and now this! In various posts here I’ve read a number of comments from readers expressing their frustration over the slow development on Mt. Pleasant Street so hopefully this will provide a useful outlet. If you can’t make the workshop Wed. night please leave your ideas in the comments section and I’ll be sure to forward to the folks from the Office of Planning. If you can attend the event I’m told – “this is NOT a meeting, but an open house where folks can drop in and give their opinions and ideas on how to improve Mount Pleasant Street.”

So how would you improve Mt Pleasant Street?

From a press release:

On Wednesday, June 17, 2009, the DC Office of Planning will hold a public workshop in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood of Ward 1. The purpose of the workshop is to obtain community input on revitalization and development priorities for the Mount Pleasant Street commercial corridor in order to shape a revitalization plan.

The workshop will be an open house and participants may drop in any time from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm to give their input on various topics to include:

* Mount Pleasant Street Physical Enhancements
* Development Opportunity Sites
* New Economic Development (new businesses, retail)
* Assistance for Existing Small Businesses
* Promotion of Unique Neighborhood Character

The study area for the planning initiative includes Mount Pleasant Street from Park Road to the north down to Hobart Street to the south, as well as Lamont Street, Park Road and Irving Street from 16th Street to Mount Pleasant Street.

Mount Pleasant Street Revitalization Open House-Style Workshop
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
6:30 – 8:30 PM
Bell Multi-Cultural School
3101 16th Street, NW (Cafeteria)
Se traducira en espanol

Bell Multi-Cultural School is located two blocks west of the Columbia Heights Metrorail Station (Green Line) and is on the S1, S2, S4, H8 and 42 bus lines.

Dear PoP – What’s Going on At the old School at Sherman and Kenyon

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

They’ve been renovating that old school building at Sherman and Kenyon for a while now. Any idea what they’re turning it into?”

This is going to be the new home of the Cesar Chavez Public Charter School. We looked at it back in January. At the time the Principal, Andrew Touchette, wrote:

“it is still our plan to occupy the building in early August. Our students (about 230 in grades 6, 7 and 8) begin school on Monday, August 24.”

When I walked by this past weekend, the scaffolding was new to me and I saw workers inside. Think they’ll be done by Aug. 24th?

Long View Gallery Moving To 1234 Ninth Street, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

A few weeks ago I wrote about the For Lease sign in the current location of Long View Gallery at 1302 9th Street, NW. They will be moving to a spot that sorely needs a renovation:

Thanks to Renewshaw for letting me use the photos and renderings from architect, Will Couch. Renewshaw broke the news first. I’ll be touring the space as constructions proceeds. Here’s what the inside will look like:

It’s great to see this section of 9th Street, NW get some love. After the jump you can find the full press release. (more…)

Property at 13th and W Streets, NW Sold But Not Becoming A Bodega

By Prince Of Petworth

A couple of weeks ago I noticed that the property that has been forever boarded up at 13th and W was finally under contract. Well, now it has sold and there’s lots of work going on inside. I asked the workers if it was going to become a bodega or some other retail. Nope, it’s going to become a single family home. I’m just glad it’s not going to be a boarded up eyesore any longer.

What The Helen of Troy Will This Be?

By Prince Of Petworth

There is a huge hole in the middle of the city near the George Washington University campus. I mean it is huge. I’m dying to know what it’s slated to become. You can’t miss it but you’ll find it at the corner of 23rd and I Streets, NW. Anyone know what the story is here?

Updated from Wikipedia:

“Square 54 Redevelopment is a complex of high-rise buildings located in Washington, D.C., United States. The complex will serve as mixed-use, two buildings will be used for residential use, while the third building will serve as an office-building. The complex will be completed with three buildings, Square 54 Residential I, Square 54 Residential II, and Square 54 Office. Square 54 Residential I is expected to rise 48 metres (160 ft), featuring 14 floors.[1][2] Square 54 Residential II is expected to rise 44 metres (140 ft), featuring 12 floors.[3][4] Finally, Square 54 Office, is expected to rise 45 metres (150 ft), featuring 11 floors.[5][6] Construction of every building will be completed in 2010. Each building will be designed by the architect, Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects.”

Dear PoP – Row Houses Finally Getting Rehabbed

By Prince Of Petworth

“Hey PoP,

Just a little info that really got me excited…you know the row homes next to the Floridian and 9:30 club, at that crazy intersection of 9th, Florida, and Vermont? Well, if you’ve never noticed them, they have been an eyesore for many years apparently. They are owned by Howard University and were all boarded up and abandoned. This was truly a sad thing since the neighbors all around have really been trying to beautify the area by doing things like planting flowers and trees all along the median on Vermont. Well, a few days ago, I noticed they have FINALLY begun to renovate them! They’ve installed new windows and have changed the old faded red paint to a crisp cream color….with a contrasting trim no less! Looks great. I don’t know what they are doing with the houses yet – maybe admin buildings or even homes – but at least they’ve finally done something to spruce up our neighborhood.”

Very cool!

Something Finally Coming to 13th and W St, nW and Extended Hours at Cork?

By Prince Of Petworth

I’ve been super curious about the building at the corner of 13th and W. It has been fenced up for a while but I’ve finally seen a for sale sign that now says under contract. I suppose it’s likely to become a bodega. It’ll be great to get that eyesore fixed up.

And it looks like you will soon be able to get your wine on for another hour in the near future. The petition says, from Mon.-Wed. they’ll be applying to stay open until 1am instead of 12am and from Thurs.-Sun. they’ll be staying open until 2am from 1am. Nice.

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