This is the development right next door to Wisdom near the Potomac Ave metro. Do you like the way the building turned out?
Here’s how the corner looked in 2011:
Development
12th and Pennsylvania Ave, NW
From a press release:
“The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that in keeping with the agreement with the General Services Administration (GSA), the Trump Organization will have access to the Old Post Office (OPO) building beginning Saturday, May 31, and is expected to begin initial construction activities.
“The redevelopment of our Old Post Office building is on track, not only to tastefully transform the historic building into a unique hotel, but also to bring hundreds of jobs and millions in tax revenue to the District,” said Norton. “We have worked tirelessly for well more than a decade to get GSA to put the beautiful building to good use. The beginning of construction is the tangible reward for the city we have been working for.”
Norton said the lease is a win for the federal government, the District of Columbia and the Trump Organization. The deal requires a minimum base rent and a percentage of the revenue to go to the federal government. The District will receive $100 million in tax revenue over a 10-year period, and the project will yield 700 construction jobs and 300 permanent jobs.”
“Dear PoPville,
There are plans to tear down the historic St. Thomas parish and park (in Dupont) and replace them with a 7 story luxury condo building and a large new church. This has become quite a contentious issue in the neighborhood. I have attached the powerpoint document the developer presented at a town hall meeting, as well as a history compiled by Scott Royal.
History of St. Thomas’ Parish by Scott Royal
At the community meeting held Tuesday May 20th, the neighbors voiced their concerns about historic preservation, the loss of green space, and the fact that the proposed church building is large and out of character with the neighborhood. They also expressed concerns about traffic (the church plans to rent out it’s building for events, and possibly start a Montessori school).”
A change petition with 199 signatories says:
“Plans are currently being developed to tear down historic St. Thomas Parish and the park on 18th and Church St. and replace them with a major residential building and a large new church structure.
Many neighbors are concerned about this plan because of one or more of the following reasons:
– We believe in historic preservation, and want to protect a place where Presidents Roosevelt, Truman and Johnson worshiped.
– We support the preservation of green and open spaces, including the park on 18th and Church.
– We love the charm and uniqueness of the Dupont Circle neighborhood and believe this plan will negatively affect its character.
– We have serious concerns about the environmental impact on the neighborhood’s light and air quality.
– We have serious concerns about the traffic and parking on the neighborhood streets.
– We have serious concerns about the impact of the density, height, and mass abutting a residential neighborhood.
We need your help to urge the city government, church, developer and neighborhood to work together to explore a win-win solution for all that will include:
– Respect of historic preservation and the character of the neighborhood.
– Maintaining all or most of the park to preserve a cherished open space in the area.
– A low-impact design that will contribute, rather than detract from, the surrounding community.”
SALM reported on a more recent meeting:
“Original church plans had the proposed new church and the multi-story apartment building built all the way out to the property line on all sides of the property at the corner of 18th and Church Streets. The revised plan draws the design back a little, allowing a small stretch of green space in the front and side of the property, and more setback at the tops of both planned buildings.”
You can see the Church’s presentation from that meeting here.
Below is an updated rendering for the new design proposal from that presentation:
18th and Church St, NW today
1125 Spring Road, NW
Thanks to all who sent emails about the future of the old Hebrew Home on Spring Road:
“Please find below an invitation to voice your input directly to D.C. government officials regarding the proposal from D.C. General Services and D.C. Housing Authority to renovate the former Hebrew Home (1125 Spring Rd NW – large vacant historic building on Spring Street between 10th and 13th Streets. Next to Raymond Recreation Center and Education Campus) into 80-90 affordable/workforce housing units. Commissioner Galloway (Ward4C06) has arranged this meeting for the community to ensure all of us most directly impacted by this development can voice our suggestions, concerns, etc… directly to those considering a way forward (Thanks Commissioner Galloway!).
At the May 14th ANC Ward 4C meeting it was emphasized that the proposal is still in the very early phases, and thus our input could absolutely make a difference in the direction of the project. Some community members voiced concern that the original proposal of converting the building into senior housing was no longer on the table to which the D.C. General Services representative offered that it doesn’t necessarily have to be off the table. The point being that it’s a great time to give your thoughts on how D.C. should move forward with this property. I hope you can join. Please share with others who will be impacted by this development.”
Other readers send:
“Residents are invited to meet with representatives from the District’s Department of General Services and DC Housing Authority to discuss the development of the properties (The Hebrew Home for the Aged and the Child and Family Services Agency) located at 1125 Spring Road, N.W.
Options are senior housing, mixed-use development, affordable housing, Veterans housing.
Come out and express your concerns.
Meeting Location:
Petworth Library 4200 Kansas Ave. NW Washington, DC 20011
Date / Time: June 17, 2014 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Vann-Di M. Galloway, DTM
Commissioner, Single Member District 4C06″
1736 14th Street, NW
Ed. Note: This is the former home to Point Chaud Cafe and Crepes and the first location of Redeem boutique. This is also right next door to the new development at 1728 14th Street, NW whose retail space will be home to a West Elm.
From a press release:
“UIP General Contracting, Inc. is pleased to announce that the firm has been selected by owner/landlord Perseus Realty, LLC to complete a 12,500 square foot adaptive reuse, addition, and tenant fit-out for the new location of Logan Hardware on 14th Street, NW in Washington, DC.
Nearly 4,000 square feet of new indoor and outdoor retail space will be added to two existing historic DC rowhomes to serve as the hardware store’s new location at 1734-36 14th Street. UIPGC will add new structural, mechanical, and conveying systems while maintaining and preserving the existing masonry façade. Logan Hardware will occupy all 12,500 SF of the project upon completion, a significant increase from its current 6,500 SF space at 1416 P Street, NW.”
1st and R Street, SW
From a press release:
“Mayor Vincent C. Gray announced that the District has reached final business terms with Major League Soccer’s D.C. United for a new 20-25,000-seat stadium in the Buzzard Point neighborhood of Southwest Washington, D.C. The legislation was delivered to the D.C. Council for approval. The District now controls approximately 88 percent of the proposed site and has also brokered an agreement in principle for acquisition of the final parcels for full possession of the required land for the stadium.
“This is a major step forward for economic development in the District of Columbia,” said Mayor Gray. “The new soccer stadium will be the connector between developing areas around our baseball stadium and the new Wharf development along our Southwest Waterfront. The new soccer stadium is the final catalyst for what is certain to become one of the most vibrant and sustainable sports and retail districts in America.”
Last July, Mayor Gray and D.C. United announced a preliminary term sheet for a unique public-private partnership with Akridge, a real estate development firm, and PEPCO, the regional electric utility that includes a series of land transactions to support the approximately $300 million project. The development of the new soccer stadium at Buzzard Point provides an opportunity to leverage the District’s investment in Nationals Park and the South Capitol Street Bridge to transform an undeveloped and underused area into a vibrant and environmentally friendly new waterfront neighborhood.
Frank D. Reeves Center at 14th and U Street, NW
By exchanging the Frank D. Reeves Center of Municipal Affairs with Akridge for a majority of the stadium site, this asset will be used to support the project while creating a new source of tax revenue. The plan also calls for current Reeves Center tenants as well as District agencies in leased space to relocate to a “new Reeves” municipal facility in Anacostia near the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue and Good Hope Road SE. (more…)
1900 Vermont Ave, NW
From vacant lot in 2010 to this today. I’m going thumbs up. Do you like the way they turned out?
In 2010:
1401 New York Avenue, NE via @MOMsOrganicMrkt
“Dear PoPville,
I was in the Alexandria MOM’s Organic Market a couple of days ago. The pretty dated strip mall where they’re located is renovating, and eventually MOM’s will be relocated to a new adjacent building. Still not completely clear on the details, but we started talking about other future locations.
They said they’ll also have a store near Union Market in an old Sears building – I think they meant Hechts. MOMs has a FB entry on the January groundbreaking and tells a commenter they’ll be open in the fall.”
Last Thursday they tweeted the rendering pictured above:
“Can’t believe this is happening! Can’t wait! @douglasdevdc #DCMOMs #NYAve #IvyCity #Hechts”
Another reader sends some photos of how the site looks today:
Douglas Development’s website says:
“This property was originally built in 1937 and expanded in 1948 as the central warehouse for the Hecht’s Company Department Stores. The six story building was constructed in a Streamline Modern style featuring glass block extensively, culminating in a twelve-point star shaped cupola at the corner that is illuminated at night. Douglas Development purchased the building in 2011 and is currently redeveloping the property into mixed-use retail and office complex. Construction has began on a new seven story attached garage with 900+ parking spaces.
The new Hecht’s Warehouse District will be a dynamic mixed used development featuring shopping, dining and offices.”
Thanks to all who sent emails:
“I just walked past some new construction on Chapin Street, N.W. (just off of 14th behind View 14th). There’s a long-time vacant lot there that’s being turned into condos. I asked some of the guys what was going to be built and they pointed me to an older man who said condos. I asked how many and he said 40 condos.”
Another reader adds:
“My boyfriend and I asked them what was getting built and they said, “a 6-story condo building”.”
“Dear PoPville,
Any idea what’s going in on the southest corner of Sherman and Harvard, across from the liquor store and the gas station? The way they’ve made a patio and put in a little fence, it looks like they might be making a sidewalk cafe (wishful thinking?)… There are permits in the windows, but up a bit too high for the casual passerby to see what’s up!”
Ed. Note: We’ve been monitoring progress here since 2010 – still progressing! Before 2010, this is the space that used to be Coco Libre and Nani Kafe before that. Looking forward to seeing who’s next.
