Downtown

Franklin Park to be Transformed Downtown, Public Meeting October 2

By Prince Of Petworth

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From DC Office of Planning:

“The DC Office of Planning (OP) in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), the District Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), and the Downtown Business Improvement District (Downtown BID) announced today the launch of a collaborative comprehensive planning process to revitalize Franklin Park. At 4.79 acres, it is one of the largest parks in downtown Washington, DC.

Franklin Park is located between K and I Streets, NW and 13th and 14th Streets, NW in downtown Washington, DC and is owned by NPS. The park sits within the rapidly growing neighborhood of Center City DC that has seen a 31.6% increase in population over the last 10 years. Currently the park does not meet the diverse needs of neighborhood residents, workers or visitors; however, there is the potential to transform Franklin Park into one of our nation’s premier urban parks. To realize this dramatic transformation, OP and its partners will investigate options for increasing recreational opportunities, adding services such as food and restrooms, increasing events and programs, restoring historic resources, incorporating sustainable and ecologically sensitive materials and practices, enhancing surrounding streetscape and transportation connections, and using a public/private partnership to oversee the long-term maintenance and management of the park. (more…)

From the Events Calendar – Veils and Words: Iranian Women Poets of the 20th Century with Dr. Farzaneh Milani

By Prince Of Petworth

Veils and Words: Iranian Women Poets of the 20th Century with Dr. Farzaneh Milani:

“September 10 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
901 G Street NW
Free

Professor of Persian Literature, Dr. Milani, explores the work of three great Iranian women poets.”

Ed. Note: You can see all events here and you can schedule your own event listing here.

The Apartments at CityCenter Will have 92 Affordable Rentals, Deadline to Apply Extended to Aug. 28th

By Prince Of Petworth

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Rendering courtesy Hines

“Hines, the developer of CityCenterDC, has begun the outreach process for the 92 affordable rental homes at The Apartments at CityCenter. The apartments are available to applicants making less than 60% or 80% of Area Median Income and residents will be selected through a lottery to be drawn in September 2013. In addition to income requirements, eligibility is based on household size, rental history, credit reports and background screening. The application deadline of August 21, 2013 has been extended to August 28, 2013 to accommodate the strong interest in the apartments. Manna, Inc. is serving as adviser to the developer in this effort. To obtain an application, please visit www.CityCenterDC.com/CommunityBenefits or call Manna at (202) 534-1068.

We are proud to offer a select number of affordable homes for rent at The Apartments at CityCenter that provide a new, quality housing opportunity to the community,” said Jason Jacobson, managing director of Hines. “This is a special chance to live in the heart of Downtown D.C. while enjoying all the development has to offer.”

The apartments range in size from studios to one- and two-bedrooms and will offer large windows, spacious layouts and open kitchens. With restaurants, shops, major employers and Metro rail stops within a short walk, The Apartments at CityCenter will set a new standard for urban living in D.C.

The 366 Market Rate apartments will be available for lease in the fall and managed by Bozzuto Management Company. For more information, please visit www.citycenterdc.com.

The Apartments at CityCenter are one of five major components of CityCenterDC (www.citycenterdc.com). The mixed-use development also includes 216 luxury condominium residences, 520,000-square feet of Class A office space, and more than 60 shops and restaurants, in properties designed by internationally renowned architects Foster + Partners and the D.C.-based Shalom Baranes Associates. In addition, CityCenterDC will also feature a 370-room hotel.

“If your annual income is between $36,000 – $94,424, you may qualify for special pricing on select units. (see brochure below)”

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Dunkin Donuts Opening at 1210 G St, NW on Thursday – Jimmy John’s Coming Next Door

By Prince Of Petworth

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1210 G Street, NW

Back in July we learned that a new Dunkin Donuts was coming to 12th and G St, NW. I stopped by yesterday and was told, permits permitting, they should open this Thursday. And coming to the retail space next door, the downtown BID reports it will be a Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwich Shop. Updates when they get closer to opening.

Jimmy John’s opened their first two DC stores at 14th and L St, NW and 1717 Pennsylvania Ave, NW. They also have plans to open one in Glover Park at 2428 Wisconsin Ave, NW.

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Future Jimmy John’s

Update on M Street Cycle Track

By Prince Of Petworth

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M Street, NW between 15th and 16th

Last week we learned the M Street Cycle Track would finally get installed in October. A few readers have wrote in asking if we could discuss the controversy surrounding the gap in front of the AME Metropolitan Church between 15th and 16th St, NW. WAMU reported:

“The church complained the original design for a cycle track separated from traffic with bollards would eliminate much-needed parking as well as a travel lane for vehicles attempting to get to the church for any of its well-attended events. The new design restores the parking spaces and travel lane by removing protective bollards from the cycle track, turning it into a regular bike lane adjacent to traffic.”

Greater Greater Washington spoke with DDOT official Sam Zimbabwe and analyzes the situation and DDOT decision in great detail:

“Certainly DDOT could also have pushed to remove parking instead. Zimbabwe explained that the church was initially entirely opposed to any sort of bike lane, and by engaging with church leaders and members over the last few months, that position has softened. Plus, any bike lane is today just an abstract notion; when a real bike lane is in the ground, Zimbabwe thinks all parties may think a little differently about the issue.”

Custom Fuel Pizza Opening at 1747 Pennsylvania Ave, NW on Tuesday

By Prince Of Petworth

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1747 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Good news for pizza fans near the Whitehouse – Custom Fuel Pizza opens up on Tuesday. I stopped by for a taste and I can vouch that Brooklyn Bridge (full menu after the jump) was delicious:

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Custom Fuel is a bit different from Fuel’s current locations as it sounds, these pizzas are totally custom – think Chipotle/Potbelly ordering style. This will be their first location rolling out the Custom brand. And as we learned earlier in the month – you’ll be able to order beer here as well.

And in other good news – the plans for 2301 Georgia Ave, NW are still on track and that location will open in about 12 weeks. The Georgia Ave Fuel will not be a Custom but will resemble the Fuel restaurants in Chinatown and on K Street. I was psyched to spot the blueprints for Georgia Ave:

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Check out the menu after the jump. (more…)

LOOK Restaurant Getting a New Look on K Street, Will Close for a Redesign by a Food Network TV Show, Reopening mid-September

By Prince Of Petworth

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Thanks to @rgutauskas for sending word:

“@popville LOOK Restaurant being featured on an upcoming food network show…hmmm”

LOOK first opened up in the former Teatro Goldoni space on K Street back in March. In May we learned they were hoping for an “expansion to increase capacity load from 186 to 419.”

Stay tuned.

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1909 K Street, NW

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