Mount Vernon Squangle

Mixed Use Hotel Coming to Mt. Vernon Square – Check Out a Rendering

By Prince Of Petworth

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Rendering via Peeples 901 5th Street NW Presentation

From a press release:

“Mayor Vincent C. Gray today announced the selection of the team of Peebles Corporation and Walker Group to redevelop the land parcel located at the intersection of 5th Street and I Street NW in Ward 6. Peebles Corporation and Walker Group were chosen as the team’s Best and Final Offer (BAFO) provided the highest monetary value for the land and the most affordable housing units. The proposal also includes a hotel.

“We are thankful for the tremendous interest we received in this parcel and are pleased to announce a selection as we close out the solicitation process,” said Mayor Gray. “The Peebles Corporation and Walker Group will transform this valuable site into a thriving and productive asset that will serve the District of Columbia and beyond.”

The parcel is situated in the heart of the Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood, three blocks from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, within walking distance to Metro lines, and nearby to public amenities such as Union Station and the Verizon Center.

The Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) was issued by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) in April of 2013. DMPED received 10 responses and identified four shortlisted teams in December of 2013. Each shortlisted team submitted their Best and Final Offers in February 2014. As part of the first steps of the disposition process, the District will commence negotiations with the selected team over the next several weeks.”

5th & I The Peebles Corp Comm Presentation (PDF)

Building Collapses next to Cloakroom in Mt. Vernon Square

By Prince Of Petworth

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400 block of K St, NW

Whoa @WeinDC tweets us the photo above at 4:10pm:

“Building just collapsed!”

@ShoesMcCoat tweets us:

“Whoah! Building collapse , louis rouge just collapsed hope everyone out ok big police fire response”

@WeinDC sends an updated photo at 4:23pm:

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Update – @dcfireems tweets:

“UPDATE: 400blk of K St. NW – Structural collapse. Units on scene. 1pt transported with minor injuries.”

Another reader from CityVista sends a shot from a higher vantage point:

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Marriott Marquis Opens by the Convention Center Today

By Prince Of Petworth

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901 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Rendering via Marriott Marquis Washington, DC

From a press release:

“Marriott Hotels, the flagship brand of Marriott International Inc., (NASDAQ: MAR) announces today the opening of the company’s 4,000th hotel: Marriott Marquis Washington, DC. A remarkable milestone, this hotel–the capital’s largest–also signifies a homecoming for the Marriott family. Marriott Marquis Washington, DC opens today, 87 years after J. Willard Marriott and Alice S. Marriott opened a nine-seat root beer stand up the street from the hotel. Marriott Marquis Washington, DC is owned by Quadrangle Development, along with its partner Capstone, and is operated by Marriott International, Inc.

A landmark hotel for both the District and Marriott Hotels, the Marriott Marquis Washington, DC features striking high design—from an all-glass rooftop to a 56-foot steel sculpture centerpiece—and cutting-edge technology, from interactive TV’s in every guest room to a just-released Marriott Hotels mobile services app. Connected to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center via an underground concourse, the Marriott Marquis Washington, DC brings more than 105,000 square feet of meeting space, 1,175 rooms including 49 suites, and five signature dining experiences to its downtown Washington, DC neighborhood. Situated at 901 Massachusetts Avenue, NW and spanning almost an entire large city block, Marriott Marquis Washington, DC is one of only five Marriott Marquis properties in the country. (more…)

Renderings for Capitol Crossing Development and Possible Future Home of Eataly

By Prince Of Petworth

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Rendering via Property Group Partners

Earlier this month we were psyched to learn of a potential home for Eataly in DC. Here’s lots more info from PGP’s website:

“Capitol Crossing will be a multi-phase master-planned development located in Washington’s supply-constrained Central Business District that is bordered by Massachusetts Avenue to the north, E Street to the south, Third Street to the west and Second Street to the east.

The 247,000-square-foot site consists of a recessed portion of US I-395 that slices through the east side of the CBD, which is surrounded by a multitude of public transportation options.

The project will be built over the active highway utilizing a platform to support the development of an expected 2.2 million square-foot mixed-use project.

The development’s focus will be predominately office. It will also include a significant ground floor retail component, below-grade parking and a small component of residential use.

Washington has encouraged the development of a platform over I-395 since the initial approval in 1990, with the expectation that it would re-connect F and G Streets between Second and Third Streets as originally conceived in L’Enfant’s master plan for the city. Restoring the site to grade level and filling in the highway overpass will result in a dramatic transformation of the area into a true destination.

This is the largest continuous undeveloped site remaining in Downtown Washington. Its size will offer tremendous opportunity for private firms to lease large blocks of contiguous space for current needs as well as future expansion space.”

Check out many more renderings here.

And how the site looks today:

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3rd and Massachusetts Ave, NW looking east

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looking south

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looking west

Saved Historic Row House Collapses in Mt. Vernon Square

By Prince Of Petworth

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655 K Street, NW (at New York Ave)

A reader writes:

“Out walking Sunday morning and saw this. It appears that one of the saved buildings that was moved from its original foundation, then moved again to its new location,adjacent to the new medical college headquarters building, has collapsed! I asked the construction guy, putting up the caution tape, what happened but his only response was “I can’t discuss it”.

Another reader writes:

“Spotted this on the walk to work this morning. One of the facades of a building that was move at the NY Ave Assoc. Of American Medical Colleges collapsed overnight. It’s cool to watch them move and preserve these buildings so it’s kind of a bummer that this happened.”

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RPM Italian Restaurant, from celebrity couple Giuliana and Bill Rancic, coming to former NPR building at 7th and Mass Ave NW

By Prince Of Petworth

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Demoed lot in front of new building at 7th and Massachusetts Ave, NW

Thanks to a reader a for sending a link to this interview on 94.7 Fresh FM:

“…they are getting ready to open another RPM Italian restaurant right here in Washington, D.C.

“It’s under construction right now. It’s the old NPR building right in Downtown D.C. You’ll see that whole process [on the show].” They hope to open the restaurant by 2015.”

The old NPR building was demoed in June 2013 and the office space has been leased to the Arnold & Porter law firm. NPR’s new home is at 1111 North Capitol Street, NE in NoMa. I hadn’t realized there would be retail/restaurant space too. You can see RPM Italian’s menus here.

Side note: I still think keeping those old buildings looks cool at the other new building next door to where this one is coming:

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“Walmart on H Street. English speakers allotted 25 items in Speedy Checkout. Spanish speakers 20.”

By Prince Of Petworth

Update from Walmart:

“It was a mistake at the store level. We immediately corrected the number as soon as we became aware. The top numbers were changed to 20 items or less.”

New Menu and Chef for Silo in Mt. Vernon Square – Free Samples Wed.

By Prince Of Petworth

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917 5th Street, NW

Silo opened up a few months ago back in January. Not sure how many folks have already checked them out but you can see their new full new menu here: SILO Spring Menu April 2014

Lots more info from a press release:

“NOW IN THE KITCHEN AT SILO:

Michael Walters, Chef

Chef Michael Walters has joined the Silo team as a consulting Chef who has revamped the menu with Modern American Bistro Food. He spends his mornings as the Production Chef at Barcelona Wine Bar & Restaurant, and the evenings in the kitchen at Silo.

Chef Walters got his start in the restaurant business working for the renowned Jean-Louis Palladin at his famed Jean-Louis Restaurant at The Watergate. Palladin quickly promoted Walters from dishwasher to grill cook, teaching Walters how to grill the perfect steak. From there, Walters went on to work as a chef in the kitchens of other well-known DC chefs Michel Richard, José Andres, and Roberto Donna. Eventually, Walters branched out and opened his own restaurant, Good Luck Cafe in Tampa, FL, which earned a spot in USA Today’s 2006 “Top Five Culinary Destinations.” He returned to DC and opened The Brightwood Bistro before joining Barcelona Restaurant Group and Silo.

Calvin Di Giovanni, Chef de Cuisine

Born in the United States, but raised in Paris, Chef Calvin Di Giovanni began his culinary career at the early age of 16 while training in the kitchen with the renowned Sommelier Philippe Faure-Brac at his Bistrot du Sommelier restaurant in Paris after attending culinary high school. At 18, he returned to New York and worked in the kitchens of Chef David Burke, Chef Jean-Louis Peulade, and Chef (and Silver Toque Winner) Guy Reuge. In 2013, Di Giovanni made his way to Washington, DC, landing the position of Pastry Chef at Lavagna in Eastern Market. He then became the Sous Chef at Pesce in Dupont Circle, before being recruited to join the team as the Chef de Cuisine at Silo when it opened.

NEW DISHES on Silo’s Modern American Bistro Menu include: (more…)

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