250-unit building planned for Southeast waterfront
 

the JD Land blog noted today that Toll Brothers (traditionally focused on suburban single-family homes) is planning a 250-unit development by the Nationals stadium/Southeast waterfront.

Toll Brothers Buys Velocity Sibling Site, Will Build Residential

http://www.jdland.com/dc/images/2010...e-201009-1.jpg
Image courtesy of JD Land.

http://www.jdland.com/dc/index.cfm/3...Build-Residen/

In D.C., a Street’s Grit Gives Way to Glamour (NY Times)
 

Old news. Over the next decade, 7th Street in Shaw is going to be the new 14th Street.

In D.C., a Street’s Grit Gives Way to Glamour

"WASHINGTON — Tall cranes dot the sky along 14th Street N.W., hovering above half-finished high rises that are replacing vacant lots and low-slung buildings.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/...reet-popup.jpg
Fourteenth Street is set to gain some 1,200 housing units and 85,000 square feet of retail space. (Daniel Rosenbaum for The New York Times)

In the next 24 months, virtually every block in a one-mile stretch of 14th is slated to gain a new or renovated building containing residential units and ground-floor retail space. When the dust clears, the strip will have more than 1,200 additional housing units and more than 85,000 square feet of additional retail space.

Few here are surprised. After all, the section of 14th Street from Rhode Island to Florida Avenues, about two miles north of the National Mall and near a major Metro station, has been undergoing redevelopment for years. But in 2008 financing for new projects stopped, and it did not start flowing again until 2010. Now the taps are fully open..."

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/02/re...DdsWbBmWegUu3g

More 14th Street development
 

What do you know-- the development along the 14th Street corridor is coming faster than the journalist can write about it.

Abdo Returns to Logan With 30-Unit Project

http://dc.urbanturf.com/images/blog/.../abdo_1400.jpg
Image courtesy of Urban Turf.

"Developer Jim Abdo made his name in Logan Circle, and is now returning to the neighborhood with a mixed-use project at 14th Street and Rhode Island Avenue NW.

On Wednesday evening, ANC 2F approved the concept and massing for a residential project with ground floor retail and second-floor office space at 1400-1404 14th Street NW (map). The new project will rise six stories on the northwest corner of 14th Street and Rhode Island Avenue where Caribou Coffee now sits. The buildings at 1400-1402 14th Street NW will be demolished, while the facade of 1404 14th Street NW will be preserved..."

http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blo...e_project/5487

NoMa's Capitol Square Hotel to Break Ground This Summer (DC Mud)
 

NoMa's Capitol Square Hotel to Break Ground This Summer


Posted by Franklin Schneider
5/03/2012
DC Mud

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n6LeTkkZXO...quarefirst.JPG
Image courtesy of DC Mud.

"Phase One of JBG's long-delayed Capitol Square mixed-use megadevelopment is finally set to break ground, with future phases scheduled for completion over approximately the next five years.

"The first phase of our Capitol Square project, a 200-room Hyatt Place hotel, is scheduled to start construction this summer and be complete by the end of 2013," said a source at JBG. "The office, residential, and retail will follow in future phases..."

http://dcmud.blogspot.com/2012/05/ca...-to-break.html

:tup:

May 3, 2012 4:07pm

National Mall to Get $700 Million Makeover With Help of Laura Bush

The expansive, green backbone of America’s capital city is about to get a major face-lift.

Stretching from the U.S. Capitol building to the Lincoln Memorial, the National Mall is currently a giant swath of grass with limited event space, no restaurants, few restrooms and minimal seating space.

But after decades of neglect, the Trust for the National Mall announced today the three design contest winners that are tasked with turning “America’s backyard” into, as former first lady Laura Bush said, a “beautiful gathering place,” and, “vibrant legacy for our grandchildren and our great grandchildren.”

“After so many decades, we need to do more than sprinkle some seed or put down some new sod,” Bush said Thursday at the National Mall Benefit Luncheon. “Our capital and our country are worth us maintaining this beautiful gathering place and making it a place that will educate and unite Americans through the 21st century and beyond.”

The multi-million dollar makeover is broken up into three areas: Union Square, which includes the reflecting pool immediately in front of the Capitol building; Constitution Gardens, the little-visited park space and pond just north of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool; and Sylvan Theater, the grassy knoll surrounding the Washington Monument.

What is now just grass, trees and lampposts nestled around America’s most iconic monuments is slated to soon include an amphitheater, terraced seating areas, gardens, restaurants, an ice skating rink and some serious lighting upgrades. In some areas, the entire topography of the landscape will be re-engineered to decrease traffic noise and increase sustainability and efficiency.

But don’t postpone your Washington vacation just yet to see these improvements in action. The first groundbreaking is not set to begin until 2014 and the earliest ribbon cutting ceremony is still four years away.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics...of-laura-bush/

Both JD Land and Urban Turf have posts about the plans for the former Florida Rock site right next to the Nationals stadium along the Anacostia. Residential and retail, with a considerable amount of public space is planned here. The stunning Yards Park is right next to this and connected by a great pedestrian bridge.

Updates on Riverfront on the Anacostia, Canal Park
http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blo...g_forward/5537

Here is a good presentation of plans for this area, courtesy of JD Land.
http://www.jdland.com/dc/file-view.c...esentation.pdf

http://dc.urbanturf.com/images/blog/...closeup550.jpg
Image courtesy of Urban Turf.

http://dc.urbanturf.com/images/blog/...ardwalk550.jpg
Image courtesy of Urban Turf.

Van Ness development?
 

Does anyone know what is planned here? I've heard development rumors elsewhere but this post below is extremely vague. This site is only 2-3 blocks north of the Van Ness metro station. A good mixed-use development here, along with the new UDC student center and perhaps some streetscape improvements can help to turn Van Ness around.

Saul Centers Eyes Repositioning Van Ness Square
http://dcrealestate.citybizlist.com/item_upload/imp.JPG
Image courtesy of CityBiz.

"Saul Centers has substituted the White Oak shopping center in Silver Spring, MD for Van Ness Square in Washington, D.C. as collateral for one of its existing mortgage loans, allowing the Company to analyze the feasibility of repositioning Van Ness Square.

The terms of the loan are unchanged. In conjunction with the collateral substitution, Saul Centers borrowed an additional $10.5 million at a 4.9 percent interest rate and 25-year principal amortization, maturing in July 2024.

Van Ness Square, which is located at 4455 Connecticut Ave., NW has a suburban setting in the District. It offers 156,000 square feet of office and retail space less than two blocks north of the Van Ness metro rail station. It overlooks Rock Creek Park and has underground parking for over 150 cars..."

http://dcrealestate.citybizlist.com/...ss-Square.aspx

Word that I hear is that residential development is planned there. I know someone who works in the building now, and that's what the boss announced when he said they would be moving office location. No word on whether a conversion would be done or demolition and totally new building from ground up. The other side of the building is all windows facing the park -- it's much nicer than the street side.

All the tenants are in the process of moving out. You'll notice that the retail establishments are closed or closing.

Private Dick:
Dheli Dhaba moved out of this building a few years ago. That and the Gold's Gym are the only reasons I ever go to Van Ness.

I'll be glad to see a mixed-use building get built here and it will hopefully add some much-needed vibrancy to Van Ness but I kind of like this art deco-style building. The Prince of Petworth blog recently had a good post about the history of this building, it was previously an ice skating rink.

Yeah, I like the art deco moderne building too. I think renovating it rather than demolishing it is much more favorable. Keeping the existing ground-level floors facing Connecticut for retail/restaurant/bar/etc. as a "base" for the building and adding floors above for additional residential would be great. And a major redesign of the awkward lot in front into a park-like setting with outdoor seating for restaurants would go a long way towards adding vibrancy to the Van Ness area. Like you said, with UDC expansion across the street and the metro stop right there, a cool project can really improve this kind of blah, boring stretch of Connecticut.

The building presents a blank face to the street and most people probably do not realize how the building is built into the hillside, sloping down to Soapstone Creek. The eastern face of the building is 6 stories of glass -- my friend says it's easy not to do work while looking out watching squirrels chase each other, hawks, and the occasional deer in the woods. It would be awesome for condos.

Interesting history in that blog -- thanks!

just curious, what is the height limit for Washington city and Arlington?

It's the capital city of a big country, it should have some skyscrapers.

I don't think there is a height limit in Arlington. However, the FAA restricts heights of buildings in Rosslyn because of the flight path to DCA.

In DC, the height limit is based on the width of the street. In general, no building is taller than 13 stories.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heights...gs_Act_of_1910

well in that case someone needs to start building some monsters in Arlington.

Delete.

Zapatan:
"Have you been to DC recently? The DC region has enjoyed some of the nation's strongest economic and population growth this past decade. I support relaxing the height limit but we don't need any skyscrapers in DC just for the sake of having tall buildings. Because of the height restrictions, DC has virtually no vacant lots or under-utilized lots downtown and very few vacant lots in neighborhoods surrounding downtown or the city's major corridors. The height restriction limiting building heights to 10-12 stories spreads development across a much greater part of the city instead of just concentrating it in the central business district.

That said, however, parts of the District should certainly have taller buildings. Building 15-25 story buildings in places like Friendship Heights, Anacostia, Georgia Avenue, and the DC side of Silver Spring wouldn't compromise historic views of the Capitol and White House at all. The District side of Friendship Heights or Silver Spring should be able to have buildings as tall as the Maryland side across the street. Tenley has 400-foot radio towers and the District's historic views haven't been compromised one bit.

Tall buildings are being built, however. A pair of 390 foot buildings are under construction now in Rosslyn, right across the Potomac from DC (http://www.washingtonpost.com/busine...fYL_story.html ). Two or three buildings over 300 feet are also planned for the Eisenhower Valley area of Alexandria (http://dcmud.blogspot.com/2011/05/ho...l-despite.html). A 23-story building is planned for Reston (http://www.washingtonpost.com/busine...McR_story.html) and eventually, I think there will be 300-400 foot buildings in Tysons Corner.

Around the Washington region, developers are looking up-- and many don't seem to mind
Steven Overly
Washington Post
March 7, 2012

http://www.washingtonpost.com/busine...L5R_story.html

UC Berkeley's Institute of Transportation Studies's quarterly newsletter has an interview with Robert Cervero, perhaps the nation's leading academic expert on transit-oriented development, notes that the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor is the best example of transit -oriented developments (TOD) in the US.

http://its.berkeley.edu/btl/2012/spring/tod

Del Frisco’s signing on for CityCenter DC (Washington Post)
 

Del Frisco’s signing on for CityCenter DC

http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/ima...1337731740.jpg
Jeffrey MacMillan/Washington Post - "Cranes along the construction site of CityCenter DC."

By Danielle Douglas
May 27, 2012
Washington Post

"CityCenter DC developer Hines is finalizing a lease with Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House for a high-end, 17,000-square-foot restaurant at the downtown D.C. project.

“It’s just simply a matter of concluding the negotiations and getting it signed,” said Bill Martens, vice president of development at the Dallas-based restaurant group. “Our interest is in having it wrapped up in the next couple of weeks.”

Del Frisco’s will become the first retail tenant locked in at the $950 million development. The selection of the steakhouse, with nine locations in such cities as New York and Las Vegas, may provide a window into how developers plan to position the project..."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/busine...2uU_story.html

Nationals stadium/Navy Yard development
 

The JD Land blog reports on a proposed development just across the street from the Nationals stadium. There has been tremendous growth in this neighborhood in the past one to two years.

Details on New Mixed-Use Project Just North of Nationals Park
"The zoning filing lays out the design of the 1st Street project ("Ballpark Square", mayhaps?) as:

* a 224,500-square-foot office building at the corner of 1st and M;
* a 180-unit hotel just to the south of the office building, separated by a 30-foot-courtyard;
* a 292-unit residential project south of the hotel in two buildings, both parallel to 1st Street, with a courtyard between them and a glass bridge connecting them; and
* 43,000 square feet of retail, 36,000 sf of which will be in the office/hotel/residential buildings (called the "Main Parcel"), while the remaining 7,000 sf will be in a separate two-story retail-only building at the corner of 1st and N (on the "South Parcel"), with a design "inspired by the industrial character of the existing neighborhood..."

http://www.jdland.com/dc/index.cfm/3...Nationals-Par/

Urban Turf has also posted a rending of the proposed development.
http://dc.urbanturf.com/images/blog/...jdland_550.jpg

Here's the link for Urban Turf's summary of the proposal:
http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blo...s_stadium/5595

Arlington is not subject to the federal Height of Buildings Act, but does have height restrictions for its zoning districts:
http://www.arlingtonva.us/department...nanceCode.aspx
and its numerous Sector Plans have height guidelines:
http://www.arlingtonva.us/department...gDocsMain.aspx

The FAA must approve the heights of buildings not only in Rosslyn, but in theory through much of Arlington, Alexandria and DC: "any construction or alteration exceeding 200 ft above ground level... within 20,000 ft [3.79 mi.] of a public use or military airport which exceeds a 100:1 surface from any point on the runway..." [https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/portal.jsp]

Just for fun, I drew this map showing how extensive that 20,000' boundary is around DCA's runways:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paytonc...in/photostream
Obviously, the FAA has approved numerous buildings in Arlington above 200', but getting that approval is an additional headache.