DC Metrocentric

As is often the case, the building at 901 K Street had to fit into a street scape that already included some varying styles of architecture. We have all seen first hand the type of trouble developers can run into when they try to smash different distinct forms of architecture together, some are more successful than others. 

The recently built 901 K Street is sandwiched between the neo-classical Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church (pictured to the left) and the historic Carnegie Library building. In an interesting design choice the architects at Smith Group went with luminescent glass curtainwall to buttress right up against the neo-classic church but also included a European-style terra cotta façade as a reference back. Thoughts?

[Photo: Jim Malone]

A project that has long been on the drawing boards, the Mosaic development is planned for a piece of land right behind the UMD Business School in College Park. Interestingly the project is being billed as a non-student housing alternative. We can’t imagine many alumni are going to want to live this close to the school, but you never know.

The project will eventually have 300 multi-family units and the detailed Site Plan was approved by the Planning Board over a year ago. We shall see how much traction a project like this can get considering the location and the current market, we are not sure it will be very much.

Another year goes by without any progress on the old Gales School property along Massachusetts Ave NW. Only the facade remains of the historic building which has had all sorts of ideas thrown around for its use, from a charter school to more recently a homeless shelter.

We say turn it into a library or cultural center. What are your ideas for the building? [Photo: M.V. Jantzen]

This is certainly an interesting and innovative way to approach the 360 degree shot. You get every single one of the views we love on the National Mall all squeezed into one picture, including the Air and Space, Washington Monument, and the Capitol building. Great Shot!

[Photo: HubbleColor]

Remember the big plans to use the air rights over Union Station rail yard to build three million square feet of mixed use buildings? Well the project being dubbed Burnham Place was back before the ANC 6C Planning, Zoning, and the Environment committee to discuss changes to the zoning request related to the special air rights zone.

The main idea is to create a new stand-alone zone called Union Station North which would establish its own Zoning Commission design review and approval process as well as increasing the height restrictions. No update on the time fame though.

[Rendering: Shalom Baranes]

Back in 2007 the District selected Parcel 42 Partners to build a $28 million mixed-use affordable housing project on city-owned land on the corner of 7th Street and Rhode Island Avenue, but since then not much has happened. The District’s site still says ground will be broken in Winter 2009 but no dice.

The project will eventually consist of 94 apartments, which will be priced for renters earning no more than 60% of the Area Median Income. We spoke with the developers and they are still committed to delivering the project. Projects like this that help keep people in the neighborhood and don’t push them out are important, we just hope they can get this thing off the ground. Wouldn’t it be great if they kept the blue facade color too?

[Photo: Parcel 42 Partners]

Not a single building in this photo remains today on this stretch of 14th street NW right near the White House. Today the block is occupied by the JW Marriott hotel leaving little in terms of street front retail. The building in the background is the Munsey Building which was demolished in the 80s.

The signs in the photo for Bassin’s Cafeteria and Lounge are just the type of creative and stylistic retail signs we loved from back then. [Photo: Rockcreek]

Seems like there was a bit of a communication breakdown between Commonwealth neighbors Alexandria and Fairfax over a planned development. The Examiner is reporting that the Alexandria Mayor only found out last week about the plans for Landmark Plaza which could have a significant traffic impact on Alexandria.

Typically local governments try to work closely together when big projects are in the planning stages and could have an impact on surrounding jurisdictions. In this case someone dropped the ball obviously, but our question is whose responsibility is it really? [Photo: Mr T in DC]

The huge planned development of the old McMillan Sand Filtration site along North Capitol Street NW has been in the works for some time. Ever since the development was awarded to Vision McMillan Partners (led by EYA) neighborhood advocates have been very vocal about the site which has sat unused since the late 1980s.

Of course a big element of the project is historic preservation of the iconic sand filtration silos which are prominently featured in the designs (pictured above). The overall design includes eight acres of green, open, public space, over 1,000 residential units, 400,000 sq ft of office space, and 100,000 sq ft of retail space. We were never really a big fan of the way the silos looked next to the planned architecture, but certainly like the idea of preserving them as part of a park system (pictured below).

The first phase of construction for the project is still tentatively scheduled to kick off later this year and go through 2012 despite plans not being finalized yet. A second phase would follow with everything coming to completion by 2014 according to the office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Development.

One more rendering after the jump…

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The latest property to be up for auction is the 432 unit luxury apartment building in Northeast right behind Union Station at 2nd and Eye Street. Senate Square is going up on the auction block at the end of this month under the threat of foreclosure.

This is unfortunate news for the folks at Broadway Capitol who are all too familiar with the threat of foreclosure, having just gone through the process last year with the massive Dumont Condo building (which is still sitting empty).

We guess the view and the amazing rooftop pool were not enough to entice people to live behind Union Station. We hate to see things like this happen because these massive residential developments that were planed at the peak of the real estate boom are going to take years to become fully rented or be converted back to condos. Right now… supply definitely is exceeding demand!

[Photo: HexBlock]

The Beaux Arts building at 2339 Massachusetts Ave NW is an imposing structure and the units on the inside live up to the exteriors grand looks. Each unit in the building takes up the entire floor, and floor three just happens to be on the market.

Of course there are five bedrooms in this thing, but what really stands out to us is the triangle shaped “Music Room Conservatory” and the working fireplaces.

We must say that it is a little strange that guests would have to walk all the way to the end of the hall to use a bathroom without going through a bedroom… and personally we would knock out the walls from the living room all the way over to the library, but this unit is huge and you could do almost anything you wanted. What do you think?

As always, click on the floor plan for a larger view.

Best New Listings: Logan Circle and LeDroit Park

This week’s Best New Listings include a two-level, two-bedroom condo in a Logan Circle row house and a three-bedroom renovated Victorian in LeDroit Park.

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In a space that we have talked about extensively in the past as everything from a potential bar to a performance venue, the owners have finally settled on a West African restaurant. The Ghana Cafe has opened at 1336 14th Street… But don’t worry, all that performance space in the back won’t go to waste, they plan to have DJ nights!

What do you think… is this a good use of the space?

While not nearly as paralyzing to the area as the last go around of snow, this weekend saw its share of the white stuff and caused most people to change plans and stay inside. However the weather was not enough to keep area photographers out of the snow. Photog Erin snapped this great shot of a little color amid the white out.

[Photo: erin_m]

The Historical Society of D.C. and the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum are holding an opening reception for “East of the River: Continuity and Change.” Given all the plans for the future of Anacostia in the coming years, this should be an interesting reflection worth checking out to provide a little perspective of what’s to come.

Date: February 7, 2010
Time: 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Location: Historical Society of Washington ,D.C. 801 K Street Northwest

[photo: ellievanhoutte]