"Container" Store Proposed for 919 U Street, NW (No, Not that Container Store)

The Hilton brothers restaurant development team — which has created The Gibson, Marvin, and American Ice Company — has proposed to open a restaurant built out of shipping containers at 919 U Street, NW.  (The Georgetowner has reported that the restaurant will be a taqueria called El Ray.)  The restaurant would have a takeout window on U Street and an outdoor seating area.

The proposal will be reviewed by the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) on March 22, 2012.  The HPRB staff report describes the proposed development as follows:

The front elevation would consist of a combination of corrugated shipping containers flanking a recessed aluminum and glass storefront system with glass entry door, and open take-out window with an angled metal canopy. The design calls for the first floor to be topped by a shipping container with a centered internally illuminated sign. The remainder of the site would consist of an open summer garden enclosed by a 7-0’ wood fence and topped by a partially covered metal truss roof system.

Apparently (according the HPRB staff report) the "use of shipping containers for temporary retail and arts uses is an increasingly popular option for activating vacant urban sites." In fact, a Starbucks comprised of shipping containers recently opened in Washington State — check out the image below.

Recently opened Starbucks in Tukwila, Washington(image credit: Starbucks)

The shipping container structure would be temporary, pending future redevelopment of the site.

View the developer's submission (including a recent photo of the site, the developer's floor plans, the U Street facade elevation, and an axonometric view of the proposal), along with the HPRB staff report, after the jump.

Developer's Submission
[View the submission below or click here to open.]


HPRB Staff Report
[View the report below or click here to open.]