Hotel Planned for 400 Block of New York Avenue, NW

The developer of the Yale condominiums and apartments is now planning to bring a 181-room hotel to the 400 block of New York Avenue, NW.  The hotel site is adjacent to the Yale West apartment building and is approximately 12,000 square feet. 

The planned hotel will rise 13 stories (the same height as the Yale West) and include approximately 90 parking spots in a 2-level underground parking garage.  The site currently sits largely vacant, except for a three-story historic building construcuted in 1902, which will be incorporated into the project.

The project is now technically in a study period while the developer finalizes approval with the Historic Preseration Review Board (which has already approved the buildign concept) and arranges financing for the project.

The design and permitting process for the project are expected to take through late spring of 2013, with a ground-breaking projected for May or June of that year.  Construction is expected to take about 20 months, which would have the hotel opennig its doors in early 2015.

Proposed project, front elevation

Check out a photograph of the current site, a perspective view of the conceptual design, and the developer's recent HPRB submission (including proposed floor plans and elevations) after the jump.

Updated Map of Vacant and Blighted Buildings in Shaw

An earlier post on this site provided an interactive map of buildings in Shaw that had been designated as vacant or blighted by the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) as of August 2011.  This post provides an updated map, using DCRA data as of March 2012.  The chart below shows the properties that have been added to or removed from the list between August 2011 and March 2012.  The map is after the jump.

Buildings Removed from the Vacant/Blighted List (removed between August 2011 and March 2012)

Buildings Added to the Vacant/Blighted List (added between August 2011 and March 2012)

1223 4th Street, NW 1112 6th Street, NW 1132 6th Street, NW 1613 6th Street, NW 1513 8th Street, NW 1801 8th Street, NW 1110 9th Street, NW 1320 9th Street, NW 1544 9th Street, NW 624 L Street, NW 626 L Street, NW 632 L Street, NW 919 L Street, NW 929 L Street, NW 508 M Street, NW 422 N Street, NW 1244 New Jersey Avenue, NW 1629 New Jersey Avenue, NW 443 New York Avenue, NW 635 New York Avenue, NW 910 O Street, NW 607 P Street, NW 421 Q Street, NW 503 Q Street, NW 505 Q Street, NW 505 S Street, NW

1808 6th Street, NW 1839 6th Street, NW 1900 8th Street, NW 1238 9th Street, NW 501 Florida Avenue, NW 531 Florida Avenue, NW 801 Florida Avenue, NW 418 M Street, NW 473 M Street, NW 1740 New Jersey Avenue, NW 306 P Street, NW 930 P Street, NW 712 Q Street, NW 313 R Street, NW 512 Rhode Island Avenue, NW 406 Richardson Place, NW 447 Ridge Street, NW 941 S Street, NW

Under District law, vacant buildings are taxed at a rate that is about 6 times higher than the rate for occupied residential buildings, and blighted buildings are taxed at a rate that is over 11 times higher than the rate for occupied residential buildings. Therefore, designation of a building as vacant or blighted creates a significant incentive for the owner to redevelop, rehabilitate, or sell the property.

The map, along with a description of the DCRA standards for designating vacant and blighted buildings, and the exemptions from the vacant and blighted building law, are after the jump.

Bar-Restaurant Planned for 1314 9th Street, NW

The owners of Sundevich and Seasonal Pantry have applied for a liquor license to operate a "neighborhood tavern" at 1314 9th Street, NW.  According to the liquor license application, the menu of the tavern (named "A n D") will "consist of mostly cold preapred foods and other bar snacks."  The tavern will operate on the first floor and basement level, with a maximum of 56 seats and a total occupancy load of less than 99.

A n D proposes to operate every day from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.  It is applying for a Class C liquor license, which will allow it to sell beer, wine, and spirits.  Depending in part on when the various licenses and permits are issued, the owners hope to open A n D in September or October of 2012.

A n D nicluded a sample menu with its license application, which should give a sense of the types of food they intend to serve.  Entrees on the menu include:

• Meat Loaf - Cheddar, Red Onion, Horsy Mayor
• Beef Tongue Reuben - Kraut, Special Sauce
• Smoked Chicken - Pickled Jalapeno, Chipotle Mayo
• Grilled Vidalia, Apricot Confit, Spiced Pecans
• Smoked Salmon - Potatoes, Pistrachio Gremolata

One of the co-owners is quoted on EaterDC as stating that A n D "will be a friendly and comfortable neighborhood bar, serving rustic bar food. Some cool original crafted cocktails will compliment the food menu."

Agenda Announced for ANC2C Meeting on July 11, 2012

The agenda has been announced for the Wednesday, July 11, 2012, meeting of ANC 2C. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Shaw Library, 1630 7th Street, NW.

Agenda items include a request for ANC support of plans for a hotel at 465 New York Avenue, NW, and a request for support for the establishment of a "forest garden" on the 400 block of P Street, NW.

The full agenda is after the jump.

Former Public Charter School Building at 9th and T Streets, NW, Sold; Will Become New Home of Hospitality High School

As first reported by Prince of Petworth, the former Maya Angelou Public Charter School at the southeast corner of 9th and T Streets, NW, has been sold.  According to records filed with the Recorder of Deeds, the purchaser is Hospitality High School (HHS), another public charter school.

According to a March 2012 contracting document issued by Hospitality High School, the school will move from its current leased location at 4301 13th Street, NW, to the 9th Street location.  The 9th Street location will serve up to 350 students and will be the site for all of HHS’s programs and operations.  HHS intends to move to the 9th Street site in late 2012 and open for classes there in January 2013.

Hospitality High School describes itself as follows:

The Hospitality High School of Washington, DC was founded in 1998 through a partnership between the Hotel Association of Washington, DC and other hospitality industry groups....  The mission of the Foundation and the High School is to ensure that students have access to an excellent educational program designed to promote success in college and in the hospitality industry.... Each year all of our students are exposed to the hospitality industry not only through course work, but through hands-on industry exposure. The students complete job shadowing, have guest speakers from across the hospitality industry, complete "soft skills" training and have both paid and unpaid internship opportunities, as well as compete for summer jobs in local hotels.

Hospitality High School is considered a mid-performing (Tier 2) public charter school by the DC Public Charter School Board.

Shaw Community Development Walk Scheduled for Thursday, June 28

ANC 2C04 Commissioner Rachelle Nigro has organized a Community Development Walk that will take place on Thursday, June 28, 2012.  According to Commissioner Nigro, "We will be walking and talking with the local developers that have projects around ANC 2C. Come ask the developers questions directly and learn about what is happening in our neighborhood."

The walk will begin at 6:30 p.m. in front of 437 New York Avenue, NW, and will end at the Queen of Sheba restaurant at 1503 9th Street, NW.

The walk will be canceled in the event of rain.

Mood Lounge Building Purchased by Corduroy Owner Tom Power

The Mood Lounge building has been purchased by Tom Power, the owner of Corduroy restaurant, according to records filed with the D.C. Recorder of Deeds.  The deed transferring ownership of the property to Power was filed on April 25, 2012.  (Many thanks to a reader for bringing this to my attention.)

As reported previously on this blog, the now-prior owner of the Mood Lounge building filed for bankruptcy in August of 2011, after having been served with a notice of foreclosure in July 2011.  In late 2011, the prior owner attempted to sell the building to Mood Lounge proprietor Abeba Beyene, but that sale fell through.  Around March of this year, the prior owner entered into a sale agreement with Power; the bankruptcy court approved the proposed sale in April, but the sale was contingent on Power obtaining financing for the purchase.  That financing appears to have occurred, and the sale of the Mood Lounge building to Power took place in late April.  In May, the prior owner's former creditors filed certificates of satisfaction with the Recorder of Deeds, so Power appears to have clear title to the property.

I have contacted Power for a comment, but have not yet received a response.

Power's Corduroy restaurant is located at 1122 9th Street, NW, and has been on Washingtonian's list of the 100 Very Best Restaurants for three years in a row.

For more information on the Mood Lounge building owner's bankruptcy proceeding, check out this prior post.  Additional information on the sale agreement between Power and the prior owner is here and here.