9th Street New Stores Update: Reformation Fitness, 9th & Beats, Simon Vintage, A&D, Darryl Carter, Xtend Barre DC, Cause, and Old City Green

A number of new stores and bars have opened on 9th Street in the past two months.  Since I haven't posted about them individually, I put together a round-up of the openings (including Reformation Fitness, 9th & Beats, Simon Vintage Furniture and Homegoods, A&D, and Daryl Carter), which you can read below.

Agenda Announced for ANC 6E Meeting on January 2, 2013; New ANC Boundaries; Officers to Be Elected

The agenda has been announced for the Wednesday, January 2, 2013, meeting of ANC 6E. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Shaw Library, 1630 7th Street, NW.

This meeting is the first of the newly redistricted ANC 6E, which includes the majority of the Shaw neighborhood.  (The rest of Shaw remains in ANC 2F.)  The ANC 6E portion of Shaw was previously part of the former ANC 2C. 

ANC2C Votes to Support Baywood Hotels Project for Parcel 42

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2C voted this evening to support the proposal of Baywood Hotels for the redevelopment of Parcel 42, a District-owned property located at the northeast corner of 7th and R Streets, NW.  The Baywood Hotels proposal consists of a 102-room hotel, 22 units of affordable housing, and ground floor retail which is expected to be occupied by Milk & Honey Market.

The ANC vote was 2 in favor (Chairman Alex Padro and Commissioner Kevin Chapple), 1 opposed (Commissioner Rachelle Nigro), and 1 abstention (Commissioner Doris Brooks). The main factors that appeared to weigh in support of the Baywood proposal were the number of jobs the project would create and the sense that a 24-hour hotel operation would increase security at the corner.

Agenda Announced for December 5, 2012, Meeting of ANC2C

The agenda has been announced for the Wednesday, December 5, 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 the Commission's consideration of its recommendation to the District government regarding the proposals for the redevelopment of Parcel 42.

The full agenda is after the jump.

Mayor's Agent Rejects Church Request to Demolish Buildings at 1232, 1234, and 1236 New Jersey Avenue, NW

1232-1236 New Jersey Avenue, NW
and adjacent parking lot

The Mayor's Agent for Historic Preservation has rejected the request of the Third Street Church of God to demolish three rowhouses at 1232, 1234, and 1236 New Jersey Avenue, NW.  The church wanted to demolish the buildings, which are located in the Mount Vernon Square Historic District, as part of a project to expand its parking lot.
The church's request was initially brought to the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB), which supported partial demolition of the rear of the structures but rejected the church's proposal to demolish the structures entirely.

The church appealed the HPRB decision to the Mayor's Agent, claiming that failure to issue a permit to demolish the entire structures would result in unreasonable economic hardship to the church.  In a decision issued in early November, the Mayor's Agent rejected the church's argument, stating the following:

While the Church surely finds these rowhouses to be a burden, it cannot be said that their preservation imposes on it an unreasonable economic burden within the meaning of the [Historic Preservation] Act. ...  The cost of complying with the compromise to which it agreed in 2011, $77,420, which involves partial demolition and structurally securing the remainder of the buildings, does not seem prohibitive in light of the Church’s revenues and assets. The Church is engaged in an expensive expansion of its facilities, estimated at $1.8 million, but the cost of stabilizing these rowhouses, part of the expansion plan approved by the HPRB in 2011, is small in comparison to the cost of the overall project.

The Church can avoid even this expense ... by selling the rowhouses, which it does not wish to occupy. ... [W]hen an owner can sell protected property at a price that is not confiscatory, no unreasonable economic hardship can be shown....  Here, the Church can sell the buildings for at least four times as much as it paid for them....

The Church has been forthright that it does not want to sell these properties primarily because it wants to demolish the buildings and use the land for parking. ...  Of course, the Church’s desire to make its physical plant serve its mission deserves great respect; parking for urban religious communities is challenging. But like all property owners, the Church must pursue its facility goals within the constraints of the Historic Landmark and Historic District Protection Act, which benefits both the surrounding neighborhood and entire District of Columbia. The Mayor’s Agent does not have authority to simply prefer the Church’s plan to what the Act requires. That preservation of a contributing building makes carrying out worthwhile plans more inconvenient or more expensive does not constitute an unreasonable economic hardship within the meaning of the Act.

Parking lot adjacent to
1232-1236 New Jersey Avenue, NW

Third Street Church of God
(small portion of existing parking lot visible to right)

The full text of the Mayor's Agent's decision, a history of the raze permit request, and links to prior HPRB documents are after the jump.

Check Out the Six Proposals for Parcel 42's Redevelopment

The six proposals that the District government is considering for the redevelopment of Parcel 42 (located at the northeast corner of 7th and R Streets, NW) were presented to the community in a public meeting held on November 14, 2012. The proposals are described below, with a link to each of the developer's presentations.  More information on the parcel and the solicitation process is available here.


BAYWOOD HOTELS

Developer: Baywood Hotels (lead) and Dantes Partners

Architect: OPX

Proposal: 102-room hotel with residential and retail components

Hotel component: 102 rooms (floors 4 through 9)

Residential component: 22 affordable housing units (floors 2 and 3).  The units would be affordable to households at 50% of the area median income; of the 22 units, 3 would be efficiencies and 19 would be one-bedroom units.  No market rate units.

Retail component: 5,689 square feet (floor 1)

Retail tenant: Milk & Honey Market (Milk & Honey Market describes itself as "Your convenient neighborhood source for delicious locally produced foodstuffs, from farm fresh produce, dairy and sustainably raised meats to local and imported specialty cheeses and charcuterie. From artisanal baked goods to essential groceries.")

Parking: 74 spaces

Total square footage: 89,918 total square feet (including 54,492 square feet for the hotel and 5,689 square feet of retail),

Height: 9 stories (90 feet)

Small parcel component: Community playground [Note: Parcel 42 includes the main parcel at 7th and R Streets, NW, and a small (1,700 square feet) secondary parcel across an alley from the main parcel.]

Developer's presentation: Click here.

FOUR POINTS AND WARRENTON GROUP

Developer: Four Points + The Warrenton Group

Architect: studio upwall

Proposal: 109-unit residential building with two levels of retail

Residential component: 109 units; 10% of the units will be affordable (affordability level not specified).  The units would be affordable to households at 80% of the area median income (per  City Paper article).

Retail component: Two levels of retail.  (The City Paper article describes the retail component as follows: "[The developers] envision two levels of retail, with a public stair at the corner of 7th and R leading up to a second-floor courtyard with greenery, shops, and townhouses.")

Retail tenant: Not yet determined.

Parking: Number of spaces note specified.*

Total square footage: 109,960 square feet (comprised of 77,820 residential, 15,260 commercial, 15,280 square feet of parking, and 1,000 square feet of common space)

Height: 90 feet

Small parcel component: Three townhomes.

Developer's presentation: Click here.

* Not specified in developer's PowerPoint presentation and not described in the DC Urban Turf or City Paper article.

NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

Developer: Neighborhood Development Company

Architect: Wiencek + Associates

Proposal: 81 unit residential building with ground-floor retail

Residential component:  81 units (62 one-bedroom units and 19 two-bedroom units).  17 of the 81 units (20%) would be affordable dwelling units (ADUs).  Half of the ADUs would be affordable to households with incomes of 80% of the area median income (AMI) and half of the ADUs would be affordable to households with incomes of 30% or 60% of the AMI.

Retail component: 7,600 square feet (ground floor) with outdoor seating/dining

Retail tenant: Yes! Organic Market 

Parking: 33 spaces (27 for residential units and 6 for retail)

Total square footage: 91,902 total square feet (79,380 square feet for residential; 7,600 square feet retail; 4,020 square feet common space)

Height: 8 stories

Small parcel component: 2 townhouses [Note: Parcel 42 includes the main parcel at 7th and R Streets, NW, and a small (1,700 square feet) secondary parcel across an alley from the main parcel.]

Alternate proposal: Neighborhood Development Company also presented an alternate proposal under which they would combine the two lots that comprise Parcel 42 (the main lot and the small lot across the alley from the main lot) by realigning the alley.  Under this proposal, the project size would increase to 102,048 square feet, with 85,043 square feet of residential, 9,500 square feet of retail, and 7,500 square feet of retail space. The number of housing units would increase to 99, with 20 of the units being affordable dwelling units.  The number of parking spaces would increase to 68, with 55 spaces dedicated to residential units and 13 spaces dedicated to the retail component.

Developer's presentation: Click here.


POUNDS

Note: POUNDS' PowerPoint presentation provided limited information on the specific elements of the proposal.  Some of the information below is derived from articles in DC Urban Turf and the Washington City Paper.

Developer: POUNDS (lead) and Jubilee Housing

Architect: Sorg Architects

Proposal: 100-unit residential building with ground floor retail and several live-work spaces (per DC Urban Turf)

Residential component: 100 units including live-work units for entrepreneurs to live in and set up shop in. Units range from studios to three-bedrooms, and 40 percent will be affordable. (per DC Urban Turf)  Average affordability will be 40% of area median income.  (per City Paper article)

Retail component: 5,000 square feet, in addition to live-work units

Retail tenant: Not yet determined.

Parking: Number of parking spaces not specified.*

Total square footage: Not specified.*

Height: Not specified.*

Small parcel component: Community garden. [Note: Parcel 42 includes the main parcel at 7th and R Streets, NW, and a small (1,700 square feet) secondary parcel across an alley from the main parcel.]

District financial subsidy:  The City Paper article notes that this is the only proposal that requires a District subsidy.

Developer's presentation: Click here.

* Not specified in developer's PowerPoint presentation and not described in the DC Urban Turf or City Paper article.

TENSQUARE AND CHAPMAN DEVELOPMENT

Note: The TenSquare/Chapman PowerPoint presentation provided limited information on the specific elements of the proposal.  Some of the information below is derived from articles from DC Urban Turf and the Washington City Paper.

Developer: TenSquare and Chapman Development

Architect: R2L Architects

Proposal: 105-unit residential building with ground floor retail (per DC Urban Turf)

Residential component:  105 units, mix of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units (per DC Urban Turf).  Affordable housing component not specified.*

Retail component: 5,000 square feet.

Retail tenant: Not yet determined.

Parking: Amount not specified.*
Total square footage: Not specified.*

Height: Not specified.* 

Small parcel component: Park space and bike racks. [Note: Parcel 42 includes the main parcel at 7th and R Streets, NW, and a small (1,700 square feet) secondary parcel across an alley from the main parcel.]

Developer's presentation: Click here.

* Not specified in developer's PowerPoint presentation and not described in the DC Urban Turf or City Paper article.


UNITED HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL PEOPLE

Developer: United House of Prayer for All People

Architect: Suzane Reatig Architects

Proposal:  50-unit residential building with ground floor retail

Residential component: 50 units (mix of studios, and one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom units), of which 20% will be affordable dwelling units (income level not specified*); average unit size is 1,000 square feet

Retail component: 6,000 square feet

Retail tenant: Not yet determined

Parking: 18 spaces

Total square footage: 68,927 square feet

Height: 6 stories (60 feet)

Small parcel component: Community park space/garden.  [Note: Parcel 42 includes the main parcel at 7th and R Streets, NW, and a small (1,700 square feet) secondary parcel across an alley from the main parcel.]

Developer's presentation: Click here.

* Not specified in developer's PowerPoint presentation and not described in the DC Urban Turf or City Paper article.

Mood Lounge Plans Major Changes

Mood Lounge has proposed major changes to its operations in an effort to have a "great working relationship with [its] neighbors" and to "survive in these hard economic times."   The proposed changes were outlined in a letter received by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board in mid-October.  In that letter, Mood Lounge's owner sought approval for the following operational changes:

• Caribbean cuisine to be served on the first level from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday
• Happy hour to be held from 5:00 p.m. to midnight, Tuesday through Sunday.  The happy hour would "include diversified food and competitive neighborhood prices"
• Community events, including block parties, live jazz, poetry reading, and book drives

The letter did not state whether any changes would be made to Mood Lounge's Friday and Saturday night events.

It's not clear whether any action is required by the Board.  The Board reviewed the letter at a meeting held on November 14, 2012, but its disposition of the request was to treat it as a "For Your Information" letter.

The letter also stated that the following changes would be made:

• A general manager would be hired to manage day-to-day operations
• Metropolitan Police Department reimbursable details would be employed on Friday and Saturday nights
• Soundproofing would be installed on the wall that Mood Lounge shares with 1316 9th Street, NW.

Mood Lounge's owner closed her letter with the following statement:

[A]fter careful thought and consideration, I have changed my ideas and views from sitting in many of the ANC board meetings and have learned from the board and the community.  We will have a new direction of what we want to achieve for this establishment, and have decided to be what this community needs me to be, an asset for the area.

Mood Lounge is located at 1318 9th Street, NW, and has been the subject of a number of neighborhood complaints and its license was recently suspended for ten days.

A copy of the letter is after the jump.

Agenda Announced for ANC2C Meeting on November 7, 2012

The agenda has been announced for the Wednesday, November 7, 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 discussion of designating the Shaw East area as a historic district (discussed previously on this site); a request for support for leasing the open space in front of the vacant Shaw Junior High School to Old City Green; and a request for support for a small development project on the 400 block of Ridge Street, NW.

The full agenda is after the jump.

District Schedules Public Meeting on Proposals for the Redevelopment of Parcel 42, at 7th and R Streets, NW

Parcel 42
[click image to enlarge]

The District government has scheduled a public meeting to present six proposals for the redevelopment of Parcel 42, the long-vacant, District-owned property at the northeast corner of 7th Street and R Streets, NW.  Notice of the meeting was provided in an email from ANC Commissioner Alex Padro.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 14, 2012, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Shaw Library.

The proposals were received in response to a solicitation for the redevelopment of the property issued by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development in April of this year.  According to the schedule included with the solicitation, the District expects to select a developer for the site in late fall of 2012.

Additional details on the site, the solicitation, and the developers who submited responses to the solicitation, can be viewed in an earlier post on this site.

The solicitation itself can be viewed after the jump.

ANC 2C October 3, 2012, Meeting Agenda Announced

The agenda has been announced for the Wednesday, October 3, 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 discussion of designating the Shaw East area as a historic district (discussed previously on this site); a request for support of street closures for a proposed January "Winterfest" event hosted by Shaw's Tavern; and a presention of Mayor Gray's One City Action Plan.
 

The full agenda is after the jump.

Alcohol Board Fines Mood Lounge, Suspends License for 10 Days

In a decision issued on September 19, 2012, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board fined Mood Lounge $7,000 and suspsended its liquor license for 10 days.  The liquor license suspension will begin on October 26 and last through November 4, 2012.  Technically, the Board also suspended Mood's license for an additional 10 days, but those additional 10 days will be waived if Mood does not commit any additional violations within one year after the date of the Board's order.

 

Mood Lounge is located at 1318 9th Street, NW, and has been the subject of a number of neighborhood complaints.  The fines and suspension were based on the following charges:

• Mood Lounge attempted to interfere with an investigation of the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA).  This charge stemmed from an altercation at Mood Lounge that occurred on December 30, 2011, resulting in the stabbing of two individuals.  The Board found that a claim made by the owner of Mood Lounge, Abeba Beyane, "that nothing happened inside the establishment is untrue, and a deliberate attempt to mislead ABRA investigators...."
• Mood Lounge violated its security plan by failing to operate a security camera with the capability to save video footage onto a computer disk.
• Mood Lounge violated its voluntary agreement by playing excessively loud music that could be heard in nearby residences and not curing these violations within 30 days after receiving complaints.

The Board dismissed a charge that Mood Lougne permitted the use of a controlled substance (marijuana) in its establishment, because the District government failed to show that Mood Louge "knowingly permitted" the use of marijuana.

The Board findings are described in more detail in the Board's order, which is after the jump.

Agenda Announced for ANC2C Meeting on September 5, 2012

The agenda has been announced for the Wednesday, September 5, 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 for a two-unit residential project at 451 S Street, NW; a request for ANC support for the relocation of old police and fire call boxes for a historic preservation project; and a request for ANC support for a liquor license for a new restaurant at 1017 7th Street, NW.
 

The full agenda is after the jump.

District Receives Seven Proposals for the Redevelopment of Parcel 42, at 7th and R Streets, NW

Parcel 42
[click image to enlarge]

The District government has received seven proposals for the redevelopment of  Parcel 42, according to an article in the Washington Business Journal.

Parcel 42 is a large, long-vacant, District-owned parcel at the northeast corner of 7th Street and R Streets, NW, diagonally across from the Shaw Library. The District issued a request for proposals for the redevelopment of the property in April of this year.  According to the schedule included with the request for proposals, the District expects to select a developer for the site in late fall of 2012.

The Washington Business Journal reported that the seven proposals were submitted by the following developers:

• Warrenton Group and Four Points LLC
• Thoron Development LLC
• Pounds Properties and Jubilee Housing
• United House of Prayer for All People
• Neighborhood Development Corporation
• Tensquare LLC and Chapman Development Group LLC
• Baywood Hotels and Dantes Partners

According to the article, deatils on the proposals have not yet been released by the District government.  However, information regarding some of the developers is as follows:

• Four Points LLC is a co-developer of the Howard Theatre and Progression Place, the new mixed-use project being constructed at the corner of 7th and S Streets, NW, adjacent to the northern entrance to the Shaw-Howard University Metrorail station
• United House of Prayer for All People owns the property to the north of Parcel 42 and has developed several other projects in the Shaw neighborhood, including the newly constructed apartment building at 625 Rhode Island Avenue, NW
• Jubilee Housing's mission is to "provide quality affordable housing and expanded life options for people with low-incomes".  All of Jubilee's current properties are located in Adams Morgan.
• Neighborhood Development Corporation is a District-based developer with major projects on Georgia Avenue (including 4100 Georgia Avenue and the under-construction Heights on Georgia Avenue, both of which are mixed-use affordable housing projects each with approximately 70 units of housing) and two smaller projects in Shaw (902 T Street, NW, and 1915 6th Street, NW), among other projects.
• Chaprman Development Group is another District-based developer; Chapman's projects include the Warder Mansion redevelopment, a 38-unit market-rate project on the 2600 block of 16th Street, NW, and the recently-completed Grays on Pennsylvania, a mixed-use project with over 100 affordable housing units, on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
• Baywood Hotels is a Greenbelt-based hotel management and development company with over $500 million in assets.  Baywood's portfolio includes mainstream brands such as Courtyard by Marriott, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, and Holiday Inn Express, as well as independent hotels.  It has over 10 Maryland properties and one property in the District (the Comfort Inn at 1201 13th Street, NW).

Additional details on the site, and the District's request for proposals, are below.  (The following information appeared in an earlier post on this site.)

Site
Parcel 42 consists of two lots — the main development lot is an approximately 15,000 square foot vacant lot at the northeast corner of 7th and R Streets, NW (sometimes also referred to as 7th Street and Rhode Island Avenue, NW).  The second lot, which is also vacant, sits across the alley to the east of the main parcel and consists of approximately 1,700 square feet.  The image below shows the size and location of the parcels. 

Parcel 42 consists of the two lots outlined in red

Development Program
The solicitation provides developers with broad discretion in crafting the details of their development proposals, but it states that the District is seeking mixed-use development proposals with ground-floor retail and mixed-income residential units.  (The solicitation indicates that developers should "maximize" the number of housing units affordable to households at or below 80% of the area median income for the Washington metropolitan area, but no specific number or percentage of affordable units is required.)  The District is encouraging developers to submit development proposals that maximize development density through a planned unit development.

The solicitation also states that District is seeking "high quality architecture" for the project and proposals "are expected to have a signature design, which complements the neighborhood character, and creates a pedestrian friendly environment."

Timeline

• Responses to the solicitation are due by July 26, 2012
• A short list of developers (selected from the proposals that are submitted) will be announced in the summer of 2012
• A community presentation by the short-listed developers will be held in the fall of 2012
• A development team will be selected for the site in the late fall of 2012

The timeline is subject to future modifications.

Solicitation Document
The complete solicitation document is available after the jump.

New Shaw Planning and Historic Preservation Documents Page

A new Shaw Planning and Historic Preservation Documents page has been added to the website.

As the name implies, the new page includes a collection of planning and historic preservation documents related to the Shaw area (including Mount Vernon Square).

The page focuses on comprehensive studies, such as neighborhood-wide plans, rather than project specific plans -- and currently includes over 20 documents.

Planning documents on the page include the following:

• The Convention Center Area Strategic Development Plan, published by the DC Office of Planning in 2006
• Conceptual Streetscape Design Guidelines for the 7th and 9th Street Corridors from Mount Vernon Square to Rhode Island Avenue, a 2008 report developed developed by smARTstreets, a project funded by the Washington Convention Center Authority Historic Preservation Fund
• The Shaw-Convention Center Retail Action Strategy, published by the DC Office of Planning
• The original Shaw Urban Renewal Plan from 1969

Historic preservation documents include:

• The Historic Survey of Shaw East, an over 180-page study of historic buildings in the East Shaw area, created by Kelsey & Associates for the DC Office of Planning in 2001-2002
• Historic district brochures for Shaw, Mount Vernon Square, and Greater U Street
• Documents filed with the federal government to designate the historic districts of Shaw, Blagden Alley-Naylor Court, Mount Vernon Square, and Greater U Street

If you have copies or links to other documents you think should be added, please leave a note in the comments section or email me directly at eastshawdc@gmail.com.

Leasing Under Way for New Apartment Building at 625 Rhode Island Avenue, NW

Leasing is now under way for the newly completed apartment building at 625 Rhode Island Avenue, NW.  The 16-unit building, dubbed the Bailey Park DC, is probably best known for the magenta, yellow, and red panels that highlight the exterior walls.  It will open to residents on August 15, 2012.

The Bailey Park includes 14 market rate units and 2 "affordable" units that have been set aside for households earning between 60% and 80% of the area median income.  The 2-bedroom market-rate units range in size from 1,220 to 1,475 square feet, with monthly rents of between $2,700 and $3,500.  The 3-bedroom market-rate units range in size from 1,775 to 2,260 square feet, with rents of between $4,200 and $4,500 per month.

[Photo credit: Suzane Reating Architecture]

According to the building's architecture firm, "all units have multiple exposures and most have private outdoor spaces, [and] the layouts allow for cross-ventilation and optimal day-lighting."  The Bailey Park DC website states that the apartments include "floor-to-ceiling windows, designer kitchens with double-wide islands, granite slab countertops in kitchens and baths, polished concrete/designer porcelain-tile floors throughout, 9-10 foot ceilings, stainless steel appliances, and skylights in select [units]."  The building also includes a rooftop terrace.

According to the website, a building tour is scheduled for Thursday, August 9, 2012, at 6:00 p.m.  To RSVP for the tour, or for more information, email info@baileyparkdc.com.

DDOT Planning Major Overhaul, Two-Way Traffic for New Jersey Avenue, NW, between N Street and H Street

The District's Department of Transportation (DDOT) has proposed major modifications to New Jersey Avenue, NW, between N Street and H Street.  Most significantly, DDOT's plan would restore two-way traffic to New Jersey Avenue south of New York Avenue, allowing Shaw residents to travel directly to the Union Station area and the Capitol grounds via New Jersey Avenue.  DDOT would also realign the intersection of New Jersey Avenue at New York Avenue, moving the right turn lanes that allow southbound travelers on New Jersey Avenue to turn onto New York Avenue westbound (toward downtown) -- those right-turns lanes would be moved from 3rd Street to New Jersey Avenue itself.  (In addition, 3rd Street would no longer extend to New York Avenue, but would isntead terminate at an enlarged landscaped area at M Street.) Bike lanes would also be added to New Jersey Avenue beteen N Street and H Street.

The current conditions and planned improvements are shown in the images below (click either image to enlarge it):

CURRENT CONDITIONS (click image to enlarge)

PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS (click image to enlarge)

Along with the roadway overhaul, DDOT plans to make the following improvements:

• Upgrade all lighting to the new LED lighting.
• Reconstruct all traffic signals and re-time all traffic signals to improve corridor operation
• Provide countdown pedestrian signals and new pedestrian ramps for persons with disabilities
• Reconstruct all curbing to the granite curb standard
• Update all landscaping
• Improve signing and pavement markings

DDOT will be holding public meetings to solicit public input and expects to finalize its plans for the project, with complete drawings, by Feburary 2013.

Check out DDOT's PowerPoint presentation from a recent community meeting, along with the current proposal for improvements, after the jump.

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.

Restaurant Proposed for 1539-41 New Jersey Avenue, NW

Developer Aaron Hirsch has proposed to open a sit-down restaurant at 1539-1541 New Jersey Avenue, NW.  The restaurant would occupy two vacant storefronts in the commercial structure that spans the east side of New Jersey Avenue between P and Q Streets, NW.  In an interesting twist, the restaurant would include only outdoor seating and, under the developer's current proposal, would not be open during December, January, or February.

Because the property is residentially zoned (although it has long housed commercial uses), Hirsch must first receive a variance from the Board of Zoning Adjustment to open a restaurant.  He intends to file a request for the variance within the next month and hopes to have the variance approved within four to six months after filing.  Hirsch would then need to obtain a liquor license through the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.  Hirsch's goal is to open the restaurant  in March 2013.

The site plan for the restaurant is likely to include picnic tables, a gazebo, bike racks, and recreational amenities (such as bocce or cornhole).  Although the current plan is for the restaurant to be closed during the winter months, an enclosed patio section that may be used during the winter months is a possibility.

Images of the current site and a rendering of the proposed restaurant are available after the jump.

Ceremonial Groundbreaking to Take Place This Week for Jefferson at Market Place (Kelsey Gardens Redevelopment)

A ceremonial groundbreaking will take place on June 6, 2012, for the Jefferson at Market Place, according to Shaw Main Streets.  Raze permits were issued in May.  Demolition is expected to begin soon after the ceremonial groundbreaking and construction is expected to begin in July.

The Jefferson at Market Place project (previously named the Addison Square project) entails the redevelopment of the former Kelsey Gardens Section 8 housing project, which is located along the west side of 7th Street, NW, between P Street and Q Street.  The new development will replace the multiple, now-vacant low-rise structures and surface parking area with a single building spanning the entire block.  The new building is designed to appear as six separate buildings, generally eight stories in height, but stepping down to six stories at the Q Street end of the project.

The project includes approximately 280 residential housing units, 54 of which will be affordable to households making 60% or less of the area median income.  There will also be approximately 14,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and 230 below-ground parking spaces.

The project website describes the building amenities as follows:

Jefferson at Market Place will feature modern amenity spaces that will include a boutique-style lobby with a 24-hour concierge, state-of-the-art fitness center, resident business center, and community lounge with bar and gaming areas. Residents will also have exclusive access to two private courtyards on the ground floor, a landscaped roof deck on the seventh floor, and a large pool deck on the 8th floor roof.

After the jump, view a larger rendering of the project, an image of the existing buildings, and an aerial view showing the site context.

Agenda Announced for ANC2C Meeting on June 6, 2012

The agenda has been announced for the Wednesday, June 6, 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 presentation on the proposed redevelopment of the Wonder Bread Factory building at 641 S Street, NW; a request for support of zoning relief for the proposed development project at 435 R Street, NW; a request for support for historic preservation approval for proposed new construction at 411 Ridge Street, NW; a proposal for Sunday diagonal parking on the east side of the 1600 block of 9th Street, NW; and consideration of a grant request from Friends of Bundy Park.

The full agenda is after the jump.

Three-Unit Project at 515 Q Street, NW, Will Deliver in Summer 2012

The real estate development company M Squared announced that its three-unit condominium project at 515 Q Street, NW, which is currently under constriction, will be completed this summer.  The three-story project features three 2BR/2BA units, with each unit on a separate floor of the building.  The first-floor unit will have a private rear yard and the third-floor unit will have a private roof deck.  Sales prices have not been announced, but the website for the project states that the units are "priced from the $500's".

The developer describes the project as follows: 

Owners will find maple hardwood flooring throughout, as well as 10-foot ceilings, in-ceiling speakers, spacious walk-in closets and new front-loading washers and dryers. Gourmet kitchens are also included within each residence, ... [with] custom cabinetry, over and under-cabinet accent lighting (LED), built-in microwaves, Italian pendant lighting and Italian marble countertops. ... Additionally, these residences feature luxurious designer bathrooms outfitted with pristine Italian white Carrera marble, Italian vanities, designer Italian sink faucets ... dual master bathroom sinks, as well as the modern door hardware and the oversized showers.  ...   Residence One features 1,400 square feet of space, and includes a private backyard. Residence Two offers 1,200 square feet and a private terrace. Residence Three offers 1,200 square feet of living space, as well as a private rooftop deck for additional enjoyment.

Additional information on the project is available at the project website, 515QStreet.com.

A copy of the project brochure, including floor plans, is available after the jump along with a picture of the previous building located at 515 Q Street, NW.

Mixed-Use, Post-Foster Care Housing Project Planned for 9th and S Streets, NW

As first reported by Lydia DePillis in the Washington City Paper, a mixed-used redevelopment project named "The Bridge" is being proposed for the northeast corner of 9th and S Streets, NW.

The project would entail the demolition of two buildings (1801-3 9th Street, NW, and 813-15 S Street, NW), including the former Townes Groceries building, and construction of a new building with approximately 14,000 square feet of space.

The new building would include 10 efficiency apartment units for young adults who have aged out of the foster care system, 3,271 of retail space, and 3,271 square feet of office space.

According to a project description package prepared by D.C. Housing Enterprises (a subsidiary of the D.C. Housing Authority, the District's public housing agency), as part of the project the National Center for Children and Families will "administer educational support, workforce development, and soft skills that will carry these children throughout their lives."

There are a couple of question marks regarding the project: the property does not appear to be owned by D.C. Housing Enterprises or the named developer, Thornwell Colden Foundation.  In addition, a Google search for that foundation produced no results.

View the project description package, including project images, project timeline, and project budget, after the jump.

News Bite: New Public Art Installation Unveiled at Convention Center

From the Shaw Main Streets website:

New Public Art Installation Unveiled at Convention Center

On May 9, 2012, Mayor Vincent C. Gray, Councilmember Jack Evans (Ward 2), Events DC President and CEO Gregory A. O’Dell and Executive Director of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Lionell Thomas celebrated the unveiling of Windows Into DC: Cultural Couture, a public art fashion project at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center with the DC Fashion Foundation.
 ...
To illustrate local fashion, select artists and fashion designers showcased couture fashion with scenic art installations along M Street, NW and a visual narrative highlighting six distinctive Washington, DC neighborhoods along the N Street corridor, between 7th & 9th Streets, NW.
...

Read the full news release here.

District Issues Solicitation for the Redevelopment of Parcel 42, at 7th and R Streets, NW

Parcel 42
[click image to enlarge]

The District government has issued a solicitation seeking proposals for the development of Parcel 42, a large, vacant, District-owned parcel at the northeast corner of 7th Street and R Streets, NW, diagonally across from the Shaw Library.

Site
Technically, Parcel 42 consists of two lots — the main development lot is an approximately 15,000 square foot vacant lot at the northeast corner of 7th and R Streets, NW (sometimes also referred to as 7th Street and Rhode Island Avenue, NW).  The second lot, which is also vacant, sits across the alley to the east of the main parcel and consists of approximately 1,700 square feet.  The image below shows the size and location of the parcels. 

Parcel 42 consists of the two lots outlined in red

Development Program
The solicitation provides developers with broad discretion in crafting the details of their development proposals, but it states that the District is seeking mixed-use development proposals with ground-floor retail and mixed-income residential units.  (The solicitation indicates that developers should "maximize" the number of housing units affordable to households at or below 80% of the area median income for the Washington metropolitan area, but no specific number or percentage of affordable units is required.)  The District is encouraging developers to submit development proposals that maximize development density through a planned unit development.

The solicitation also states that District is seeking "high quality architecture" for the project and proposals "are expected to have a signature design, which complements the neighborhood character, and creates a pedestrian friendly environment."

Timeline

• Responses to the solicitation are due by July 26, 2012
• A short list of developers (selected from the proposals that are submitted) will be announced in the summer of 2012
• A community presentation by the short-listed developers will be held in the fall of 2012
• A development team will be selected for the site in the late fall of 2012

The timeline is subject to future modifications.

Solicitation Document
The complete solicitation document is available after the jump.

Agenda Announced for ANC2C Meeting on May 2, 2012

The agenda has been announced for the Wednesday, May 2, 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 support of zoning relief (related to parking) for the proposed development project at 435 R Street, NW; a request for support for the use of the Shaw Junior High School parking garage by churches on Sundays; a presentation on options for improving the availability of parking for residents during Howard Theatre events; and consideration of grant requests from non-profits.

The full agenda is after the jump.

Bundy Field to Open May 12, 2012; Public Use Procedures Announced

Bundy Field will finally open for use by KIPP DC and the public on Saturday, May 12, 2012! 

Opening day events will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m and will include a ribbon cutting and a give-away of over 500 professional soccer balls to local youth on a first-come, first-served basis. (The U.S. Soccer Foundation made the balls available for $5 each; over $1,000 was raised from local residents and Douglas Development donated $1,000 in order to make the balls available for free.)

In addition, more details have been released regarding the use of the field by the public. As previously reported, primary use of the field has been granted to KIPP DC, which will generally have use of the field from 8:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. on weekedays and from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays.   At other times, the field will be available for use by the public. The field may be reserved by the public for organized sports and recreational activites by filing an application with the District's Department of General Services (available here). When the field is not being used by either KIPP DC or an oragnized group, the field will be available to the public for unorganized sports and recreational acitivites.

View a flyer for the opening day events and a copy of the field use rules after the jump.

Should East Shaw Be a Historic District?

One of the stated goals of the District's Comprehensive Plan is to establish a historic district in the eastern portion of Shaw, which the Comprehensive Plan calls the Shaw East Survey Area.  The likely boundaries of the historic district are shown in the image to the left.  (Click on the image for a larger view.)

At this time, though, the District's historic preservation office is not actively pursuing this goal, and a community-driven effort would be needed to make East Shaw a historic district. In the early 2000s, just such an effort was begun; however, the Advisory Neighborhood Commission, after originally supporting the proposed historic district, voted to oppose the potential designation.

What are your thoughts on the historic district proposal?  Would becoming a historic district benefit East Shaw?

Read more about the proposal, view a 182-page report on the history of the East Shaw area (which includes detailed information on the history of East Shaw's commercial establishments, schools, churches, and individual residential buildings), and add your comments, after the jump.

District Rejects Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Proposed in Shaw

The D.C. Department of Health (DOH) this week rejected the two applications that had been submitted to the District proposing to locate medical marijuana dispensaries in Shaw.  Each of the applicants had proposed to locate a dispensary on the 1500 block of 7th Street, NW — one at 1537 7th Street and one at 1539 7th Street, NW. (See prior posts on the applications here, here, and here.) 

To review the applications, DOH established a 6-member panel consisting of one  representative each from DOH, the Department of the Environment, the D.C. Office of the Attorney General, the Department of General Services Protective Services Division, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, and a public member selected by DOH.  Each application was scored based on factors set forth in the DOH application form, and only those applications scoring at least 150 points will be further considered.  Neither of the 7th Street applications met the 150-point threshhold.

The locations making the cut were the following:

• Herbal Alternatives, 1147 20th Street, NW
• Metropolitan Wellness Center Corporation, 409 8th Street, SE
• Takoma Wellness Center, Inc., 6925 Blair Road, NW
• VentureForth, LLC, d/b/a Center City Care, 1334 North Capitol Street, NW

The DOH notice announcing the results of the application review can be viewed here.

Shaw's Tavern to Start Serving Dinner and Drinks Tomorrow, April 13, 2012

Shaw's Tavern has announced that it will be open for dinner starting tomorrow night, Friday, April 13, 2012.   It will also start serving alcohol tomorrow, but will only serve beer and wine this weekend. 

The new hours are below:

Kitchen

• Monday thru Thursday:   Lunch, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.; Dinner, 5:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
• Friday:  Lunch, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.;  Dinner, 5:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m.
• Saturday: Brunch, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.;  Dinner, 5:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m.
• Sunday:  Brunch, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.;  Dinner, 5:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.

Bar

• Monday thru Thursday:  10:00 a.m.–12:30 a.m.
• Friday:  10:00 a.m.–2:30 a.m.
• Saturday:  9:00 a.m.–2:30 am
• Sunday:  9:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.