DC Metrocentric

Unlike some other developments going on in Rosslyn, the Water View has spectacular views and an excellent location at the base of the Key Bridge.

The new development will house the Hotel Palomar on the first 15 floors and residences the rest of the way up to the 31st floor observation deck.

From the looks of it, the build out is nearing completion. It will be nice when they finally finish and can repave the onramp to 66, currently it is a beat up mess that is no friend to the poor cars that have to pass by.

One more photo of the view from Georgetown after the jump

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Located at 2501 Pennsylvania Avenue, The buildings slogan is “Now you can live on Pennsylvania Avenue, without having to Campaign to get there.”

It’s a nice enough location, and a preservation of an existing facade, which is always something we can get behind. However, the building lists one of our pet peeves as an amenity… Walking distance to the Kennedy Center!!! Even if you wanted too, no one walks to the Kennedy center except Watergate Residence. The mangled pedestrian nightmare of highways in front of the Kennedy Center makes it all but inaccessible.

Your weekly chance to take a stab at real estate appraisal. Submit your guesses in the comments and closest guess gets the pricespotter crown for the week. 

This House/Medieval Castle that just came on the market has multiple “secret doors” and passageways. Though no one famous lived here, it is in a truly prime location (Thompson Circle) so that alone gives it major points.

The Big Reveal and bragging rights for the closest guess will be this Friday afternoon.

Two more pics and the details after the jump…

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We talked about the problems “Restaurant Three” was having getting its doors open last month, well things are looking a lot better now, as they are now hiring and have a menu put together.

A DC Metrocentric corespondent was dispatched to the site and it looks like the interior is done, and the outside patio is getting the finishing touches. 

This is one of the most prime locations for a restaurant in Clarendon (an entire new building was built over the old tiki hut/Greek restaurant on the corner of Garfield and Clarendon Blvd). It is interesting to note though that the space right on the other corner of the block (across from Harry’s Tap Room) is still unoccupied and has been for 2 years! Apparently the Class A commercial space is going for rates almost twice those for the area.

Though you might only be able to classify the people who lived in this North West DC home as “Famous for DC” they have all had perversely far reaching effects on the country and the world.

This one residence was the former home of:

Felix Frankfurter (Supreme Court Justice)
Henry Kissinger (National Security Advisor and Sec of State under Nixon)
Cyrus Vance (Sec of State under Carter)
Location: 3018 Dumbarton Ave NW

Take a look at what Rosslyn looked like in 1962 (top photo). You can see the River Place Apartments near the top right which are basically the only structures still prominent on the Rosslyn skyline to this day. 

By 1967, the old rail tracks had been removed, the new yet to be named Roosevelt bridge was built and Rt 66 was ready to bring the rising commuter population into the district from VA (second photo).

The Watergate Condos are some of the most prized real estate in the city.  Clearly they are valued for their nice views and in Condellezza Rice’s case, proximity to the State Department and White House doesn’t hurt either! Wonder if Condi’s recent late night piano jam sessions have been bugging the neighbors? 

[Photo: Time] The floor plan of Condi’s Apartment after the jump…

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Though development in Georgetown is common, an entire new development of row houses is not, which is just what we have with the new Wormley Row.

Just off the main drag of M street, Wormley Row is incorporating one old building with almost an entire block of new ground up structures to build 13 (extremely large, even for the area) row homes.

More on the scene construction photos, and what’s behind the strange name after the jump…

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This picture does not do justice to the amazing building art going on in Rosslyn. The feature consists of 4, four story planels with small metal fins that spin with the wind. There are millons of these little wings that, when moved, look like rippling waves accross the side of the building. 

When new developments incorporate art into their facade, it not only adds to the building but the general area as well. Its somthing everyone can enjoy. One question this does raise is what distiguishes a peice of art from the archetectural elements of a buildings design? Well, however you classify it, in this case it works, and looks great.

You can’t beat the location and with all the recent development along Mass Ave, a plethora of choices abound for those interested in living downtown. But today lets look at the developments who call on all their creative talents and name their condos after their address. 

List of addresses, literally, after the jump…

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Lets see…. 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, high ceilings, AND a “world-renowned”  architect? The results are in…

All this can be had by you for only $3,300,000 and who is this famous architect you may ask? well none other than… Jean Fillophani … yeah we have never heard of him either!!

Ever turn a corner downtown and think…”That wasn’t there yesterday”

Developments all over the area seem to spring up virtually overnight, and one can’t help but marvel at the people who make this possible. Especially in the commercial areas down town where noise restriction are during the day to protect the office workers, many buildings are completed under the cover of darkness. This well framed photo by Flickr user Kyle Walton captures these lost moments perfectly.

Credit [Flickr: Kyle Walton]

FindIt is your chance to show the world your intellectual prowess, or at least your photographic memory! Take your best most informed guess as to the location pictured.

The Berlin Wall fell November 9th 1989, yet some pieces have been brought to our DC Metro Area. Where was this picture taken? Have you been there? What do you think of the display?

The Nations Capital has Five major research Universities inside the Beltway. All of which are ever expanding and improving upon their infrastructure. Lets take a look at what’s going on at some of the area schools.

Georgetown U - The biggest construction going on is right in the center of campus. Pictured below is the new Business School being built right between the student center and the new realigned football field. The building broke ground in March 2006 and should be finished next year.

The George Washington U - The new Hospital built a few years ago helped reshape the look and feel of campus from the North. Now, due to the lack of reasonable housing options for many students the Capital Projects focus is going to be on housing. The townhouses on 23rd street and renovations to the of Business and Public Management’s new building (below) are the major current initiatives finishing up before new work begins. Maybe GW can ship some of their students to live on U Street.

Maryland U - Though not really downtown by any stretch, it’s still inside the beltway. Maryland is by far the most organized and public about what it’s doing in terms of construction and renovation. They have a detailed list of every single project. It lists everything from million dollar projects like Cole Field House Plaza renovations, to a couple hundred for a new flag pole. Major points to Maryland for transparency on their project funding!

The Turnberry Towers, currently being built in Rosslyn, has had an extensive national advertising campaign, Newsweek, radio, even the in-flight mag for USAirways, all of which have been touting spectacular views of Historical Georgetown University, National Cathedral, and the Potomac River. However notice the picture on the left which was taken facing in the direction of Georgetown and the river.

There are multiple 15+ story buildings between the Turnberry lot and the river, clearly blocking the views for most of the buildings future residence.

Turnberry has developed similar buildings, architecturally, and amenities wise in Las Vegas, Miami, and the Bahamas, all of which clearly have real views to boast, their new Arlington development… not so sure.