DC Metrocentric

When the Arlington Board approved the addition of a new Metro entrance to the Orange line at Ballston last year, we were itching to know more!

Now there are finally some more details about what’s going to go above the new west Metro entrance. The project being developed by JBG will be called the Fairmont and judging by the renderings, it’s going to be very classy glassy!

This residential building will complete the Arlington Gateway site, which consists of office buildings, residential buildings, retail, and the new Westin Hotel. The lot where the Fairmont will be built is one of the last redevelopment sites in the high density district surrounding the Ballston Metro station, bordered by N. Quincy St., Fairfax Drive, Glebe Rd., and Wilson Blvd. So what do you guys think?

Can you imagine what this section of the 400th block of New York Ave would look like if the entire block was row homes like the one on the right? Unfortunately, this is all that’s left and this block the building on the left is slated for demolition. The building was a good try the first time, maybe starting over a new building on the block will get a little more traction! 

Check out the details around the windows on the 4th floor, this building was clearly built at a time when things were looking up on the block. With the demolition of these old buildings the building on the left, maybe things will start to look up again! [FlickrPhoto:rockcreek]

Often times you get BuildingOnBuilding action as a result of developers building around/on-top of another not because they want to, but because an owner held their ground and didn’t sell out.

However more often it’s because the developers are legally required to save the building. This NW block has the old surrounded by the new, and we like it! Thanks National Register, for helping make our cities streets not just one long stretch of glass and concrete! [FlickrPhoto:army.arch]

Up goes the brick and the DuMont condos at 425 Massachusetts Ave NW are almost done. This is right on schedule for a Spring 2008 delivery, just like their website has been saying since 2005. We must say that we are fairly impressed with the Broadway Group for being able to stick to their plan so well, especially in an area where developers have been delaying and canceling projects left and right!

We like the wavy effect and the lines of the building, though the original renderings were much more aggressive, the idea came through in the final building. Oh yeah, the building also has a rooftop pool just like Senate Square, so it’s shaping up to be a pretty great building for everyone else to be jealous of during the hot summer months downtown! [FlickrPhoto:Eye Captain]

You may have missed this Chevy Chase home because of its seclusion. This property doesn’t employ your typical modern day methods though… they have a moat!

Of course the house matches the moat and looks just like a renaissance castle inside and out! The gatehouse is all that’s left on the 100-acre estate from the original property built in the 1920s by socialite Daisy Calhoun.

Don’t worry though, the house that replaced the original is just as much a castle with a turreted tower and filled the brim with all the antiques and reproductions fitting the period. The current owners of the property, who inherited the place in 2001, have had some additions done, but all work was kept in the original style of the home. The house is even still referred to by locals by its original name given by Calhoun’s husband’s Scottish clan: Rossdhu Castle. How absolutely Medieval!

We have been known to complain about how inaccessible the Kennedy Center is and how the center is so disconnected from the surrounding area. Well finally the collective wisdom of area planners have asked for a submission of concept to change all that, and the folks at Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn have responded with some phenomenal ideas!

As you can see EE&Ks plan connects the Kennedy Center to the waterfront and to the surrounding city, including the adjacent Foggy Bottom neighborhood and the National Mall. We especially like the outdoor amphitheater and what they call the grand allée between the center and the Lincoln Memorial. We just hope these ideas see some form of reality!

Follow the jump for the overhead layout rendering…

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Remember the new row homes we showed you being built on Prospect Street in Georgetown a few months ago? Well the construction is almost complete and they are ready for people to start moving in. There’s only one problem… they are having trouble finding anyone who’s interested!

According to the sales folks at Wormley Row, they have only sold one home so far after being available for an entire year.

It looks like they are in the same situation that many of the new projects coming onto the market face right now, they were priced before the extent of the current house crisis was known. Since the financing is tied to these numbers, properties have to stick to their original pricing or they don’t make a profit.  

Wormley Row is in such a great location though, we find it amazing that only one unit has sold, we will be sure to keep you posted! [Flickr Photo: AlbinoFlea]

Local Revitalization Projects Put On Hold  [Wpost]

Retail Slow to Adopt Green Practices  [BusinessJournal]

Rent Strike in NW!!!!!  [Examiner]

Right on Wisconsin Ave just south of Bethesda sits this lovely home, taking a literal stance against the notion that home owners should be beholden to their lawns.

We want to make clear that we here at DCMetrocentric in no way support the elimination of lawns.

The Bethesda homeowners have “decorated” their “lawn” with various objects that really don’t do much to distract from the utter lack of life. The only part of the property that we do like is the outdoor patio which has a cool modern shelter and entertainment space. What do you think? Is the property totally horrid, or is there some modern thing going on that we just don’t get?

The Uline Arena on M Street NE near Union Station is one of those historic landmark buildings that proves the distinction is not all about looks. Once called the Washington Coliseum, the building was built using a now-rare thin concrete construction method to build arched supports, however that’s not the reason for the designation either.

It’s all about a little group called the Beatles. Their first North American concert was performed February 11, 1964 in the building, which unfortunately is now closed to public. Would this building have earned Historic Landmark Status if it didn’t hold such a special place in music history? It’s hard to say, but hopefully in the future it will be better utilized than it is now.

In the city of museums, wouldn’t a Beatles museum be a great use of the space? Hey we can dream!

We love how this photo by Flickr user morganglines captures the beautiful sight lines of the city and how bright and welcoming DC looks. The yellow lighting really ties the picture together and if it weren’t for the small Washington Monument that you can make out on the horizon, it could have been any city in the world.

Wish we had that view from our apartment!

Yes that’s right, time to start getting excited because that’s the Target sign for the newest area outpost going in at the new DC USA center in Columbia Heights.

We can’t wait till the shopping-cart escalators go in, and we here at DCMetrocentric will be the first to bring you all the action! 

[FlickrPhoto: Mr. T in DC]

The Ska Gakkai International Buddhist Culture Center is finally under construction on Mass Ave NW and we have to say it’s looking good! The building is designed by architect Bill Helmuth and looks like it’s going to fit right in among the embassy’s and mansions in the neighborhood.

The building will be used for Buddhist education and prayer, featuring a 200-seat main sanctuary, bookstore, and something called a Friendship Room. The project broke ground all the way back in 2006 and the project is on track to be completed by this summer.

[FlickrPhoto: Stevewunder] Another construction photo after the jump…

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