DC Metrocentric

We were very excited last year when we heard about the plans of the Mount Pleasant Solar Co-op to create one of the Countries first solar-powered communities.

Residents working with Switch LLC, a renewable energy company, are working to replace their electricity with 3,000 kilowatt-hours of solar power in at least 100 homes in Mount Pleasant.

However all this seems to be in jeopardy due to a complex conflict in regulations requiring power companies to fund energy efficient projects which may acctually end up deflect funds to other purposes. The neighbors were counting on credits to offset the cost of installation which would no longer exist if a proposed Ward 3 bill passes.

Read the rest of this entry »

If you have driven or walked down Vermont Ave NW between Thomas Circle and McPherson Square, there is no way you havn’t seen 1110! In a nod to the address the developers cleverly went with a binary theme that we just love! The building, designed by STUDIOS Architecture, features interactive light displays by world renown artist Meejin Yoon that also serves as the address display.

Wouldn’t it be funny if they also used it to send secret binary messages, no one would even know! [Flickr:Pinelife]

Ok we know the long delayed O Street Market project planed in Shaw has had some very vocal critics (though mostly Board members, not residents). However one thing most everyone can agree on is that something needs to be done with the property sooner rather than later. 

In the mean time, the building still stands empty and some say the market doesn’t meritt preservation. Critics say the building is not historically significant and is hampering further progress on the site. We think those folks should remember that preserving a buildings facade is also great from a sustainability perspective! No need to make new bricks or create the trash and pollution that comes from laying new brick. 

Well things may be about to change! We have just gotten word that Roadside Development is close to getting a final date set on the Zoning Commission’s schedule as a follow on to the initially positive hearing held on December 10th. Looks like this project is finally going to get some traction going! The community is behind it, what in the world are the elected officials waiting for? Set a hearing date and make a final decision already so that street corner can get back to being as lively and vibrant as it is in the rendering above! [Rendering: Roadside Development]

So we are a little perplexed by the sign we saw yesterday advertising a new project titled “Clarendon Alley.”

There is absolutely no information online about this project, located right off Wilson Blvd near the Clarendon Metro stop. Plus as far as we can tell there has been no application for any permits.

The sign advertises “a opportunity to build a unique retail, restaurant, or office location” and has a Baltimore phone number. It says the project is being developed by EBR properties, who we’ve never heard of in this area. Also there is nothing about EBR online and our calls to the number went unanswered.  

So what’s going on here? 

Read the rest of this entry »

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

Located right in the heart of Georgetown this looker has got some major things going for it, not the least of which is a garage!The sellers also claim that JKF once lived in the house built in 1900 and recently renovated. There are only 3 bedrooms but don’t let that throw you off, remember to price history into your guesses as well as the great location.  

So take your best guess and we will crown a winner next Monday afternoon, and should you need some more information to help you, follow the jump for the realtor spin and more photos including the roof deck and mahogany library…

Read the rest of this entry »

The National Association of Realtors reported this morning that sales of existing homes dropped to the lowest level in nine years to a rate of 4.8 million annually. The Commerce Department is also on tap to release the figure for new home sales for January which is also expected to fall.

With all this news clearly pointing to a weakened market you would expect NAR to be realistic when talking about housing. However NAR does not think that a housing slump is going on at all, and that the market is strong. The folks over at BubbleMeter have pointed out that NAR doesn’t have a good track record when it comes to accuracy about what’s going on in the housing market. Specifically singling out Lawence Yun the Chief Economist who really doesn’t have the best track record. Back in 2005 Yun said …

“The chance of a housing price decline in the DC area is close to zero, in my view. I anticipate that prices in DC will outpace the national average price growth. DC prices will rise at close to a 7 to 10 % rate of appreciation. “

We all know that didn’t happen! Prices in the area have actually declined. So what school of thought are you guys in? How do you think the market has been doing lately?

The Salvation Army’s new Solomon Brown Center in Anacostia broke ground last year and is still on track for completion by June of this year. As previously mentioned, the building has lots of great features including retail space, area for workforce training, a daycare center, chapel, classrooms, and a health club.

However the best part of the project is that all these great things which will benefit the community come in such a great looking package. Taking advantage of the opportunity to build a striking building while bringing needed services to the community sets this project apart in our book! Check out construction photos and even a live web cam on the developers website.  [WCS via AnacostiaNow] 

The DC USA complex in Columbia Heights, which we talked about last month, is right on schedule to open March 8th. However it’s not going to have the retail mix that area residents had originally hoped for… at least yet.

The developers, Gotham and Grid Properties, have from the start set aside space in the development for high-end retail. Unfortunately they have still not been able to secure any of those desired retailers. After initially looking to get a Nordstrom or similar department store, Target ended up as the anchor for the project, thus limiting the appeal to future high end retailers.  

However, with the success the area is bound to have, as long as the proprietors keep the space available and don’t succumb to changing their standards, the right level of retail is bound to want to join the neighborhood!

The Potomac Yards section of Alexandria, which used to be a rail yard, has a lot of construction going on lately now that all that space is available for development.

There is the new bridge realignment of Route 1, a new firehouse, new commercial buildings, and residential planned and currently under construction in the area. As a result there is a huge concentration of heavy equipment working to reshape the earth. 

We love this shot from flickr user Andertho who captured this apocalyptic shot using HDR to give the sky an incredible ominous look.

In the next few years Rosslyn is going to be unrecognizable from what it is now! There are a ton of new buildings planned to transform the skyline, but also a number of projects that will give face lifts to current buildings. A tipster sent us these great hypothetical “before and after” renderings. By the way, if you want to be a tipster or have anything else to say, we love to hear from you dcmetrocentric@gmail.com!

This building is part of the complex directly over the Rosslyn Metro station and we have always disliked how the first 5 floors were exposed parking. The new plan calls for an increase in street facing retail as well as a much nicer exterior finish. This will go a long way for changing the feel of the area, which at times can feel like a concrete canyon.

Read the rest of this entry »

Petworth - “And now horse heads… Actually, they kind of freak me out a little bit. Maybe I’ve just watched the Godfather one too many times.”  A little decoration is not so bad, but we think a Liger head would have been classier!  [PrinceofPetworth]

Ballston - “Dominion Virginia Power said yesterday that it plans to begin construction next month… in north Arlington, the largest power-line expansion in that area in more than a decade.“  With all those new condos, it’s amazing they didn’t need to do this sooner!  [WPost]

Washington Area - “Nominations are in for the James Beard Foundation Awards. The list includes nods to a number of locals.“  Personally we here at DCMetrocentric are more concerned with who will win the Golden Clog!  [DCist]

We just received these gorgeous renderings from a tipster at MPR Realty of the final designs for the Washington Gateway being planned on the corner of New York and Florida Avenues, Northeast. From what we’ve seen so far, it looks prety nice!

Located in DC’s NoMa neighborhood (which you know how we feel about), Washington Gateway is right next to the recently opened New York Avenue metro station on the Red Line. The great glass structures are brought to you by SK&I Architectural Design Group who is working on the residential building and hotel while Oculus is planning the plaza and streetscape design. Don’t you wish that designers would do more night time renderings? They look so cool!

Comprised of almost a million square feet of mixed-use development with a north and south office tower and a residential building, the site will serve as a “gateway” into DC from the NE. Most striking though will be the height of the building, which the developers some how got approved for over 40 feet taller than any other buildings in the area.

We have always thought that the WMATA bus yard in Ballston was a bad use of such prime land.

Well the folks at Shooshan Company apparently had the same thought and are currently in the entitlement process and the pre-development phase of building on the land

The project has already begun the Arlington County site plan review process and construction activities should begin in the winter of 2009. RTKL Architecture firm is doing the design which will feature a signature residential address, class-A office space, and a state-of-the-art secure facility.

The design pays lip-service to LEED principles and sustainable project elements so we shall see how that is incorporated into the plans. We are excited because this project will bring some much needed street facing retail and restaurants to the area which is generally devoid of anyone at night. Though with the new Noodles and Company going in down the street, who knows!