DC Metrocentric

We just got word that the commercial section of the Watergate complex has finally been pulled off the market after the property attracted little interested from potential buyers. The section of the complex was bought by BentleyForbes in 2005 for $90 million and includes the  Soviet Senior Safeway as well as the site of the famous Nixon burglary.

The Watergate Hotel and the COOP Condos lived in by Condi Rice and Bob Dole are owned seperatly and were not included in the failed sale. It seemed obvious that they would be unable to sell the commercial space at an acceptable price in the current market. The real question though is when will Monument Realty get their act together and get moving on the refurbishment of the currently closed Watergate Hotel tower. That’s prime property that is just sitting around empty.

Right off 14th Street Northwest in Columbia Heights is the Belmont, designed by Bogdan Builders.

There is so much construction going on in that area these days that it is difficult to keep track of things, and the big hole in the ground next to it (pictured forground with the Clark sign) is a separate project called the View14 Apartments.

As for the Belmont, its a boutique condo with 15 ft ceilings and is being billed as loft style living. We’re not sure how the design embodies their catch phrase “visionary elegance” but it’s a nice looking project none the less. Check out the rendering of what the finished project is going to look like. It will definitely fit into the area well. [Photo: DCMetrocentric]

We have to say that we are big fans of the new sustainability exhibit that opened this weekend at the US Botanical Garden.  It is definitely worth checking out, especially the 40 sculptures of “whole-earth” solutions to the problems of living unsustainably. This great shot by Erin M looks so whimsical…

Maybe if the Congressmen looked out their windows they might eventually see the importance of alternate energy! The exhibit runs till October check it out. 

  DC United’s Poplar Point Stadium - Members of the D.C. Council are putting together a bill that could provide $100 million  dollars in subsidies for a D.C. United stadium at Poplar Point. Is this the momentum they need to get this thing built? [WBJ]

Your weekly chance to take a stab at real estate appraisal.

Now that you’ve gotten a chance to check out the lovely modern glass home in Forest Hills Northwest and all your guesses are in… we can reveal that the award winning home can be yours for only $3.5 million.

The guesses were a little all over the place, but the high guesses are understandable given the way the thing looks at night. The residence was designed by award-winning architect Travis L. Price as his own personal home (good call JRad).

When we posted about the new construction going on for the new Arena Stage yesterday, we got a bunch of messages asking about what the new finished building is going to look like, well ask and you shall receive… the flowing modern glass addition (pictured below) will add another performance space and a lobby that connects all the theaters. So what do you think?

[Rendering: Bing Thom Architects]

Among the numerous construction sites along K Street NW we think the most hotly anticipated project has to be 901K.

We sent our crack team out to the site (pictured left) and it looks like the foundation is ready and the building is set to rise from the ground! We spoke to the design team and we liked everything we heard, but the one design feature we still don’t understand is the feature the developers are calling ”Spa like” restrooms. We have no idea what that means… will there be masseuses waiting for you in there or something?

Of course spa bathrooms aren’t all 901K has going for it, the building has a lot of other cool features that haven’t been seen in this area including a luminescent glass curtainwall as well as a unique European-style terra cotta façade. Though the best part of the building has to be the roof, which as you can see below is a green oasis in a city of concrete, oh and it will have views of the city. How amazing does this rendering look!

As you can see, there is a major renovation project underway at the site of the Arena Stage in Southwest along Maine Ave. In order to accommodate the renovations and continue the company performance schedule, the Arena Stage has set up a nice temporary space in Crystal City. Amazingly, the performance schedule has very little interruption and should be ready to resume operating out of the new space in early 2010.

[Flickr Photo: M.V. Jantzen]

Some parts of the DC Metro area seem to have construction on every corner, while in other neighborhoods, new projects are more rare. Along Massachusetts Ave in NW it’s more of the later, with all the embassies and classic old mansions lining the avenue, new projects are rare. Over the last year though, we have been eagerly watching the SGI Buddhist Cultural Center go up, and now it’s all finished. 

The building designed by architect Bill Helmuth finished up right on schedule and we think it really did a good job striking a balance between form and function in an area with varying styles of architecture. It looks like the building will bring some good karma to the neighborhood!

Follow the jump for some more shots by SteveWunder of the finished exterior…

Read the rest of this entry »

Monument Realty is not for sale… no really we promise!  [WBJ]

Group seeks to restore the World War I Memorial.  [NBC]

Park Place tops out and Georgia Commons gets green light.  [DCBiz]

As we all know, Memorial Day is more than just picnics and BBQs, it’s about remembering those who served our country. Living in the metro DC area we are lucky to have many great locations for the architectural enthusiast to both enjoy the weekend and reflect on the sacrifices made by those who helped preserve the freedoms we all enjoy.

The World War II Memorial (pictured) is one of the newer memorials, having only been built in 2004, and is a good place to start because of it’s proximity to other sites if you want to tour around the mall today and tomorrow. Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend! [Flickr Photo: Badger Jedi]

It looks like the new DC legislation we mentioned last month that was designed to significantly raise the costs of keeping abandoned run down properties in the District, is having some unintended negative consequences for area residents.

The Washington City Paper is reporting that the recent increase in property tax assessments for vacant properties has led to homeowners in non-vacant buildings to be erroneously charged the higher rate. We can only imagine how difficult these errors will be to fix given the slow bureaucracy of the District we all know and love. 

This house pictured above at 11th and Vermont, NW was abondoned for years, but within the last month all the ivy has come down and it looks completely different, though the clean up actually made it look worse in our opinion. We suspect that the new legislation had something to do with the quick cleanup of a bunch of buildings around town that we have noticed! 

[Flickr Photo: Ronnie R]

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

Maybe there is something in the DCMetrocentric watercooler, but for some reason we are really into contemporary architecture this week. Today’s PriceChecker is a ridiculous modern home by an AIA award winning architect.

Located in Forest Hill Northwest near Rock Creek Park, this three bed room 3,500 sq-ft home is a copper and steel sentinal that has all the new sustainability design elements. It was actually built to be the home for the architect who designed it.

So take your best guess and we will crown a winner next Wednesday afternoon, and should you need some more information to help you, follow the jump for the realtor spin and another photo of the slightly nautical other side of the house…

Read the rest of this entry »