Sometimes a great shot is being at the right place at the right time. Apparently there are still some issues to be worked out with the new Circulator Bus. Jeff Cohen captured this great shot at Thomas Circle of a bus that just side swiped a utility van this afternoon… talk about having a safe day! Metro, we have irony on the phone for you!
[Photo: jdcohen]
Apparently The Plaza on K is definitely not going to be another one of those built only to sit around empty projects. We spoke with the people behind the huge HOK designed multi phase development in SE to see how the project is progressing and apparently not much has happened since the big “For Lease” sign went up. The building is looking for a lead tenant and isn’t going to do anything till they have one.
As a result, the timeline is on hold till a certain percentage of leases are secured, currently the building is zero percent leased, so we are looking at having an empty lot on the location for a while. We have to say though, that when ever it does get built, it’s going to be a nice looking building from what we’ve seen.
[Photo: Sean Robertson]
Ever since we told you about the finalists for the new new National Museum of African American History back in January we have been anxiously awaiting the designs. Well the wait is over, the Smithsonian has finally unveiled the designs from the six firms competing to build the new Museum and there are some really interesting ones.
Pictured (via WPost) is the submission from Foster and Partners and is a Hirshorn-esque layout with some really great looking green roofs. The final design, which will be chosen next month, is going to be built on one of the last prime spots along the National Mall between 15th and Constitution. They are targeting a 2015 completion date.
The proposal which is our choice for “most likely to cause traffic accidents from gaping tourists” is after the jump…
The anticipation has been driving us crazy, but soon we should have an idea about how the planned Eisenhower Memorial slated to be built along Independence Ave is going to actually look. With proposals from names like Gehry, Saitowitz, Safdie, and Krueck the final design is guaranteed to be incredible. Taking the memorial in a contemporary direction was intentional apparently and we will bring you the designs as soon as they are announced in a few weeks!
Of course any development on the National Mall is not without controversy. As you can see from the site location, the memorial would potentially shut off part of Maryland Ave which is the SW counter part to Pennsylvania Ave. Opponents argue that this would not only ruin the symmetry and city layout, but also cut off a thoroughfair to the Southwest area of the city.
We get the symmetry thing, but if you have ever been down in that area, it’s not exactly a busy thoroughfair like Pennsylvania Ave, not even close. What do you think of the sites location?
[Rendering: Eisenhower Memorial Commission]
We have always been big fans of restoring and repurposing old industrial buildings, so the Boilermaker Shop project which is part of the Yards in near Souteast has us really excited. It has the potential to create the same type of atmosphere as the Faneuil Hall project in Boston with that open air retail type feeling.
The building was once used to make boilers for Navy ships and still has a great industrial look to it! The HDR treatment by Sean doesn’t hurt either but really most of the work is going to be done inside to prepare it for all the new retail and restaurants, should be finished up by second quarter of 2010. [Photo: Sean Robertson]
Rendering by the developer of the finished project after the jump…
A bi-weekly take on the area from our friends at UrbanTurf.com
DC Metro’s Top 5 Neighborhoods for Foodies
We don’t dare try and compete with Washingtonian’s “Best Restaurants” issue or the City Paper’s Best Of DC issue (published today). However a few months ago, we were lucky enough to have Basheer Murshed, long-time DC resident and wine director at the widely-praised Komi offer up his picks for the best areas when it comes to quality food spots. As we noted back in July, property prices are rarely, if ever, dictated by the food options in a certain neighborhood. That said, it will probably come as no surprise that some of the best neighborhoods in the DC area for restaurants are zip codes where the homes are not cheap.
U Street - Cleanergate 2009, the case of the missing shirts captivates local media over CS Cleaners closure. [14th and You]
Southwest - The new Waterfront Station development is looking for some retail tenants to join the Safeway and CVS. [SWDC Blog]
Anacostia - Springtime comes to town! [And Now, Anacostia]
Brookland - The Great Streets initiative closes roads… permanently, but apparently in a way that’s good for the neighborhood. [Bloomingdale (for now)]
Your weekly chance to take a stab at real estate appraisal.
Well we must say that your guesses for the most part were a little high, which only shows how much a location can skew how people value a property. The five bedroom federal classic is listed for $1,639,000.
The big winner this week is Alexa W.
History of Southeast Navy Yard - The Capitol Riverfront BID is sponsoring a lecture on the rich history of the Nation’s oldest shore establishment, from its early days, to the burning of the Navy Yard, to Lincoln, and its uses during both World Wars - March 31st at 11am, US Navy Museum [More Info]
Sustainable Communities - ASLA sponsors this lecture series on sustainability, this month “Water Knows No Boundaries” discussing practical solutions for cleaning up watersheds - March 31st at 6:30pm, National Building Museum [More Info]
[Photo: Mr. T in DC]
A bi-weekly take on the area from our friends at UrbanTurf.com
UrbanTurf Happy Hour Next Wednesday, April 1st
UrbanTurf is proud to announce its first happy hour next Wednesday, April 1st, from 6 to 8pm at Buffalo Billiards in Dupont Circle. The event will serve as an excellent opportunity for prospective home buyers to talk with one another about the neighborhoods, buildings and price points at which they are looking. And also have a drink or two. Details after the jump.
We know that Rosslyn Central Place is going to look great from the outside… and now we know the inside is going to look great too! We got our hands on some of the interiors for the new building and they look great. Each tenant will define how their individual floor looks but the common spaces and top floors will have fresh light colored wood finishes lit up by those floor to ceiling windows.
[Rendering: Byer Blinder Belle]
Everyone has an opinion on architecture, what’s yours?
Never before in our city has a neighborhoods architectural personality been so quickly redefined than in Near Southeast. The huge redevelopment of the area, sparked by the new Nationals Stadium, has definitely skewed towards glass and steel and stands as an example of the most popular architectural styles of the last few years.
Our question to you is what do you think? Has it created a post modern wasteland of vanilla buildings, or do the developments create a mosaic that will define the area for years to come? [Photos: Sean Robertson]
New renderings of the Founder’s Square project by Shooshan Company. The proposed 1.2 million sq-ft development is in the heart of Ballston on the current site of the Metro bus yard and has already received approval from Arlington County for the site plan. Pictured below is the view from the corner of Quincy Street and Wilson Blvd.
Another rendering with a view from Wilson Blvd after the jump…
Apparently this market is even starting to take a toll on the sovereign foreign countries that own property in the District. The Washingtonian brings word that due to the colapse in the financial sector, Iceland is selling their ambassador’s Tudor-style mansion in Kalorama. The property has been on the market since January and is listed for only $5.65 million.
A few more shots of the mansion interior after the jump…
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. This weeks PriceChecker is a beautifully restored 1920s home in Cleveland Park.
This 5 bedroom classic looking Federal style home comes in at hefty 4,115 sq-ft. We can tell you that a full restoration in 2004 makes this house move in ready and it almost looks like it’s brand new on the inside. Interestingly there are only 3 bathrooms, one on each floor, but don’t let that throw you off.
So take your best guesses and we will crown a winner Friday afternoon, and should you need some more information to help you, follow the jump for the realtor spin and a pic of a killer backyard patio…
