DC Metrocentric

 We talked about all the street construction going on around town, but even with all the closures and pot holes, we still have it better than in 1865 when the majority of streets throughout the area remained dirt. Recognize the building in the picture? It’s the Ford Theater. In fact most roads in the Distric were not paved until the early 1900s.

We can’t even imagine how things looked after a nice long week of rain like we have had recently!

[Photo: Library of Congress]

A bi-weekly take on the area from our friends at UrbanTurf.com

UrbanTurf Reader Asks: How Do People Like Living in Capitol Riverfront?

In this installment of UrbanTurf Reader Asks, a long-time DC resident who is thinking about buying her first home wonders if DC residents who reside in the Capitol Riverfront like living in the city’s newest neighborhood.

Read the rest of this entry on UrbanTurf.com »

Given that Winter is practically here, we can expect to see a lot of blocked streets and sidewalks over the next few weeks. The District has over 60 planned street work projects before the end of the year, including this work in Columbia Heights at the intersection of 14th and Irving NW… which is kinda hard to miss.

[Photo: Drastician]

We’ve known for a while that the skyline of Rosslyn is in for some major changes over the next few years with projects like Rosslyn Central Place and Moore Street redefining the view. This rendering really gives you a good idea of just how much taller the new buildings are going to be than the surrounding current structures. The views from the planned observation deck in Central Place are going to be amazing!

After being put on hold due to a contract dispute, the new DC Forensics Lab is finally back on track to begin construction. After a review by the city appellate board of a complaint by a local builder protesting the contract to a rival, the case was dismissed this week. Interestingly the competitors claim was that they could build the project faster, but their complaint has ended up delaying the project by six months.

The new facility is going to be a huge benefit to the cities already stretched crime labs which are currently spread out all over the city. The District has actually been relying on the FBI to help with their back log, but this new consolidated facility will remove that burden and speed up the services necessary to solve crimes. Hopefully this will be the last hurdle in the decade long quest to get this new facility built!

We think it’s a cool looking building too by the way… very CSI!

It’s time once again to take a look into the DCMetrocentric Mailbag! We received this heart breaking plea from a new home owner that has been having some major issues with DC housing bureaucracy.

Reader Charles writes in with a story of the saga he and his wife have been through over their new house and the neglected property that adjoins them.

“In March of 2008 we bought a house… in an excellent neighborhood, Mount Pleasant. We were aware of a run-down residence right next door, connected to our home, but our inspector said that nothing was affecting our soon-to-be “dream home.” Upon moving-in, we started smelling marijuana coming through the walls/floors of our house—seeping through from [the house next door]. Secondly, we noticed that [the house] was beginning to accumulate garbage in the backyard. Third, after looking closer… we noticed significant structural issues. We called the police and they refused to file a report. We then wrote/called DCRA and they promised to deal with the issue next-door. DCRA failed to truly enforce the laws;

Over the last 15 months we have written and conversed with DCRA representatives, all the way up-to the Director, Linda Argo. The only saving-grace in this fight is a guy named Jim Graham and his staff. Councilmember Graham has been working with us to get the attention of DCRA. Unfortunately, even with promises made by Nicholas Majett, Deputy Director, DCRA who represents Linda Argo the Director, neither Councilmember Graham nor myself have made any movement with DCRA. “

These issues have become so frustrating that the couple has even created a website to document their trials and tribulations. Unfortunately this seems to be an all to common story throughout the District. Does anyone have any advice for these new homeowners in how to deal with the unfortunate situation they find themselves in?

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

There must be something going on here, because even with the recent $200,000 price cut on the great looking and spacious Connecticut Ave four bedroom condo, your guesses didn’t even approach the $5.2 million listed price tag. Given that you can buy entire houses in that area for this price, a lower listing may be in the future for this one. What do you think?

Just in time for winter, the new Silver Spring Civic Center is putting the finishing touches on the foundation for its new outdoor ice skating rink. Unfortunately the area kids will only be able stare at the rink this winter, because the rink and the rest of the complex isn’t scheduled to be complete till next summer! Anyone thinking what we are thinking for how to make use of a water hose and a cold day?

[Photo: thecourtyard]

Maybe it was the perspective of previously released renderings, but we never realized how much movement the new Cooper Carey designed project at Glebe Road and Wilson Boulevard has. This is one great looking building! The project is currently under construction by JBG and will include more than 400,000 square feet of office space and 36,000 square feet of retail space; 90 units of affordable housing, and 28 town homes along the back to easy the transition into the surrounding low density.

This is going to end up being a fairly original looking building what with the recreation of the old car dealership diamond facade at the corner and the waved upper curtain walls. For those who disagree… let the glass bashing begin.

[Rendering: Cooper Carey]

A bi-weekly take on the area from our friends at UrbanTurf.com

H Street: A Place To Party, and To Settle Down

UrbanTurf is happy to announce that we recently formed a content partnership with The Washington Post. This article on the H Street Corridor appeared in Saturday’s “Where We Live” section and marks the beginning of that partnership.

Read the rest of this entry on UrbanTurf.com »

Looks like the downward blip in home prices is having a positive affect on home sales. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is reporting that existing home sales, including single family and condos, rose 9.4 % to 5.57 million, the highest since July of 2007. All the while inventory is continuing to shrink, which will continue to be a force going into the holidays when people typically avoid new listings. What do you make of it?

[Photo: KendraLR]

Arlington County seems to really have a good thing going with all the recent new affordable developments going up. Leading the charge is the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing, most recently with Parc Rosslyn, and soon the Views at Clarendon will be added to the mix.

It has been a long saga over the development above the First baptist Church of Clarendon, but finally things are ready to start moving. Once complete, the Views at Clarendon will provide Arlington County with 70 affordable and 46 market rate apartment homes, comprised of a mix of efficiencies, one, two and three bedroom homes. What do you think of the mixture of secular housing above the current church? Delivery is slated for Fall 2011.

[Renderings: Bozzuto Development]

Mt Vernon Triangle - The lot between the AIPAC building (pictured) and the I-395 air shaft has sat empty for years and now finally there is some action, though unfortunatley it was only to replace the chain link fence with a masonry wall. [The Triangle]

Southwest - Thanks to recent work by Congress, the National Women’s History Museum is one step closer to securing a location right off the National Mall next to the DOE. Now all they have to do is raise the $300 million needed to start construction. [Southwestquadrant]

Columbia Heights - After a short closure for some utility work, the park at 14th and Girard is back open. Luckily this had nothing to do with the past closures for faulty construction. [New Colombia Heights]

[Empty lot to the right, Photo by MV Jantzen]

Talk about a view, flickr user m hoek got a chance to see from a perspective usually reserved for tourists from the Washington Monument. The crane on the work site of Constitution Square in NoMa was the perfect vantage point for this shot towards the Capitol. Just looking at the picture we feel a little dizzy from the height and angle!

The first phase of delivery for Constitution Square is planned for next year.

[Photos: M Hoek]

What to do with 62 acres of land is something that is on the mind of District officials as they finalize plans to take over control of the old Walter Reed Army Medical Center, which is slated to close in 2011 and move to its new digs in Maryland (pictured). During the next 12 months the District will produce a reuse plan for the southern half of the campus, which is right along Georgia Avenue.

While it is still very early in the process, it is likely the final plans will call for mixed-use development along the Georgia Avenue corridor. If you are interested in following the progress, the development now has its own website walterreedlra.dc.gov and we know many people will be following this closely.

[Rendering: HKS Architects]