City Center Lost Potential?
20 11 2009Ok take a look at this rendering of the view along H Street of what the new City Center Development on the old convention center plot is going to look like. It is striking how much this looks just like any other block in the city. Having a plot of land to develop that is this large in the middle of such an urban area is a once in a life time opportunity to create a focal point that draws people in and this clearly from the street isn’t going to have that effect. What do you think?
[Rendering: Shalom Baranes Associates]
I agree is in not engaging from the street at all, they should have taken a chance and made a huge palazo like there are all over Europe that could be a gathering place and central point of the area.
I’m not sure why it’s striking how much it looks like any other block in the city. The architectural press keeps gushing over these glass boxes as shiny and new, but I don’t know of one landmark glass box from the 60’s and 70’s that we revear today. Glass does not age well, it either fades or fogs and the caulk joints need to be redone every so often. Even the hidden metal hooks that keep the glass up need to be replaced when rusted out. Why does anyone think these retro boxes will fare any better? If you imagine the rendering with the flanking masonry buildings in glass, the picture gets much bleaker.
Agreed. Definitely would be better with a some civicness… library, plaza, park, shopping, etc… This property could be a cornerstone of the city.
I thought there was going to be some kind of courtyard? Seems to be hidden though. This project is a disappointment. It might have been fine for a regular office building but this was supposed to a special development, no? It is just another glass box to me. Typical DC mediocrity.
This is the view along H St which already exists. The buildings to the left are there now. What this render doesn’t show is the interior of City Center, this is just the south border of the development. They’re not going to take away the existing street.
So there is still hope that within the development there will be a open space.
I think a small plaza planned for the project at 10th and Eye (they are reconnecting the street grid).
I’m going to have to agree that I’m underwhelmed by the plans. Since the project is low on public amenities I hope the retail space is substantial and follows all the best practices. That would mean high ceilings on the ground floor, narrow but deep spaces to allow many uses on one block, etc…
Even compared to the glass boxes in the earlier renditions, this is disappointing. I thought there was going to be masonry on the perimeter, with glazed alleys. That would have been great.
Glass technologies have improved though, and the quality of design is much better than it was even a decade ago. I don’t think it’s safe to completely dismiss some of the newer projects in DC like Lafayette Tower.
Isn’t there space programmed in the development to accommodate a new department store?
I think it is pretty difficult to pass judgement on a seven building development with one view of the condo buildings. Having seen all the plans there is an interior courtyard between the four residential buildings, 10th and I Streets are being added back to the grid, there are pedestrian alleyways paved with cobblestone that cut through mid-block, all the loading and parking is underground so that retail lines all streets and alley ways, 20% of the housing is affordable and there is a bow tie park at NY Ave and 11th. The problem right now is financing. This is an $800 million project (not counting the 400 unit hotel room) and it is stalled in the credit markets.
To answer the last question, there is not a department store as of the last merchandising plan. The retail has a local / unique requirement though. 35% of all the retail has to have less than 6 other locations nationwide so there will be plenty of opportunities for local business. I think the largest space is in the 20 to 25k range.
Any estimate or best guesses on when this could (finally) break ground?
That is actually a view of the two office buildings. All off the 4 residential buildings have balconies.
The central plaza with retail alleys will be truly great, even if these two office buildings are not…
there is absolutely no reason that what was a city owned gigantic plot, that we have waited so long to have anything done with should be anything less than amazing. this is a shameful.
there should be no unflattering angles.
these boxes are destroying the visual integrity of dc.
…………oh sorry, what?
I dozed off while looking at that photo.
While I agree that we can’t judge the entire project from this one picture, none of the renderings that have been published have shown anything memorable. I’m sure it has a lot of well-thought, intimate details, but overall–as with a lot of other DC projects–this current plans seem to lack any oomph. Wow, cobblestone lanes, I think we have enough of those around here. How about a stunning, modern design that’s bold and says, “This is the new DC, biotch.”
And while we’re at it, I bet the developers have been chasing after all the high-end department stores, but no one is going to bite in this environment. Still, this site is PERFECT for a department store, and downtown DC is screaming for another one. How about getting creative and chasing after a Uniqlo or something?
Below is a link to the CCDC brochure; the project is much more animated than the above photo makes it out to be:
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/HA/citycenterdc/index.php#/0
This view is of 12th Street, NW, looking north from the intersection with H Street NW.
[…] month we went on a little rant about the potential of the City Center project on the empty 10 acre site in heart of downtown DC. Things were not […]