As construction continues at the massive City Center development on the site of the old Convention Center downtown, the impact on the street-scape is starting to become apparent, and from the look of some of the structures, it sure is looking shiny!
Mostly from the exterior blocks, it isn’t going to look much different from many other areas of downtown, the real game changer is going to be the interior pedestrian plaza, which will feature lots of outdoor furniture and park like features to create a sense of central square (see below).
At its monthly meeting today the National Capital Planning Commission finally accepted the SW Ecodistrict Plan that we first got a peek at last summer. The plan proposes to transform the 15-block area just south of the National Mall into a highly sustainable, walkable neighborhood and workplace that connects the National Mall with Washington’s southwest waterfront.
Check out this rendering of a new mixed use, transit oriented project being developed by MRP and AEW as a joint venture right across from the Huntington Metro Station in Alexandria. The six-acre development is designed by SK&I Architects and will include 360 LEED-certified apartments, an 110,000-square-foot hotel and a 260,000 square foot office building.
Construction is planned to start later this year. [Rendering: SK&I]
If you have been anywhere around SE near the Yards development you have probably seen these signs (pictured below) announcing the opening of two of the most anticipated adaptive reuse projects in the city. The WWI era Boilermaker Shops and the Lumber Shed have been under construction for a while with a slew of announced retailers and restaurants that should get anyone excited, and even though the opening of the Boilermaker Shops is getting close, clearly by the look of the build out (other than the dry cleaner), it ain’t happening in 2012 like the sign says.
However have no fear because come the Spring most of the Boilermaker shops will be open for business including the Bluejacket brewery from the folks behind Churchkey/Birch and Barley who are targeting March 2013.
The Lumber Shed (pictured below) is definitely on track for 2013, and once the weather starts to get warmer again, this area is going to have a lot more going for it beyond just being a destination near the Ballpark!
Nothing like some good old demolition and heavy machinery to get us excited! These great shots of the old trash transfer station in Southeast show how very close this plot of land is to the Capitol, so it makes sense the site will be put to a more high density use in the future, most likely planned apartments as well as a mixed income development.
It might have been cool if they could have saved the old smokestack in some capacity, but adaptive reuse of the structure was not in the cards for this building in a neighborhood that only a few years ago was unrecognizable from all the old that has made way for the new.
Mt Vernon Triangle is going to be getting some new condos soon courtesy of a WDG designed modern 8 story addition on top of a current three story warehouse on NY Ave which dates back to the beginning of the 1900s. Interesting to see the preservation of the warehouse which is right across from CityVista, it’s not particularly distinctive or interesting but it will definitely preserve some of the original character of what this area, in a very recent past, once was.
The developers are shooting for a June 2014 completion date.
One of the last undeveloped large block parcels in Clarendon is now a full fledged construction site. What once was (among other things) the site of a bank, a used car lot, and a gravestone store, will soon be 3001 & 3003 Washington Blvd as two separate but connected buildings.
The Noritake Associates designed development includes a 10-story, 200,000 sq-ft office building with complementary architecture incorporating an existing art deco façade and an 8-story, 80,000 sq-fte building adjacent fitting into the triangle lot footprint. The ground level of both buildings will bring 28,000 square feet of retail.
Check out the renderings of how the development will look…
The cities ever expanding density of burger purveyors continues with the announcement that the (very tasty) New York import Shake Shack is adding its third location right in the heart of downtown as part of the Spy Museum block right across from the Portrait Gallery. Shake Shack will occupy 3200 square feet at the corner of 9th and F Street, NW with an expected opening of mid-2013.
Just as in previous years, the Discovery Channel’s building in downtown Silver Spring is sporting a massive shark in celebration of the now ubiquitous Shark Week. Even though we’ve seen this before, it still gives a good shock every year being greeted by a three story tall shark protruding from a building!
Since breaking ground last year, the CityMarket at O has been making steady progress, and now you can watch it all in time lapsed glory courtesy of a strategically placed construction cam. Once complete next year, the project will eventually encompass 635 residential units, 401 market-rate apartments, and 150 high-end condominiums, a 72,000 sq ft Giant Flagship plus restaurants and retail.
After what seems like years of the old Lumber Shed standing as nothing more than a shell along the Capitol Riverfront in Near Southeast, work is finally underway to transform the old Navy yard building into a glass retail and restaurant pavilion. Once complete, the 30,000 sq-ft. glass pavilion will have five restaurants and the second floor will house some offices for the developer Forest City.
The project is now on track for opening up next Summer including the recently announced NYC import restaurant Osteria Morini. With the new residential and restaurants opening in the currently under construction Boiler Maker Shops, this area is going to be hot come next summer! [Rendering: Forest City]
The pace of development of CityCenterDC is still going full steam as all of the structures are now above ground. This first phase will contain approximately 1.3 million sq. ft. and will include two 11-story office buildings, two 11-story apartment buildings, and two 11-story condo buildings all still on track for a 2013 opening.
In addition to all that office and residential space there is going to be a ton of retail and park space, still waiting to hear who some of the major retailors retailers are going to be though…
We just got word that a new joint venture between MRP and ASB Realty will be developing a brand spanking shiny new glass tower at 900 G Street, NW. Initially they were planning a renovation, but given the location and improving office market, they are going with a brand new ground up building with construction starting by late summer.
The nine-story building situated on the southwest corner of the 9th and G St, NW intersection in the Penn Quarter will feature approximately 112,000 square feet enclosed in a glass curtain wall (shocker!), and they plan to go for LEED Gold certification. Click the above rendering for a larger view.
With the cities officials in Las Vegas at RECon this week talking up all the great new developments going on DC, the developers behind some of the largest new mixed use projects including Union Market and The Wharf came with some nice looking models to help give a better picture of how the developments will end up looking.
Above is a concept for Union Market and below is The Wharf with a major focus on the waterfront and what looks like some major room for boats!
