DC Metrocentric

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.

[Renderings: WDG]

The adaptive reuse and restoration project of the old telephone switching station building along 14th is nearing completion and some of the buildings new “loft style” condo units are ready for prime time! The a 36 unit Eric Colbert designed “Northern Exchange” plans full delivery early next year from PN Hoffman, and in an area replete with lots of larger scale apartment buildings, the market is certainly ready for some new condos in this hot neighborhood.

A quick render versus reality comparison shows a close adherence to the original building dating all the way back to 1903… looks good!

Rendering: [PN Hoffman]

Amazingly after almost seven years of delays, starts, and stops, the ZOM in Clarendon is finally under construction. We had to send out our spys to see for ourselves and sure enough, there was construction equipment moving and a new financing sign from USAA on the prime lot just across from Liberty Tavern and the Clarendon Metro station. We are really interested to see how the design translates into the neighborhood, considering the renderings show that they are keeping the disheveled restaurant buildings currently on the corner including Sam’s.

[Photo: DCMetrocentric]

By the look of the latest renderings for the planned Meridian Hill Baptist Church residential building, it is out with the glass and in with the limestone. In order to appease the Historic Preservation Review Board, the facade now echos the historic Mt Pleasant Church’s lighter stone facade. Designed to wrap around the church, the intent is now to not over power the historic classical building, and hopefully the toned down approach will do the trick.

Plan is to be ready for delivery at the end of next year and finish the Church restoration, which you may remember suffered structural damage during a terrible five alarm fire back in 2008.

[Rendering: Martinez and Johnson Architects]

After breaking ground earlier this year, construction is well underway along Clarendon Blvd in Rosslyn on the new 117 unit luxury condo building Gaslight square. The development is right next to the impressive looking and “lofty” Wooster and Mercer built by the same developer Abdo, and will feature similarly high ceilings of up to 19 feet.

True to name, the new project is going to have a bunch of gas lights surrounding the property as well as throughout a large interior courtyard. We are especially interested to see how the exterior finishes end up looking!

[Photos: DCMetrocentric]

Check out this rendering that just arrived in our inbox from PGN Architects of a new condo building planned for 300 L St NE. According to H Street Great Street, Valor and Ellisdale are jointly developing the 6 story, mixed-use building with about 50 condos and over 5,000 sq-ft of retail. Ground breaking is scheduled for the beginning of 2012.

[Rendering: PGN Architects]

As you can see work is well underway on the most originally named new residential project in town… the District Condos. The corner building is being preserved as part of the larger new structure which will fill the current big hole. Work will continue through next year.

[Photos: ElvertBarnes]

It is starting to feel a little like 2006 with all these ground breaking ceremonies left and right, up today is the new (and creatively named) District Condos from JBG along 14th St NW. First up is to raze the buildings currently on the site near S street and then commence with the infrastructure. All told the project is expected to last 18 months, putting completion in 2012. The design is starting to grow on us…

Well we finally have a name for the new development from JBG along 14th Street… District Condominiums. Based on the rather original name, we also now know that the 125 unit project is in fact going to go Condo. Sign of times to come?

The site of the former Whitman-Walker clinic is a great location for residential with Café Saint-Ex and the Black Cat, among others only steps away and we think adding some more residents to the neighborhood and more eyes on the streets will be a good thing, not so sure about the look of the Shalom Barnes designed building above though. Construction is scheduled to be complete by Spring 2012

[Rendering: Shalom Baranes]

Get ready because we suspect this is just the beginning of a big shift in our cities housing inventory as more and more people look to step back into the condo market. UIP just bought the 42 unit building at 1800 Wyoming Ave in Adams Morgan to convert into condos.

Originally The Classical Revival style apartment buildings were constructed in 1912 by Hunter and Bell Architects and will get the full makeover before being marketed next year.

What’s a Million dollars among friends right? The 3,000 sq-ft condo in the Watergate that we featured on PriceChecker last August is still on the market, but for a cool million less than the $4.5 million it was originally asking. That’s over a 22% discount, but our question is, does $3.5 M bring it into the good deal range, or is $1,200 a sq-ft for Potomac views still a steep price to pay?

Earlier this week we reported on the sale of the old Italian Embassy in Adams Morgan to Valor Development, and now we know what they are planning to do with the beautiful Renaissance style building… turn it into condos of course! The project is being called the Flats at il Pallazo.

Apparently the building doesn’t need much work, because the developer is planning to start delivering units next summer.

Exciting news this week on the redevelopment of the 3800 block of Georgia Avenue, NW. Ground has officially been broken on the project to convert two empty District owned properties into a first class restaurant on the historic site of what was once Billy Simpson’s House of Seafood and Steaks.

Mosaic Urban, in partnership with Donatelli Development, is developing the vacant lot and two dilapidated storefronts into a $5M mixed-use, mixed-income project including 12 condos (4 of which will be low income set asides) and 8000 sq ft of restaurant and retail space.

Not only is this project helping to revitalize the block, which is right around the corner from the Petworth metro station, but it is also helping to preserve history. Billy Simpson’s restaurant originally occupied the space on Georgia Avenue in the 1960s-70s and was the site of many historic events in the Districts history. In March of 2009 the site was named to the National Register of Historic Places, so it will be nice to see the finished product.

[Renderings: Mosaic]

Now that construction on the Yale Steam Laundry West has started back up, you may be wondering why the about face… well of course it is all about the benjamins. The developer IBG Partners secured $50 million in Housing and Urban Development loans to start back up.The second phase will include over 200 new condo units and they are shooting for a Summer 2011 delivery. We have a question though… is high end condos apartments a good use of HUD loans?

We just got word that the Floridian Condo’s right off U Street on Florida Ave are going with a new sales strategy to finally sell out their remaining units… they are lowering prices! The buildings new owners Goldstar, bought the property in a fire sale last year and are planing on pricing the 86 unsold units to bring prices into the low 400s.

We have always loved the look of this building and now that prices are under the $500 per sq-ft point, the building might finally start to fill up. Amazingly sales have been going on for five years already, which must be approaching a record of some sort!

[Photo: Sean Robertson]