http://dcmetrocentric.com New Buildings, Construction, Destruction, Planning, Real Estate, and Gossip as it happens in the Nation's Capital Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:49:13 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Check out this amazing rooftop oasis we spotted over in the Shaw neighborhood. The rooftop deck has all the key things that make a rooftop great; greenery, nice furniture, a grill, high vantage point, and we imagine it has a view. We are most jealous because those residents are going to have a great spot to watch the fireworks tomorrow, ... http://dcmetrocentric.com/2008/07/03/nice-rooftops-for-summer/ Starbucks addicts have cause for alarm! There may no longer be a Starbucks on every corner and you may have to go to one of those "independent" local coffeehouses next time you want to get your caffeine fix. Starbucks announced that it will be closing 600 stores in the US this year. The stores that will be closing though ... http://dcmetrocentric.com/2008/07/03/coffee-on-every-corner/ http://dcmetrocentric.com/2008/07/03/dc-condos-and-apartments-2/ Your weekly chance to take a stab at real estate appraisal. Well done with the guesses… All the results are in and counted, and the listed price for this secluded Cleveland Park home comes in at $2.3 million. Which we think is a steal considering you get a fish pond in the deal! Tom ... http://dcmetrocentric.com/2008/07/02/pricechecker-cleveland-park-the-full-disclosure/ Check out this cool master plan design that we just got from a tipster for the area around the Eisenhower Station in Alexandria. This is apparently a master plan created by EE&K Architects to guide the future development of the 280 acres of land surrounding the Eisenhower Ave Metro station. ... http://dcmetrocentric.com/2008/07/02/eisenhower-east-master-plan/ Check out the colors in this shot of the Capitol grounds... just gorgeous. The shot uses the HDR technique to really bring out the natural colors and highlight the red brick. Makes you want to go outside and relax on a bench doesn't it? [Flickr Photo: rgb48] http://dcmetrocentric.com/2008/07/01/great-shots-capitol-summer/ Developer Adams Investments asked STUDIOS Architects to design a new residential structure that would reflect the unique community energy and spirit of Washington DC's Adams Morgan district, but we don't think they exactly got it right with this one. This 32 unit residential building with a street-facing courtyard doesn't really look ... http://dcmetrocentric.com/2008/07/01/champlain-street-condos/ As you may have heard from us in the past, we are obsessed with the old O Street Market in Shaw. Unfortunately progress has been slow to get the development underway which includes preserving the gorgeous facade while building new housing and retail space for the community. Well finally the District is getting behind ... http://dcmetrocentric.com/2008/06/30/city-supports-o-street-market/ http://dcmetrocentric.com/2008/06/30/area-apartments-and-condos-5/  New Communities Initiate - Three years since it's inception, the initiative is largely intact and wider in scope, despite a flat-lining housing market. It remains the centerpiece of Mayor Adrian Fenty's strategy to aid and upgrade the city's poorest neighborhoods, however market conditions are skewing the mix of future residents which may ... http://dcmetrocentric.com/2008/06/30/565/ Sometimes it's fun to think about what could have been. This design by Muse Architects for a civic center and town square for Silver Spring includes a huge public lawn for festivals. We're big fans of the "urban" lawn as a great destination to relax, read a book, and hangout. Unfortunately all to ... http://dcmetrocentric.com/2008/06/30/a-different-downtown-silver-spring/ Columbia Heights - Obama runs into a little trouble at the new DCUSA Washington Sports Club.  [NewColumbiaHeights] Penn Quarter - Will the Penn Quarter finally get a grocery store? Balducci may be the answer to residents dreams!  [PennQLiving] Shaw - Developer finally selected for the Florida Ave parcel to build 104 apartments as well as some ground-floor retail and arts ... http://dcmetrocentric.com/2008/06/29/linked-around-town-6/ 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 an incredible wooded brick home from the 1930s in Cleveland Park. Yes folks, that's a pond in the front yard! This ... http://dcmetrocentric.com/2008/06/27/pricechecker-cleveland-park-2/ Question? Do people actually lease from buildings that are months or years away from being built? The Capitol Yards project in SE is encouraging people to "Lease Now" and we have seen similar signs on other unfinished projects around the city as well! We're also curious as to what type of promises they are ... http://dcmetrocentric.com/2008/06/27/capitol-yards-lease-early-and-often/ We have been giving Zahn Architects a hard time lately about some of their designs, and this rendering we found for Basilica Lofts isn't going to help their case. However we are pleased to learn that this did not turn out to be the actual color scheme used on the finished building (which ... http://dcmetrocentric.com/2008/06/26/zahn-architects-are-not-color-blind/