Thanks to Alex Padro and Shaw Main Streets for putting on another informative community forum on area development projects last night. Unfortunately I arrived late, so I did not get to see or hear about several of the major projects in various places in the pipeline for Shaw. Nonetheless, I heard enough to get very excited.
It sounds like a lot is breaking ground next year (fingers cross that the current financial crisis doesn't have too much of an impact on the plans). The most imminent groundbreaking is that of City Center DC (on the site of the old convention center), which is set to commence in the first quarter of 2009 and has almost all of its permits already. Its first phase (which is the bulk of the development) will be complete in fall of 2011 or in spring of 2012. It really is going to be an awesome development, bringing 1,074 residences (20% affordable), TONS of really neat retail, office, and a 4+ star hotel.
The new Marriott Marquis Convention Center Headquarters Hotel will also break ground next year. I missed the presentation, but hear the plans look spectacular and involve several restaurants and bars on 9th Street between Massachusetts and L. It should be open in 2012. The other two smaller Marriott hotels north of L will soon follow, but they are not included in the PUD process for the large hotel so are a few months behind.
Addison Square (which is to replace Kelsey Gardens in the 1500 block of 7th), expects to break ground in the summer of next year and to be complete by fall 2011. Their PUD hearing is October 30 at 6:30 p.m. This project looks really neat and will totally change the face of 7th.
City Market at O Street still looks amazing. The anticipated groundbreaking is next September, but the lease with Giant, which prohibits starting construction from like October 15 through January, might factor in to having to push the start date back.
I missed discussions by several presenters, such as Douglas Development (who is planning to overhaul the old Wonderbread Factory into really cool offices) and someone with plans to turn a vacant Popeye's Chicken place on Florida Avenue into a Fat Burger (boo-yah!).
15 comments:
Fat Burger... also a Douglas Development... going to be a Fat Burger and an AT&T (or some other cell service, the presenter couldn't remember exactly)
What a great recap! Was there any word on the Radio One development, or is that going into the dustbin? What about the Howard Theatre?
SG - I'm not sure why, but I think neither Broadcast Center One nor Howard Theatre made presentations, despite both being on the ads for the SMS forum. I would love to find out about the status of each (especially Broadcast Center One, which should've already broken ground this year!).
Thanks ShawRez...that was a great update.
So if I understand the post correctly, if Roadside doesn't break ground before October 15th, 2009, they can't break ground until after January 2010?? Anyone know the odds of construction starting prior to October 15th 2009?
And does anyone know the odds of construction starting at Kelsey Gardens by next summer?
looks like a police officer was attacked by a possible squatter at kelsey gardens while management & the poice were making a sweep for vagrants. The officer shot the attacker.
http://dcist.com/2008/09/24/man_shot_officer_in_altercation_in.php
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0908/556106.html
maybe they should demolish Kelsey Gardens sooner than later???
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0908/556106_video.html?ref=newsstory
more on the shooting
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/24/AR2008092402046.html?hpid=moreheadlines
Agreed, anon -- the sooner Kelsey Gardens is torn down, the better. It's a nuisance to the community as long as it's standing.
TEAR IT DOWN!!!!
This is insane...
You have a building that's 90%(?)vacant...obviously has squatters in it and you're going to leave it unsecured for another year or two depending on the "impending" development schedule???
The local news crews shouldn't go far because under these conditions its bound to happen again...
Management of the building needs to help the few remaining families find a safe place to live and that building needs to be secured or torn down...now.
Tell me why this can't happen.
Mr. Q: according to Padro and Metropolitan, there are still 10 families legitimately living in Kelsey. Also according to Padro, they have up to 120 days after the PUD is approved (if it is approved) to vacate. At that point demolition can occur. Metropolitan goes back to zoning on 10/30 for the PUD I believe.
With regard to odds on when these projects would start, I wouldn't bet any money on any of the timelines we heard last night. Developers always paint an overly rosey picture filled with marketing fluff, and aren't typically forthcoming with the devilish details.
So what time did the forum actually start? We were there at 6:30 and by 6:55 nobody had said one word, not even to apologize for being hopelessly behind schedule, so we left.
I wish our community leaders had a little more respect for the community's time.
Show started at 7:15pm... apparently one of the developers forgot to deliver his/her powerpoint BEFORE the meeting and it had to be loaded onto the computer (or something)...
As for the O St timeline... it was my understanding that they needed to close down Giant by THIS October 15th or else it couldn't close until after January 1... Giant wants 120 days notice of closing, but they won't close between October 15 and January 1. So, best case scenario, Roadside closes them in January, then 120 days later puts them at potentially breaking ground sometime in May of 2009. Though they mentioned September last night.
Given the current market... let's just hope they are able to find financing, maybe the government can bail them out as well!
I agree with jescowa.
I absolutely hate to be a hard ass towards people who dedicate time to improving the community. The presentation started 28 minutes late. The irking part of that is no one had the courtesy to say "please bear with us" or anything. I also am flummoxed how the 16 minutes of introductions and thank yous could not have been done while someone else fidgeted with the power point slides. Forty Four minutes elapsed before the first developer presented. Then the agenda item I came for (600 New York Ave) was addressed in 30 seconds with "We realize their was a recent WBJ article but this project is on hold and there is nothing to share". Oye!
I generally like to focus on the positives when I post on blogs. But in this case I think the feedback needs to be out there. Don't ignore your audience for a half hour...
1905 is opened.
http://www.dailycandy.com/washington_dc/article/38951/French+Twist
It's quite amazing how small minded you people are!!! It's unacceptable that a TINY complex takes 2 years to build! This should be an eye opener to America and DC: You are no longer #1, #2, or even #3. Other countries have left you in the dust. Wayyyyyy past you.
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