A brand new $55 million multi-use development is almost set to materialize in Mount Vernon Triangle as developers and architects put the finishing touches on design plans. 459 Eye Street NW will be the new site of Walnut Street Development's Eye Street Lofts, a 12-story structure which will house 164 apartments 
and more than 15,000 s.f. of community-serving retail space.The lot, which spreads from 443 to 459 Eye Street, has been planned for development since 2005, when Walnut Street had originally proposed condos for the site. Unfortunately for the condo market, a historic preservation impediment hindered Walnut Street's vision. The Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) halted the plans because of the Central Auto Works garage, a historically-designated structure that currently sits on the lot. Architects HOK Group have decided to incorporate the entire aged structure into the new edifice by piercing columns through the building. Once the columns are in place, Tompkins Builders will have to construct footings beneath the garage to support 10 stories of new construction. The auto garage isn't the only structure being preserved on the site; two existing row-houses are being used in the design-plans as well as an historic blacksmith shop.
The existence of historic structures on the site presented unique obstacles for Walnut Street. HPRB required 9 months to approve project - but subsequent to the extended waiting period, Walnut Street faced an invariably different economic environment. In reaction to the drastic change in the market, developers circular-filed the initial condo proposal and entered into a waiting game to stalk the perfect economic conditions for a rental project; it seems that time is now. Ground is expected to be broken by Spring of 2008.
6 comments:
Restored historic facades and modern steel and glass highrises...mmmmm...
Glad to see this is actually going to happen. I thought it was going to go the way of another of their projects in Logan which was shelved and then sold to a non-profit developer.
It seems like everyone in DC DOES NOT realize that there is no such street in the District of Columbia named "Eye" Street. I think someone 20 years ago tried to be cute by using this word! The real name of the street that goes from 4th Street to Foggy Bottom in NW that is between H and K is....... you guessed it.... "I Street"....now, can someone call L'Enfant and tell him the problem has been remedied...
...but it still says "eye" on some of the street signs....
Yeah, you better tell DDOT their signs are wrong :P
Regarding "Eye" Street... in DC, it has been a long held convention to refer to "I" Street as Eye Street so as to not confuse it with an "L" or "1" (one). I think back when this was decided, the letter "I" looked more similar to a "J" (which by the way, there is no "J" Street, again to not confuse "J" with "I" or "L" or "1"). So, it is NOT wrong, but it is actually proper to refer to I Street as Eye Street. Imaine havinge the number "1" on "I" Street -- pretty confusing: 1 I Street NW, depending on penmenship, it could be a different address. So, whenever you see EYE, know it's "I", as there is not other "Eye" Street.
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