Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Adams Morgan Church Resurrected as Hotel


Handel Architects, Adams Morgan, Washington DC real estate, Beztak Companies, Friedman Capital, HPRB, hotel development
On Wednesday, Beztak Companies and DC-based Friedman Capital presented plans for their conversion of the First Church of Christ Scientist, in the center of Adams Morgan, into a 150-room "boutique hotel." The concept submitted involves the construction of a hotel within and behind the church at 1770 Euclid Street, NW. Under plans submitted to DC's Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB), the century-old church will be designated as a landmark site, undergo major restoration, and connect to a larger, seventy to ninety foot structure that will replace the current City Paper building. 

The 180,000 s.f. boutique hotel at the intersection of Euclid Street and Columbia Road, NW, will be partnering with Ian SchragerHandel Architects, Adams Morgan, Washington DC real estate, Beztak Companies, Friedman Capital, HPRB, First Church of Christ, the developer responsible for New York's Studio 54 and Gramercy Park Hotel, and credited by some with creating the "boutique hotel" genre. Handel Architects, Adams Morgan retail, Washington DC real estate, Beztak Companies, Friedman Capital, HPRB, First Church of Christ,Not aiming for your average conventioneer, the developer plans to convert the main sanctuary into a grand ballroom with a 500-guest capacity, and the mezzanine section for an elevated bar overlooking the ballroom. The two areas will be separated by a glass curtain that can be alternatively transparent or reflective. 

Designed by New York-based Handel Architects, the project, in keeping with the boutique theme, will host large, up-scale, "exclusive" events. Your average guest will not get to climb the front steps - those will be reserved for special galas and events, thank you very much. "One of the most important aspects of the sanctuary space is volume and preserving the structure of the space," said Brian Friedman of Friedman Capital. Connecting the church to the new structure has presented a logistical challenge in preserving its historic integrity. At the behest of HPRB, the developers will expand two existing windows in the church's former nursery to act as a connector, minimizing damage to the facade. HPRB also recommended increasing the space between the buildings, currently planned around twenty feet. 

No doubt the developer is mindful of the fate of Il Palazzo, the old Italian Embassy nearly next door, which had been sanctioned by DC Zoning for conversion into a condominium, but was later 'landmarked' by HPRB, effectively shutting down the project after sales had already begun. Until recently, the site had been marked for a 69-unit condominium, initially to be developed First Management Group of Chevy Chase, but later revised their plans in favor of a hotel. "I want to note that we tried very hard to come up with a type of business that could go in there to preserve a church that is 100 years old. We needed a business where, 100 years later, you could still see that church. A hotel was the only thing we could come up with to make that happen. We started with condos but we think this development brings better progress," Friedman said. He added that the project would offer 4,000 s.f. of community space for meetings and events. "We are very proud that there will be community space, to give you an idea, the penthouse or condo units are half the size of the community space," he said, referring to the ten condo units destined for the penthouse level. 

But while developers project an urbanizing, avant-garde creation that will invigorate the neighborhood, neighborhood organizations are predictably wary, especially about the height - this being Washington DC. "I think that in the spirit and concept of project we are fully behind it. I think that some commissioners are hesitant to put full support behind until we see full elevation and full plans," said Bryan Weaver of ANC 1C Peter Lyden of the Reed-Cooke Neighborhood Association was less credulous. "We've not seen any definitive drawings with height, density, or views, so we really haven't had any solid detail to make a decision. We do have comments that were received...one from long time resident reads, 'In my view, this height simply goes beyond heights of the neighborhood...the height should fit the character, not change it.' We welcome the idea, but it has to fit the zoning of the area," Lyden said. To which the developer replies that the building will be hidden behind the church and will not overtake it. 

To alleviate traffic on Champlain Street, the developer plans to follow the example of the Georgetown Ritz and incorporate the parking driveway into the site. Friedman and his team will submit a PUD and return to the HPRB in October; until then, the board recommended moving the pool, which will be surrounded by the hotel and next to a spa and bar, rather than on the roof, to muffle the noise of festive guests that might disturb the late-night hordes on 18th Street. The developer wanted the pool on the roof but neighbors were concerned about noise; the board recommended moving the pool up a few stories in order to put rooms under it. The board also recommended studying the building at the street level to "avoid an overly commercial look for an addition to a masonry church building in what is a largely residential area of the city." In fact the building would be the lone hotel in the Adams Morgan and Mt. Pleasant neighborhoods. This will be first foray into hotel production and several other single and multi-family projects across the country. The new church-hotel does not yet have a name or an established construction timeline.

Washington DC commercial property news

9 comments:

IMGoph on Jul 2, 2008, 11:04:00 AM said...

people in adams morgan are concerned about noise?

hahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahhahaha!

no really, seriously. i'm not laughing at them.

hahahahhahahahahahaha!

Anonymous said...

I live in AdMo. This sounds awesome and should make the neighborhood a little more upscale.

Anonymous said...

I've heard of this project. The developer, has been involved in the community for several years now. There has been some issues with the height of the building but I'm not sure I understand why... there are buildings standing over 90 feet all around that area that look like crap!Finally! Someone is working to improve adams morgan without attracting more 19 year old college kids with fake ID's. I just hope the community will open their eyes and welcome more projects like this in the future.

Anonymous said...

The project does indeed have a name -- it will carry the Marriott Edition brand.

Anonymous said...

Could someone from Beztak Companies or Friedman Capital please contact 8700 Georgia Avenue Ltd. Partnership, the owners of 8700 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, the former Perpetual Bank, an incredible 1958 Mid-Century sturcture slated to be razed and offer to convert it into a boutique hotel?!

Mailing Address: C/O GRADY MNGMT
8630 FENTON ST #625
SILVER SPRING MD 20910

Anonymous said...

The idea of a "historic preservation review board" overseeing the conversion of a historic church into a hotel seems a bit odd to me...

Anonymous said...

The idea of a historic preservation review board requiring the city to keep ugly buildings that are barely 100 years old and calling them historic is what seems odd.

There is nothing historic about a building that is 100 years old. It's absurd. Tear the crap down and build something nicer. Not everything old is NICE.

And yes, this hotel will be the Washington Edition hotel, a new brand that will have its first hotel open in Paris. It is a partnership between Marriott and Ian Schrager. Why they are putting it in AdMo is beyond me, but should be a fascinating brand to watch grow.

Anonymous said...

whats wrong with preserving the church. it will be a cool adaption. look at other adoptions that are gone great like schools and warehouses. by the way, 99% of buildings that are 100 years are better looking then what has been built in the last half of the 20th century. checkout downtown dc and all the ugly office buildings that replaced wonderful old buildings that could have been adapted. you people that are so quick to tear everything down make me sick. go live in nova if u want new shit.

cwanderson said...

Look at all the Anonymous posters, and all in favor ("wow" and "cool") of this monstrous hoteml project. Clearly, all of you work for the developer. Anyone who lives in the neighborhood recognizes it for the assault that it is. There goes the neighborhood. Thanks for the memories BJ.

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