So named for its location north of Massachusetts Avenue, NoMa is a neighborhood that's beginning to assert an identity, if still gangly in its adolescence. But developers and restaurateurs have faith the area will take shape. Here's what's happening:
Gillian Clark's Kitchen on K: Clark's new restaurant, inspired by her now-gone Colorado Kitchen is between four and eight weeks away from permitting. A bigger space and proximity to the Metro means Clark, now the chef at Silver Spring's General Store, plans on daytime and late night hours. In a nod to its progenitor, the menu will showcase French technique via comfort food favorites, as well as donuts during brunch her customers keep asking about. Opening dates? "Ideally spring, but there is no such thing as ideal."
Work in Progress, Todd Gray's Watershed: A few blocks from Clark's spot, Equinox chef Todd Gray and wife Ellen are opening Watershed in NoMa's Hilton Garden Inn. In addition to the raw bar, patio, restaurant and lounge, the Grays will also focus on cooking up morning meals. "D.C. has a real need for power breakfast spots," said Todd. Perhaps Clark and Gray will draw business from Charlie Palmer, the reigning champion of the genre. Watershed will be the sole restaurant in the hotel, which is slated to open in April.
On Skanska's NoMa Development: Sara Krouse of Washington Business Journal reported on the Skanska deal earlier this week, which Executive Vice President Rob Ward says is slated to become office buildings, hotels and potentially residential space. The 63,790 square foot property is located at 1st and
M Streets N.E.NoMa Living: The Loree Grand, which will house Clark's restaurant, was the first new residential projects in the area in over a century. Of the 212 residential units, 66% have been leased. Archstone also has a residential project underway, 469 apartments set for completion in late 2012.
Constitution Square: Of the 440 residential units in The Flats 130, 90 have already been leased since its opening late last year, with 19 new leases just in January. Also set to open in the area is Roti as well as the largest location of The Perfect Pita, which has leased space across from The Courtyard Marriott.90K: Of the space that's primarily for offices, 50% has been leased. The 412,000 square foot office building also houses retail, which has yet to be claimed. Built by Clark Construction, designed by SmithGroup, the building is the newest office
building by Trammel Crow Company.111 K Street: Sales of J Street's corporate condo (pictured, right), initially fast, have stalled as buyers such as Sierra Club and YWCA have backed out.
50 Florida Avenue: This former Metro Ice warehouse just sold as a redevelopment project to B & B Realty Investments. "We are in the middle of contemplating what we want this space to become," said Rick Brown, a Principal of B&B. "We had a three to five year plan but recent growth in the area has prompted us to reconsider."
Washington DC real estate development news
21 comments:
Phase II of Constitution Square is also set to start in a few months: an additional 500,000 SF office building on N, and an additional couple hundred apartments on M.
And also don't forget NPR's new headquarters, under construction right now!
Is Senate Square not considered as being within the bounds of NOMA? If so, then the Loree Grand is definately not the first residential project in a century.
Good point, NPR should have been mentioned. Though for the record we've tried to talk to them repeatedly, and they refuse to talk to the press. Very odd stance - for THE PRESS. Anyone else find that ironic? You'd think they would want good PR after the Juan Williams debacle and both private and public funding ebbing.
I learned in reporting that NPR's building was "underway" but could not get an answer as to how far along the project is.
I'm confused about the Skanska deal. Isn't this the purchase of the already built constitution square?
Or did it buy the whole block including the soon to be built addition?
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2011/01/26/skanska-buys-capitol-plaza-buildings.html
Well, I am looking at the NPR building now and they have shown significant progress. They have removed most of the building except the facade and I assume are starting foundation work at this time.
Gotta love what's missing. I'll give you a hint. This developer/slumlord owns the wasteland at N. Cap and NY Ave, is known for buying early, developing late. And has a tendency to pay taxes really late.
Doug Jemal?
@Ken - The ANC 6C Planning & Zoning committee actually holds its meetings at NPR's current HQ, and they have been in front of the committee and the full ANC multiple times for their project. It's definitely under construction, and they have certainly been speaking with the community (Boston Properties is the developer, you may want to talk to them).
@Anon 9:05 - Senate Square is not within NOMA. It's only a few feet away, but isn't in the BID.
@John - Skanska purchased the land behind Capitol Plaza. This is the building across First Street from Constitution Square where they held Artomatic a few years ago.
We have a winner! Guess what you win, nothing! The same thing this developer will bring to NOMA over the next 5 years.
this is a very exciting development at NOMA.
Is there any plan to the low income buildings across North Capitol Street? North Capitol has a beautiful view to the Capitol building but unfortunately it is one of the scariest ghetto looking street just in half a mile distance from the nations Capitol building. Is there any plan for development on the main capitol street? well, NPR is a good start.
Nomabid's development website doesn't even list the Jamal properties. What a shame. That blight has consequences for Truxton Circle to the west, too.
Tony, thanks. I was referring to NPR, not Boston Properties, though I'm not counting compulsory ANC meetings, I'm talking about answering press calls, which they don't.
Why was all of Constitution Square not built at the same time and why not build one large building from end to end on the blocks.
@Que - that would be just too expensive to do all at once without tenants already in place. The developer has also been able to split off and sell completed portions as individual buildings, gaining cash for building the future phases.
Even after this second phase is complete, there will still be room for one more building on the M Street side.
Just to clarify for a few confused readers: NoMA is not a neighborhood. It is a Business Improvement District (BID) with boundaries that extend across a number of neighborhoods. Not all businesses or residences that fall within those boundaries are necessarily members of the BID.
My house is within the NoMa BID boundary. Can I pay a small fee for someone to clean the portion of the street in front of my house? I'm getting sick and tired of picking up McDonalds trash containers.
@2:41
No, it is not just a "business association." All property owners (above a certain size threshold so townhouse owners don't have to pay) are REQUIRED to pay a special tax that goes to fund the BID.
And while the boundaries do technically cross into Eckington, Near Northeast, etc., it only covered a couple dozen residents (before the new buildings went up). The rest was vacant or industrial, and most of it couldn't really be classified as being a part of any existing neighborhood.
It's entirely appropriate to call this area a neighborhood, called NoMa. Just because the city came up with the name in concert with developers doesn't make it any less legitimate... in fact, that's how nearly all neighborhoods have been named over the past couple hundred years. The neighborhood is centered around the Metro and the emerging First Street NE retail. Other nearby neighborhoods have their own, different centers to them.
Is Abbey Place located in NoMa?
i don't understand why people say noma is not a neighborhood. what is it you are trying to prove?
like another poster said, virtually every neighborhood named was brought you by either the government or a realtor. even capitol hill had another name, before the pesky feds imagined it up. you can not like the name, but the world has done moved on.
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