Shaw Giant will close September 8th in order to make way for CityMarket at O, Roadside Development's $260 million dollar project that will rebuild 2 full blocks in Shaw with 87,000 square feet of retail (including the Giant), 629 residential units, and 500 parking spaces. The project had received demolition permits early this year and a HUD financing commitment in April, leaving just the final administrative hurdles to clear before beginning work on the 
long awaited project.Under the terms of the agreement with Giant, Roadside Development was required to give Giant officials a 60-day notice to vacate, which it planned to do once the funding was secure and in place. While Roadside officials offered a "no comment" on the notice, Giant Store Manager Patrick Aryee tells DCMud that Giant corporate officials informed him yesterday that the store would close September 8th. Once Giant closes, Roadside has 2 years to complete the project to let Giant back in the space. Roadside Principal Armand Spikell told DCMud this spring that Roadside would likely issue the 60 day notice by July.
The closure is therefore sure to be followed quickly by frenetic construction and add vigor to revitalization in Shaw that has already gained steam with such projects as the Marriott Marquis, Progression Place, and a new pair of Marriotts. The new Giant Foods will be one of the larger nearby supermarkets at 55,000 s.f., with 13,000 s.f. underground, burying such items as the loading dock which now mars 9th street.
The buildings are being designed by Shalom Baranes Architects and built by Clark Construction.
Washington DC real estate development news
20 comments:
Yayyyy Shaw!
That's great news. I was in the area yesterday and needed something so I stopped in at the Giant. I mostly shop at the Harris Teeter in Noma now, the Giant really is small and dingy. Between the new Giant, City Vista Safeway and the Harris Teeter, this part of the city has its grocery needs covered.
Elation. Absolute elation.
Seriously, this Giant will start changing things on Georgia Ave. for the better. Finally a decent grocery store in Shaw.
Can't tell you how overdue this is. Awesome news.
Does anybody know what is going to happen with all the city housing in that area? The cluster of hi and low-rise "projects" between 5th, 6th and 7th Sts (ranging from M to T Sts) creates probably the largest bastion of mass-lawlessness in NW DC. Would be nice to see the law-abiding residents of this neighborhood moved somewhere safer. While the crack addicts, the hookers, the pushers, the flash-robbers and the muggers need to be given one-way tickets out of town.
"Between the new Giant, City Vista Safeway and the Harris Teeter, this part of the city has its grocery needs covered."
Don't forget the Walmart they want to put on NJ Avenue near AIPAC. And the Giant at 3rd/H Street NE. Remember, Tommy Wells says our area is a food desert!
"Does anybody know what is going to happen with all the city housing in that area..."
Shaw is most definitely on a trajectory toward "recovery". But it's suffered additional woes that haven't constrained other neighborhoods: Shiloh Baptist, "Cracker" Jack Evans (who lives in Georgetown but represents Shaw), acute police neglect, and an inept ANC (2C02).
"...creates probably the largest bastion of mass-lawlessness in NW DC..."
Although based on information that is now dated, Rob Goodspeed's plot of Section 8 vouchers in the District should explain why Columbia Heights has the most saturated, embedded crime:
http://batchgeo.com/map/?i=36b1b2af4acf11f35d2f04611e8405df
Crime in Shaw is patchy.
"Would be nice to see the law-abiding residents of this neighborhood moved somewhere safer. While the crack addicts, the hookers, the pushers, the flash-robbers and the muggers need to be given one-way tickets out of town."
Troll much?
Jack Evans lives within the district, he can't live in all neighborhoods, not sure what your point is. Anyway, most of those projects are staying put. Anyone caught suggesting low-income housing should all be crowded together in one building, or worse, in a dense grouping of buildings, should be shot forthwith. Unfortunately, DC officials do it all the time, and the "Smart Growth" folks still push it, and we continue to subsidize it. Shame.
But I'm glad this project will be an improvement to Shaw.
I agree that a 21st century Giant grocery store is needed in the Shaw area. What concerns me is the high prices for staples that come with such "modernization"! I've shopped at the 5th St Safeway maybe 3xs since its opening. Why? it cost too much to shop at this urban oasis!
It's good to see this development begin construction. It will create jobs, the new residents will add income and property taxes to the District, and it is always good to have new residents in the DC region living near transit.
It's a bit amusing, however, that this groundbreaking is occurring more than a year after the 'groundbreaking' for the development last year:
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2010/12/01/when-a-groundbreaking-isnt/
Does anyone know when construction will begin on the Cathedral Commons development with the new Giant on Wisconsin Avenue. The north parcel that contained the pharmacy is already vacant. Hopefully that begins any day as well.
I'm sorry, but I think these renderings are horrendous and will be ugly addition to the neighborhood. Sure Giant could use some sprucing, but over-building on that lot will make this neighborhood far less pleasant and open. Plus 600+ residential and 500 parking, are you serious? Why?
"Plus 600+ residential and 500 parking, are you serious? Why?"
Access to the region's rapid-rail, high-capacity transit system is two blocks away.
With the opening of more grocery stores all over DC, I envision more people walking to this new grocery store from within the neighborhood.
"Jack Evans lives within the district, he can't live in all neighborhoods, not sure what your point is."
As an extraordinarily wealthy Georgetowner, I have never felt Jack Evans could fully appreciate what it's like to live in Shaw. While I do recognize there's a cultural gap between most Councilmen and their constituents, I feel it is most acute in Cracker Jack's case.
"Plus 600+ residential and 500 parking, are you serious? Why?"
Completely concur! Did you ever see how many spots are vacant at DC USA?
I'm not a huge fan of Jack Evans, but this project would not be breaking ground for another 2-3 years if not for his efforts. People who actually know what they are talking about understand that.
I agree with the comment about all the "projects" btw 6,7, 5th Streets and running gang members, druggies etc out of town.
I also do not understand why there is an army of people advocating for MORE low income housing in Shaw. These people are nuts--we already have tons of the stuff in a VERY concentrated area. They should take Obama's suggestion and "spread it around a little."
I am also wondering who the heck DESIGNED this project. Why do the high rise building CONTRAST so sharply with the wonderful skeleton of the old market. Why did the architect not include some of the charming design elements of the old market in the new building. Architects design things to be too much "of the moment" and mostly-I think--the please themselves. Why doesn't somebody stand up and say "halt--this is fgriggin ugly, totally antiseptic, undistinguishable from all of the other "modern" developments around here. In 20 years, people will think it looks "so 2011" so " out of it" in the same way people in the 1980s thought about all the crap designed from about 1950 to about 1970.
Project designed by Shalom Baranes.
MPD just busted a drug/gun organization part of which was based very close to this project last week. [http://bcove.me/4xhqv2k7] That's a sure sign that the electeds and MPD are finally going to make the place safer for the "newer" and coming well-heeled residents (the complaints of the old timers, and simply "new" residents fell on deaf ears.
There's a community crime meeting tonight, 6:30pm Aug 16, at Bread for the City, 1525 7th St, one block up from this project, to address crime and housing issues.
Jack Evans is a wonderful Councilmember he will be missed by many -- by others, not so much.
There is more low-income housing in Ward 6 than in Shaw, or any other ward, and we don't have nearly the same problems Shaw has had.
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