New Renderings for Ballpark Project

With plans now officially on the table for Square 701, the block-long development just north of the ballpark, new images reveal additional details about the project that will add an 11-story office building, 170-room hotel, and 2 residential buildings to the ballpark area.  Work on the buildings is still at least 6 months away; developers Skanska USA and Grosvenor Americas closed on their purchase just last month and are now working on details of the by-right development.

Skanska will build the office building, designed by Gensler, and Grosvenor will build the hotel and 285 residential units, designed by Hickok Cole.  55,000 s.f. of retail space is also planned.  Since that announcement, new renderings have surfaced, see below.  The new office building is being designed to earn a LEED Gold platinum rating.

Washington D.C. real estate development news

Grosvenor, Skanska Close on Ballpark Site, Hope for Construction Next Summer

The Capitol Riverfront neighborhood got another shot in the arm today as developers announced a new project adjacent to the Nationals ballpark.  Developers Skanska USA and Grosvenor Americas closed yesterday on their purchase of the long block on 1st Street, SE, between M and N Streets, just north of the ballpark, and hope to begin construction by next summer.

The site, known as Square 701, will hold four buildings with more than 650,000 s.f. in total:

-An 11-story, 224,000 s.f. office building (built by Skanska, designed by Gensler, see rendering below),

-A 170-room hotel (by Grosvenor),

-Two residential buildings with a total of 285 units and connected by a "trellised glass bridge" (by Grosvenor, designed by Hickok Cole).

In all, the site will offer up to 55,000 s.f. of retail space.  The land had been owned by Potomac-based Willco Companies since 1948, and was cleared of buildings several years ago; in a simultaneous transaction Grosvenor purchased nearly the entire block from Willco and Skanska purchased the northernmost portion of the site from Grosvenor.  The site is adjacent to the hole Monument Realty excavated in 2007 and has left sitting ever since.  Rob Ward of Skanska says that while Grosvenor and Skanska are not technical or financial partners on the project, they will be working in tandem to unify the site.

Ward tells DCMud that while Willco had its own plans for the site, both Skanska and Grosvenor are developing new building designs, which have been wending their way through DC's zoning process throughout the summer.  Ward expects that under the most optimistic circumstances work could be underway on either the residential or office component as early as next summer; to date the developers have been in discussion with the ANC and zoning officials but "don't have enough design to pull permits yet."  Ward says the project is "basically by-right zoning" and "consistent with what the city has in mind for the site."

The new building is being designed to earn a LEED Gold platinum rating.  McCaffery Interests will be representing Grosvenor on construction elements of the project, which include the alley (Cushing Place) between this site and Monument's land.  The alley is expected to be reopened, though Ward notes that he has no news on Monument's projections for work to resume.  Below is a site plan - north is up.

Washington D.C. real estate development news

Today in Pictures - JBG's District Apartments

JBG announced in January of 2011 that it was moving forward on District Condos, which later became District Apartments, with new partner Grosvenor.  The pair started work a few weeks later on their 125-unit, Shalom Baranes designed building, on Logan Circle's trendy 14th Street.

18 months on, the project is nearing completion.  JBG incorporated the former AIDS clinic at the southern end of the lot for additional retail that will wrap around the corner of S and 14th Streets. The Chevy Chase developer teamed with Toronto-based Cecconi Simone Inc. for interior design, in a building that will have smallish, mostly 1-bedroom apartments.  Occupancy is expected to begin around the end of the year.

Washington D.C. real estate development news.  Photos by Rey Lopez

District Condos Construction Monday

While the rest of the real estate world is still rubbing its eyes and trying to take stock of 2011, development work is racing ahead in some quarters. Take JBG, for instance, which let fly yesterday that it would start building Rosslyn Commons in two weeks, and today said that it and partner Grosvenor are starting work on their other high-visibility condo project - District Condos - on Monday.

A source within JBG says groundbreaking for the 125-unit, Shalom Baranes designed building, is in fact scheduled for Monday on Logan Circle's trendy 14th Street. JBG will also incorporate the former AIDs clinic at the southern end of the lot for additional retail that will wrap around the corner of S and 14th Streets. The Chevy Chase developer has teamed with Toronto-based Cecconi Simone Inc. and local retailer Vastu for interior design and finishes, respectively. Unit sizes will trend smaller than might have

been built a few years ago, with a preponderance of 1-bedroom condos, respecting the more conservative outlook (fiscal, of course) of the average buyer in the neighborhood, where turnover of small units tends to be quick even at a more pricey range than is found in adjacent neighborhoods.

JBG had earlier predicted that construction would commence at the end of 2010, and the site still has to be cleared of the buildings that are not being preserved, putting delivery well into 2012. Sales are expected to start sometime in the late spring.

Washington D.C. Real Estate Development News

JBG and Grosvenor Unveil Name for 14th & S Condo Project

In an unparalleled combination of simplicity and genius developers at JBG and Grosvenor have titled their much-talked-about, seven-story condominium project set for 14th and S Streets NW District Condos! Today that name was officially christened. And while no champagne bottles were smashed over the corner of Whitman Walker Clinic, suits and ties from the development world, as well as Jack Evans and one well-recognized Jim-Graham-bow-tie, gathered earlier today to celebrate the newly-named 125-unit residential building and its impending groundbreaking (which is expected in just a couple weeks).

While the name might be a smidgen on the unimaginative side, the building's design, interior, and amenities will be nothing short of state of the art. Architects from Shalom Baranes designed the sleek and modern "glass and terracotta facade with balconies and terraces," while Cecconi Simone Inc. have been tasked with selecting the interior finishes, as well as designing the unit layouts, common areas, and amenities. JBG and Ceconi Simone have also teamed up with local retailer Vastu to stylishly furnish the common space and model units. Condo buyers wanting to add that modern-chic flare to their newly purchased units will have the option of employing the style-genius of Vastu and their product lines.

By tapping into the rich historic preservation experience of Shalom Baranes, and with much appreciation from former Whitman Walker Chairman and now Ward One Councilman Jim Graham, the beautiful brick facade of the former AIDs clinic will be improved, preserved, and incorporated into the new building. Although specifics weren't provided, Graham said he was more than pleased that JBG's project will honor and commemorate the hundreds of brave District residents who volunteered and were treated at the facility during the horrible AIDS crisis of the 1980s and '90s.

In addition to the indoor gym and the rooftop terrace, featuring outdoor living rooms, a kitchen, bar, fire pit, fountain, and sundeck, the building will also offer an additional 18,000 s.f. of retail. And with most of the vacant storefronts on 14th Street being pasted one by one with Zoning permits signaling the newest restaurant in line for the area, there is likely to be no shortage of interested tenants by the time construction is completed in the Spring of 2012. Potential buyers can "register" beginning today and actual sales will start sometime in the Spring of next year.

Washington D.C. Real Estate Development News