Plan Submitted for Cambria Hotel & Suites

An application has been submitted for the planned Cambria Hotels & Suites at the corner of Half and Q streets in Buzzard Point. Currently, the property contains eight rowhouses and a two-unit building. Cambria is a limited-service, upscale brand and the Buzzard Point property would be the second to open in the District after the one located on 9th and O streets NW in Shaw. The proposed nine-story hotel will have the welcome lobby, meeting space, and a restaurant on the ground floor with outdoor seating; 154 rooms will be located on floors two through eight; and a fitness center, meeting space, and a rooftop terrace will be placed on the top floor. The main entrance to the hotel will be on Q Street. Parking will be limited to eight surface spaces on the northern end of the property, which faces an alley. There will be limited parking due to the narrowness of the site. Loading will also be done on the northern end of the property. 

In a couple of years, the north size of Q Street will look a lot different. The Cambria project is on the same block as the first phase of an affordable housing project – raze permits have been approved for the existing building at the corner of 1st and Q streets. The Washington Business Journal reported last month that Donohoe Cos. Inc. was brought in as a partner with Michigan-based Kouza Cos. on the hotel development. Construction is now expected to begin on the hotel in the second half of 2019, with completion in 2021.

Renderings courtesy of BBGM

Former Engine 13 Demolished

The former DC FEMS Engine 13 building at 6th and E streets has been demolished to make way for a mixed-use development by E Street Development (h/t to reader Ben). A raze permit was filed back in November for the building. E Street Development is planning a 253-key citizenM hotel on the site, as well as a 194-unit mixed-income rental apartment building, and 10,750 SF of ground floor retail. The residential portion of the project will include 58 affordable units (ranging from 30% to 50% of Area Median Income) for seniors ages 62 and older and 136 market-rate units for all ages. E Street Development won the rights several years ago to develop this parcel, along with a vacant site cattycorner to it on 4th and E streets, which became a Hyatt Place hotel with a new Engine 13 firehouse on the ground floor in 2015. 

The block where the former Engine 13 building was located also was where MPD’s First District headquarters used to be, which was on the northwest corner of 4th and E streets before it was relocated to the former Bowen Elementary School building along M Street in 2009 and the city’s Consolidated Forensic Lab was built in its place. 

Rendering courtesy of E Street Development

Cambria Hotel & Suites Reportedly to be Built in Buzzard Point

A Cambria Hotel & Suites will be built in Buzzard Point on Half Street, less than two blocks from Audi Field according to an article in the Washington Business Journal. The WBJ story states the site is on the northwest corner of the intersection of Half and Q streets, which currently contains nine rowhomes that will be razed for a nine-story, 154-room hotel by Kouza Cos, partnering with Choice Hotels International. Planned amenities include a rooftop bar, gastropub, a 2,500 SF multi-function space, and a fitness center. With a planned opening in 2020, construction will likely begin sometime later this year. 

This would be the second Cambria built in the District and the first hotel in the Buzzard Point neighborhood. A hostel/hotel concept was planned by Carr Hospitality a block away at a taxi repair shop site on the 100 block of Q Street in 2010, long before a soccer stadium was contemplated for the neighborhood, but that project has been stalled. In addition, a hotel could potentially be built on a site controlled by D.C. United, adjacent to Audi Field. 

The planned hotel is across the street from the USA Motors site at 45 Q Street that was put on the market last year by the Zupancic Group and Ian Ruel & Josh Feldman of the Feldman Group, the same group who helped broker the sale of the Cambria site. Since then, 45 Q Street was removed from the market. The Cambria site is also on the same block as a planned affordable housing project to be built at the Shulman Liquors site at the corner of 1st and Q streets. Currently, Q Street ends prior to South Capitol Street, but with the new Frederick Douglass Bridge project, a new traffic oval will be created with a connection to Q Street.

Raze Permits Filed

Raze permits have been filed for two sites that will soon become mixed-use developments. One is the Unity Health Clinic site at 850 Delaware Avenue, which closed back in October. In its place will be a 50-unit temporary housing facility for homeless families, with a maximum occupancy of 166 people in a seven-story building. A new health clinic will be in the basement of the building, with its entrance on I Street. This is the Ward 6 location of the Mayor’s Homeward DC initiative to place smaller family homeless shelters in each ward of the city to replace the DC General facility. The Zoning Commission approved the 850 Delaware Avenue project in March and the new facility is expected to be completed in 2019. 

The second site is the former home of Engine 13 at 555 E Street. E Street Development won the bid to develop this site and another District-owned parcel at 4th and E streets several years ago. The latter was developed into a Hyatt Place with a fire house on the ground floor – the hotel just celebrated its two-year anniversary. On the 555 E Street site, the developer plans to build a 253-key citizenM hotel, a 194-unit mixed-income rental apartment building, and 10,750 SF of ground floor retail. This project is also expected to be completed in 2019. 

Renderings courtesy of Studio 24 Architecture and E Street Development

555 E Street Lands Hotel Flag

Plans for the former Engine 13 firehouse site at 555 E Street have come into focus, a couple years after the first phase (a mixed-use Hyatt Place/firehouse project) opened down the street. A second hotel is planned by E Street Development, along with a mixed-income residential component and 10,750 SF of ground floor retail. The 253-key hotel has been identified as a citizenM hotel, a European brand hotel known for providing “affordable luxury.” The hotel company’s website describes the needs of its clientele as the following: 

Mobile citizens know what they like from good lodgings. This includes stylish design, great value, the best entertainment, sociable atmosphere, a comfortable bed and big fluffy towels. They need accommodation in a good location, and they could do without unnecessary or hidden costs. 

The residential building will include a mix of 136 market-rate multifamily rental units and 58 units of affordable housing for seniors ages 62 and above. This would be the third residential building planned north of the Southwest freeway and south of the National Mall - 1399 Maryland Avenue at the Portals is currently under construction and Urban-Atlantic has plans to convert the Reporters Building at 7th and D streets to residential. Construction of 555 E is currently scheduled to wrap up by the end of 2019, which would put groundbreaking sometime before the end of 2017. 

Renderings courtesy of E Street Development Group

L'Enfant Plaza Hotel to Become a Hilton Property

The L’Enfant Plaza Hotel, which was closed in 2014 for extensive renovations after it was purchased by Sanford Hotels Group, will become a Hilton property (h/t to Waterfront Gateway Association). The Hilton Washington DC National Mall hotel is located above the recently renovated east office building and will open in 2018. There will be a total of 367 hotel rooms, including 18 suites and two Presidential Suites. According to the hotel’s website, the following amenities will be available: 

• 21,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space 
• Grand ballroom accommodates up to 800 people 
• Super fast wireless internet in all meeting rooms 
• Complimentary wireless access in all public spaces 
• Complete conference services staff and audio/visual team 
• All guestrooms feature one or two king beds 
• Executive concierge lounge with complimentary continental breakfast each morning and hors d’oeuvres each evening 
• Non-smoking hotel with designated smoking area outside 
• Contemporary full-service restaurant / bar / lounge 
• Full service market and sundry shop Room service 
• Outdoor pool with lounge seating and fire pits 
• Fitness center with professional cardiovascular & aerobic equipment 
• Valet and self-garage parking 

This isn’t the first Hilton hotel planned for L’Enfant Plaza. A Homewood Suites by Hilton was planned to be built at 9th and D streets by JBG, but those plans have been put on hold indefinitely. 

Rendering courtesy of Sanford Hotels Group

Sneak Peek Inside Hyatt Place

In about three months, the newest Hyatt Place in DC will be opening at 400 E Street, a mixed-use project developed by E Street Development Group and designed by WDG. I was able to get a hard hat tour of the project from Stacy Smith and Carl Barnett from Hyatt Place last week. This project has a special place in my heart since it was the subject of my very first blog post back on June 4, 2008. Hyatt Place Washington DC/National Mall is a 214-key select-service hotel. Service is key at Hyatt Place, which offers “casual hospitality in a smartly designed, high-tech and modern environment.” All Hyatt Place hotels have free Wi-fi and breakfast is included, as well as 24/7 access to freshly-prepared food at the Gallery Market (for a fee). The same person who checks in a guest is also capable of preparing a meal, making an espresso or a cocktail. 

The main entrance to the Hyatt Place Washington DC/National Mall is located on E Street, where elevators take guests to the lobby lounge on the third floor. At the lobby lounge, guests can check-in; use free computers and printers at the e-Room; pick up a sandwich from the Grab n’ Go case; eat at the Gallery Market (non-hotel guests can also order and pick-up food any time of day or night); get a drink at the Bakery Café, which serves Starbucks by day and wine, draft beer and spirits in the evening; work out at the 24-hour StayFit Gym which faces an outdoor pool; and socialize outdoors on the Gallery Terrace.  There are also five meeting rooms with over 3,000 SF of flexible event space on the second floor. The fourth floor contains back-of-house operations for the hotel and administrative offices for KidPower, a local non-profit organization. 

Future location of front desk and bar.

U/C lobby lounge area.

U/C pool and deck.

View from Gallery Terrace still U/C.

Rooms begin on the fifth floor (with the exception of a few on the third floor) and are a mix of king-bedded rooms, queen-bedded rooms, 16 king suites, and eight studio suites. All rooms contain a 42” flat screen HDTV, mini-fridge, separate workspace, Cozy Corner sectional sleeper sofa, in-room safe, and luxury skin and hair care products in the bathroom. King-bedded rooms have stand-up showers and queen-bedded rooms have a tub. 

Queen-bedded room.

King-bedded bathroom.

Cozy Corner sectional sleeper sofa.

King-bedded room.

A rooftop bar will be open to the public and will have a menu distinct from the Gallery Market. The rooftop bar will be open seasonally from 8am until 2am during the week and 3am on the weekends. Stacy and Carl say that the yet-to-be-named rooftop bar will be a unique destination in the District that will be unlike the POV at the W Hotel or Donovan House. They have been looking at rooftop bar concepts from across the country for inspiration and expect to have great food and cocktails. 

Rooftop view to the south.

Traffic report.

Rooftop view to the north.

Roll-up bar area on rooftop still U/C.

Reservations are already being accepted for stays at Hyatt Place Washington DC/National Mall beginning in February 2016, but once an exact opening date is announced for the hotel, reservations will open up for dates closer to opening. Rates start at $159, but Southwest residents will receive a 20% discount on the best available rate and holiday specials will be available. In addition, job postings will soon go up for the hotel. 

400 E Street is a true mixed-use building, which in addition to Hyatt Place will also include 1,400 SF of ground floor retail at the corner of 4th and E streets and a firehouse along 4th Street. The retail space is envisioned as a market or deli and the firehouse is the first newly built facility for DCFD in nearly 30 years. When a call comes in and a fire truck leaves its bay, the traffic signals will synchronize, allowing the fire truck to leave the station without the need to blare its horn, which hotel guests will surely appreciate! In addition, the windows are triple-paned to keep out any noise from the Southwest freeway next door. 

Red facade going up on firehouse.

Inside one of the firehouse bays.

Prior to becoming a hotel/firehouse, 400 E Street was a District-owned lot used as parking and at one time was a gas station. E Street Development Group was awarded the rights to develop 400 E Street and a second parcel at the existing Engine 13 site at 555 E Street back in 2009 by DMPED through a 99-year ground lease. Back then, 400 E Street was planned as an office building with a firehouse below, but due to unfavorable office market conditions, the use changed to a hotel. Construction began on phase one in December 2013. A second phase is planned for 555 E Street. An office building with ground floor retail was originally planned, but according to DMPED’s new Project Pipeline Database, the current plan for the site calls for a 193,000 SF multifamily building, an 89,000 SF hotel, and 15,000 SF of retail space. Construction on the second phase is expected to start in 2017. 

Additional Hotel Brands Announced at The Wharf

It was announced today that Canopy by Hilton and Hyatt House will be the hotel brands opening at Parcel 5 of The Wharf. Parcel 5 is located at Maine Avenue and 7th Street, between 7th Street Park and VIO. During the PUD process when JBG owned Parcel 5, it was mentioned that Element and Aloft would be the hotel brands coming to the site, but the parcel was sold to Hoffman – Madison Waterfront earlier this year and apparently the plans changed. From the press release: 

The combined hotels will include café/bar and other dining options; a 1,100-square-foot fitness center; 2,500 square feet of meeting room space; a courtyard with outdoor terraces and water features; an outdoor pool; and a rooftop bar with Washington Channel views. The penthouse will include an additional 10,000 square feet lounge area with sweeping views of the Potomac. 

Canopy is a new hotel concept developed by Hilton in 2014, a lifestyle hotel brand. Here is a description of the new concept, according to the Canopy website: 

Canopy by Hilton is the energizing, new hotel in the neighborhood offering simple guest-directed service, thoughtful local choices, and surprisingly comfortable spaces, so guests simply feel better going forward. Each property is designed as a natural extension of its neighborhood, with local design, food and drink, and delivers a fresh approach to hospitality and the guest experience. 

The Wharf location will have 175 keys and will be one of the first to open in the world. Canopy will be located closest to 7th Street Park.

Hyatt House is an extended-stay hotel brand launched in 2012 that has more than 60 locations in the US – three in the Washington metro area. The Wharf location will have 238 keys and will be the first Hyatt House to open in the District. These two hotels will join the InterContinental Hotel in the first phase of development at The Wharf and all three hotels will be open by the end of 2017. 

A fourth hotel is currently under construction in Southwest – Hyatt Place Washington DC/US Capitol at 4th and E streets, which is further along than The Wharf and is scheduled to open this November. I took a hard hat tour of Hyatt Place yesterday, so be on the lookout soon for a post on this project.

Rendering courtesy of Hoffman-Madison Waterfront

Wharf Hotel Site Sold

Carr City Centers has closed on a development site at The Wharf – Parcel 3B which is slated for a 278-key Intercontinental Hotel. The site was purchased from master developer Hoffman-Madison Waterfront. Parcel 3B is located at the intersection of Maine Avenue and 9th Street on the Wharf Street side. According to a press release, the hotel will have 17,000 square feet of water-view meeting space, a signature restaurant, spa, rooftop pool and bar. A separate entrance with an elevator will lead to a sky-view lounge on the 12th floor. The hotel will begin construction in the first quarter of 2016 with completion scheduled for the second quarter of 2017. This is one of three hotels that will open in the first phase of The Wharf. Hoffman-Madison Waterfront purchased Parcel 5 from The JBG Companies where an extended stay and lifestyle brand hotel will be built. An Aloft and Element were mentioned previously as the hotel brands that would be coming to Parcel 5, but a formal announcement will be made over the next three months. 

Rendering courtesy of Hoffman-Madison Waterfront

Update: The WBJ has some additional details about the hotel.  Additional amenities for this "urban resort" include a rooftop infinity pool, a two-story presidential suite on the 11th and 12th floors, and about 5,000 square feet of ground floor retail space.  From the article:

The Wharf Intercontinental Hotel will be the brand's more contemporary version of luxury: clad in glass on two sides, an open-concept, glass-enclosed lobby with a restaurant whose glass outer wall will open up to the sidewalk, creating an interaction between diners and the waterfront...Industrial and maritime touches will be included throughout the hotel, which is being designed by a collaboration between project architect BBGM and Parker-Torres.

Demolition Underway for 500 L'Enfant Plaza

Demolition is underway along Frontage Road at L’Enfant Plaza to make way for 500 L’Enfant Plaza, a new, 220,000 square-foot trophy office building developed by The JBG Companies and designed by SmithGroup JJR. 500 L’Enfant Plaza has been designed for LEED-Gold certification and will include a green roof, triple-height lobby, and fitness center. It will also have direct access to the revamped retail center and the L’Enfant Plaza Metro station. 

500 L’Enfant Plaza is the latest component to L’Enfant Plaza, which has seen significant investment in recent years. A $12 million renovation to the common areas in the 955 L’Enfant Plaza office building was recently completed; the second phase of retail opened in stages this summer (the first retail phase opened in 2011); and the common areas of the 470/490 L’Enfant Plaza office building were renovated in 2012. Murals were painted by artists James Reka, SatOne, and Nawer on exterior walls along the L’Enfant Plaza Metro terrace and loading dock, as well as in the dining area. These murals are part of the JBG Mural Project designed to transform urban walls into public art and was curated by ArtWhino. There’s also the possibility that the International Spy Museum may relocate to the mixed-use complex, bringing more weekend activity to the retailers. However, it appears that the Homewood Suites extended-stay hotel that was planned for D Street has been scrapped for now. Another office building may eventually be built in the plaza itself. In addition, the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel was purchased by an affiliate of Sanford Hotels Group and is undergoing a complete renovation. 

Renderings courtesy of SmithGroup JJR

The Little Quadrant That Could Turns Six!

I’ve been so swamped lately I almost didn’t get a chance to acknowledge that today is SWTLQTC’s sixth anniversary! Here is a quick note related to my very first blog post on Wednesday, June 4, 2008…a tower crane recently was delivered to the 400 E Street mixed use project site. The DC government released a RFP in 2008 for two parcels it owned just north of the freeway. After several years of delay, construction began in late 2013 on the first phase of development at 400 E Street. In 2015, a new Hyatt Place hotel, Engine 13 firehouse, a new headquarters for KidPower, and ground floor retail will be located there, which is being developed by E Street Development Group. The second phase at 6th and E streets will be developed at some point as an office building after 400 E Street is completed and Engine 13 vacates their current location for their new home. A webcam has been set up of the construction site.

Be on the lookout soon for SWTLQTC tote bags that will be available for sale with the blog’s new(ish) logo. Proceeds in 2014 will benefit the CBCC, a local non-profit organization that’s working on several initiatives in the neighborhood including education, housing, work force, and community enrichment. It’s been a pleasure to do this blog for the past six years and highlight what makes The Little Quadrant That Could a unique neighborhood in the District…including the good, the bad, and the ugly.  The next six years should be very interesting...

Thanks for all your support!

$25 Million Renovation Underway at Holiday Inn Capitol

 

Interior renovations began in November at the Holiday Inn Capitol, located at 550 C Street.  About three years ago, the exterior of the hotel was refurbished with new signage, lighting, and paneling, but now the interior is getting some attention, to the tune of $25 million.  The 552-key hotel is staying open during the renovation, which will be done floor by floor. The third floor was the first one to be completed and reopened for use by guests last week.  Each room has been stripped and given a more contemporary look, with improvements including new lighting, furniture, artwork, headboards, bedding, carpet, wallpaper, window treatments, upgraded cable, wall-mounted 42" LED HDTVs with free HD programming, a slide out desk, refrigerator, safe, and a Keurig coffee maker. Bathrooms have also been modernized with new wall tile, flooring, fixtures, wallpaper, and mirror. The only thing that remain in the bathrooms from the old rooms are the counter tops which are still in good shape. The King rooms have a chaise lounge and shower stalls.

Below are some before and after photos of the rooms and hallways.

King room before

Double room after

Double room after

 

Bathtub before

Bathtub after

 

Vanity before

Vanity after

Hallway before

Hallway after

In addition to the rooms, the two ballrooms and three breakout rooms are being modernized with new carpet, wallpaper, and lighting. The lobby will also get new carpeting and furniture in June. WiFi access is being upgraded throughout the hotel. Elevator cabs will be renovated once the rooms are complete.  The fitness center will be moved to the top floor and will offer views of the Capitol, next to the rooftop pool and deck, which will also be remodeled once the pool season ends this fall.  21st Amendment restaurant will be renovated starting in June. The rooms are scheduled to be complete in April and the rest of the hotel by next year.

There are three job openings currently available - Catering Sales Manager, Conference Center Manager/Director of Catering, and Marketing Office Assistant. A job description for each is located here. Holiday Inn Capitol is owned by Donohoe Hospitality Services and is the 5th largest Holiday Inn in the system.

A Couple Quick Items: Demolition and Construction North of the Freeway

Demolition is now complete at the former Donohoe Building at 400 6th Street, where Trammell Crow plans to build a new, 12-story 342,000 SF office building. The building was purchased in 2012 by Trammell Crow and the AFL-CIO Building Investment for $41.9 million and it was formerly occupied by the District’s Child and Family Services Agency. Demolition began in the fall. Space on the ground floor will be convertible to retail if the market can support it. The new office building is scheduled for completion next year. 

  

Demolition is complete.

Rendering courtesy of Gensler 

Meanwhile, heavy construction equipment arrived this week at 400 E Street, which by next year will be a 214-key Hyatt Place hotel and a new Engine 13 firehouse. The groundbreaking ceremony occurred back in mid-December. E Street Development won the rights to the site back in 2009 along with a second parcel at 6th and E streets. With the new Hyatt Place and the Intercontinental Hotel, Aloft, and Element hotels planned for Phase I of The Wharf, there will be a net gain of three hotels in Southwest by 2017 (Channel Inn will be demolished since it’s within the footprint of The Wharf). 

Construction is underway.

Rendering courtesy of WDG