Extreme Makeover: New Windows and Doors Edition

The corner of South Capitol and I streets looks a little brighter these days with new windows recently installed at the Capitol Skyline Hotel. The new windows at the Capitol Skyline Hotel have a white frame, which gives the hotel exterior a much different look compared to the old blue-framed windows.

Old windows with blue frame

New windows with white frame

Across the street, windows at Randall Recreation Center have been painted, security bars removed, and doors replaced. One of the windows at Randall will also be replaced. The improvements at Randall are a result of money given by the Bernstein Companies as a part of their PUD approval for Town Center East. In addition, DPR has $250,000 available to make ADA-compliant improvements to Randall, but they are seeking more funds in the FY 2017 budget to make additional improvements.

Randall Turf Field Photos

A new turf athletic field at Randall is now mostly complete. A partnership between DPR/DGS, the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, and Under Armour have teamed up for the effort, which includes a new turf field, scoreboard, and dugouts for youth baseball/softball and soccer. The position of the ball field on the southwest corner of Randall Field shifted to the northwest corner. Only one of the fields will be turf – the other ball field on the southeast corner will remain grass due to lack of funding. The changes to the field will accommodate youth sports to the detriment of adult sports leagues due to the source of donated funds for the project. Below are some more photos of the new field.

Under Armour logo on turf field

New scoreboard is at left.

Outline of soccer field

Parcel 11 Construction Progress

Construction of 525 Water Street condos at The Wharf is progressing, with most of the exterior now covered in brick. By spring, the condos will be ready for occupancy. This will be the first new building to be complete in The Wharf and the first new construction condos to be built in Southwest since Potomac Place Condos were finished in 2005 (Waterfront Tower was a condo conversion). VIO, the other new condo building planned during the first phase of The Wharf, is also under construction and is scheduled to be completed in 2017. 

Meanwhile, the steel frame of the new St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church continues to rise along Maine Avenue. At the new St. Augustine’s, there will be views of the church from M Street and Maine Avenue since it will be located at a prominent corner. There will be a soft curved edge in front of St. Augustine's to complement the curvature of Arena Stage across the street. The two-story church will be approximately 15,000 square feet with the sanctuary located on the second floor offering views toward the Washington Monument. Also on the second floor will be classrooms and a library. On the ground floor, the entrance will lead to a vestibule that connects to classrooms and an all-purpose room, which will be available for community events, similar to how the former St. Augustine's building was used for meetings. The church began construction last May and is scheduled to be completed later this year. 

Waterfront Park, the 3.5-acre green space to be located behind parcel 11, began construction in the fall, but completion is still several months away. Park elements include plantings, pergolas, a water feature, play mounds, pathways, seating areas, an access road for the Harbor Patrol, and a plaza. The plaza will be named after DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton - the section of the park between the access road and the Wharf promenade.

Renderings courtesy of MTFA Architecture and Hoffman-Madison Waterfront

Enterprise Opening This Week at Waterfront Station

A sign has been posted at the old L’Enfant Plaza Enterprise car rental location on D Street stating that they will be moving to their new Waterfront Station storefront on or near December 7. A peek inside the new storefront shows that the Enterprise sign is ready to go up on the exterior of 1100 4th Street. Has anyone seen whether Enterprise opened today? With the imminent opening of Enterprise, there remains one vacant retail space at Waterfront Station along 4th Street – a storefront located adjacent to Station 4.

Annual Parade of Lighted Boats This Saturday

The 24th annual Parade of Lighted Boats will take place on Saturday evening from 6-8 pm at Gangplank Marina Park located at 600 Water Street.  As in previous years, festivities include photos with Santa Claus, the lighting of the Gangplank Marina Christmas tree, a firepit with s'mores, live holiday music, gingerbread cookie decorating, the first "snowfall" of the season, and of course, the boat parade, where boaters decorate their vessels and compete for prizes.

Leasing Begins at 1000 Maine

Leasing has commenced for 1000 Maine, an office building currently under construction at The Wharf, the development team announced today in a press release. From the looks of it, Hoffman-Madison Waterfront is looking to land a high-profile anchor tenant. From the press release: 

"1000 Maine offers both extraordinary creative office space and the opportunity for classic customized space within a top-tier trophy building with dramatic floor plates," said Amer Hammour, chairman of Madison Marquette. "1000 Maine's setting overlooking the Potomac River - in the heart of the nation's Capital - and with a full complement of outstanding amenities, creates a new benchmark in excellence for office design created to appeal to the most discerning national and global office tenants." 

1000 Maine will be a 250,000 SF trophy office building, designed by Kohn Pederson Fox and Fox Architects for LEED-Gold certification, with ground floor retail, a multi-story atrium, and panoramic views of the Washington Channel and monumental Washington. The office building is scheduled to deliver in 2017. Below is a promotional video from the building’s website.

In other Wharf news, according to the Washington Business Journal, building permits have been obtained for components of Phase I in recent weeks, including Parcel 2 and Parcel 3a. Parcel 2 will contain Wharf Hall and two apartment buildings, as well as a co-generation plant. Parcel 3a is 800 Maine Avenue, an office building that will be the future home of the American Psychiatric Association. Meanwhile, construction is underway at Waterfront Park, located behind 525 Water Street condos and the new St. Augustine’s Church, which should deliver in 2016.

Rendering courtesy of Hoffman-Madison Waterfront

Will St. Matthew’s Lot Finally Turn Dirt?

St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church will be holding another Christmas tree giveaway later this month on their vacant lot, located at 222 M Street. At last year’s giveaway, the development team said construction on a new sanctuary and 221 apartments would begin in April 2015, but financial complications due to the property’s location in a flood zone delayed the start of construction. This problem seems to be resolved, since the 17th Street NW levee project on the National Mall has since been completed, which moves the St. Matthew’s lot outside of the 100-year flood zone. According to Pastor Phillip Huber of St. Matthew’s, the latest estimate for starting construction is mid-January, with completion by the end of 2017, or sooner. The development team includes Trammell Crow Company and CSG Urban Partners.

The Christmas tree giveaway will be on Saturday, December 12, starting at 10am. In order to receive one of the 130 free trees, a reservation is required – either email stmatthewsdc@hughes.net or call 202-484-3189, first come, first serve. Day-of reservations will be accepted on site, starting at 10am to pick up a tree after 12pm, if any remain. Free food and beverages will be provided during the giveaway.

Rendering courtesy of Shalom Baranes Associates

7th Street Recreational Pier May be Built Sooner

Hoffman-Madison Waterfront has submitted an application for Stage II PUD approval of 7th Street Recreational Pier, which was originally proposed to be built in Phase III of The Wharf, but may now be developed during the initial phase, in concert with construction of 7th Street Park. The pier will be located at the terminus of 7th Street, adjacent to the planned 7th Street Park and is one of the four public piers planned for The Wharf. 

7th Street Recreational Pier has been designed by Michael Vergason Landscape Architects and Moffatt & Nichol, according to the Zoning Commission application as “a narrow quay for enjoying views of the water and the monuments, and will have a lower floating pier that can accommodate various rental activities and other water-based recreational program.” On the upper portion of the pier, wooden benches, oversized swings, lighting, and a “fire feature” are planned. As designed, the pier will gradually descend towards the water’s surface before rising to its terminus, 432 feet into the Washington Channel. A series of floating wetlands will be located to the east of the pier, providing visual interest and environmental benefits. A large shade structure is planned for the area where the pier, wharf promenade and 7th Street Park meet, which will include a gathering area and retail kiosk. 

In order to build the pier during Phase I of construction, a revised transition plan needed to be developed, specifically for the live-aboards at Gangplank Marina. The revised plan moves access to Gangplank Marina away from the construction zone of the pier and moves the live-aboards to a centralized location. ANC 6D will need to give its support before the pier design is taken up by the Zoning Commission. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approved the concept design back in July. 

Renderings courtesy of Hoffman-Madison Waterfront

400 E Street Ribbon Cutting

District officials, FEMS, E Street Development Group, and members of the community gathered at 400 E Street to celebrate the opening of a mixed-use development, including a new Engine 13 firehouse, Hyatt Place hotel, KidPower headquarters, and ground floor retail. Back in the summer, I got a tour of the project while it was still under construction. FEMS will be moving to the new firehouse sometime over the next month or so, while Hyatt Place is already accepting guests.

The project started construction a little less than two years ago; however, it has been planned for several years. In fact, my very first post on this blog in 2008 had to do with DMPED’s solicitation of development proposals for 400 E Street and a nearby parcel at 6th and E streets. The developers will start designing the second phase of development starting in 2016, with construction likely beginning in 2017.

Below are some photos from the ribbon-cutting.

Geoff Griffis from CityPartners

Mayor Muriel Bowser

Ward 6 Council Member Charles Allen

FEMS Chief Gregory Dean

Here are a few interior photos of the firehouse:

Foam unit

Fire poles

Inside the firehouse

 Interior photos of Hyatt Place:

Gallery Market

Fitness center

Reception area of hotel

Conference room

Business center

Exterior photos:

Building exterior

View from City Bar

City Bar will open in spring

Pool on the third floor

View to the south

Exterior sign

Retail Replaced by Residential at Camden South Capitol

It appears that the retail space on the ground floor of Camden South Capitol will instead be used as residential. It was reported in the Washington Business Journal that a permit was granted to convert the 4,382 SF of ground floor retail into five apartments. These will be the only residential units in the building that front South Capitol Street. Camden South Capitol opened at the northwest corner of South Capitol and O streets in 2013. At the time, the developer was hoping to attract a restaurant to the space, located across the street from Nationals Park. On the same block as Camden South Capitol, the planned residential building just to the north of Camden South Capitol plans to include ground floor retail.