District Square Retailers and Other Wharf News

 

While dozens of restaurants have been announced for District Wharf over the past several months, only recently have we been hearing about other types of retail that will be opening in the first phase of development. Today brings news of six more retailers – five of which will be coming to District Square, the area connected to District Pier at 9th Street and Maine Avenue. Joining Politics and Prose will be the following, according to a press release: 

• A Beautiful Closet, a boutique concept founded by former World Bank staff member Pamela Sofola, CPA, will open its first DC location at The Wharf. The 1,045 SF boutique will feature an artfully curated selection of clothing, jewelry, gifts, home décor, fair trade goods, and inspirational items from countries around the world, as well as offer personalized styling consultations. 
• BLINK Optical, the DC-based eyewear company, will open its third DC location in District Square, focusing on handmade eyewear, including prescription glasses and sunglasses, and will introduce exciting, exclusive new products handmade ins the U.S. as well as the new ic! Berlin screwless eyewear and Tarian spring collections at its new 1,149 SF location. Dr. George Flocos will provide eye exams at this location. 
• Blush Med Skincare, the Washington, DC area “health club for your skin,” brings its innovative monthly membership-based skin care concept to District Square. Founded by Dr. Arleen Lamba, Blush Med Skincare merges together skincare and makeup lines with a unique mix of skincare products many of which as exclusive to the market and organic. The 1,500 SF space will be the brand’s third DC area location. 
• Harper Macaw, the local and responsibly-sourced chocolate manufacturer founded in Washington, DC, will open its first store outside of the Northeast DC factory. Harper Macaw’s mission is to provide customers with the ultimate chocolate experience with products that support rainforest restoration and protection. The 831 SF space will sell their full line of chocolate bars and drops. 
• Ligne Roset, the high-end contemporary French furniture manufacturer, with showrooms around the world, is opening its second DC location at The Wharf with a 2,749 SF corner store. Collaborating with established and up-and coming designers, The Wharf location will feature a more edgy selection from the brand’s furniture line as well as long time classics and complementary accessories and lighting. 

In addition, a retailer not located on District Square was announced: 

• Patrick’s Fine Linens & Home Decor, the Alexandria-based lifestyle luxury retail store will open its first Washington, DC location at The Wharf. Patrick's second location is excited to bring upscale home decor brands and quality gifts to the charming 899 square foot store on Water Street facing DC’s southwest waterfront. 

Apparently, there has been a name change for Med Lahou’s (the owner of Station 4) planned Italian restaurant coming to Pearl Street from Marinai Pizzeria to Lupo Marino. These retail announcements follow the feature that Eater published earlier this month about restaurants coming to District Wharf. They include: 

• District Doughnut, which first opened on Barracks Row in Capitol Hill. 
• Kith and Kin, per the Washington Business Journal, will be a 3,500 SF restaurant from Top Chef’s Kwame Onwuachi (who opened Shaw Bijou and then closed within three months) coming to the ground floor of the InterContinental Hotel with “Caribbean flavors, Creole cuisine and African accents.” 
• Whiskey Charlie, a 2,200 SF rooftop bar at the Canopy by Hilton hotel. The name is the call signal WC for the Washington Channel. 

In other Wharf news, a parking garage is now open for patrons who want to visit the Municipal Fish Market. The cost is $2.00 for the first hour with validation. More information about cost and how to access the garage can be found here. 

Renderings courtesy of District Wharf

PUD for Buzzard Point Affordable Housing Apartments

A PUD for a mixed-use residential project was filed earlier this summer on a parcel at 1st and Q streets, one block north of Audi Field in Buzzard Point. Currently, the site contains a one-story retail building and a parking lot. A total of 76 rental units are planned, with a mix of 1BR, 2BR, and 4BR units. The residential entrance will be located along Q Street. About 3,800 square feet on the ground floor will be set aside for retail with entrances along 1st Street. A Capital Bikeshare station will also be placed on 1st Street. What makes this different than the other residential buildings that have been built in Southwest over the past several years is that the entire building will be set aside as affordable housing. 

Of the 76 units planned at the development, 16 will be reserved for residents earning up to 30% of AMI and the remaining 60 units will be set aside for residents earning up to 50% of AMI. There will be limited space for amenities – about 940 square feet of residential amenity space will be available, as well as a landscaped courtyard on the ground floor. However, residents in the building will have access to on-site wrap-around services provided by the United Planning Organizations, such as case management. Off-site services to be provided include mental health, addiction treatment, childcare, job readiness programs, job training, and adult education.

Renderings courtesy of PGN Architects

New South Capitol Street Bridge Design

A new design for the replacement Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge which brings South Capitol Street across the Anacostia River was revealed yesterday at a press event with Mayor Bowser, DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, and other dignitaries. The new design is a departure from the previous version that looked more traditional and swung open to allow large boats to traverse the Anacostia. Since the display ship U.S.S. Barry that was docked at the Navy Yard was dismantled and moved, there was no longer a need to have a swing span bridge so the design was updated. According to a press release, the new bridge design includes three above-deck arches that capture the District’s arch history, two piers that will appear to float in the river, and four pedestrian overlooks. The new bridge will carry six lanes of vehicular traffic (three on each side), as well as bike and pedestrian lanes on each side of the bridge. In addition to the new bridge, traffic ovals will be built on both sides of the bridge – the oval on the west side of the river will connect South Capitol Street with Potomac Avenue and Q Street.  

Current bridge

New bridge

The bridge project is part of the South Capitol Street Corridor Project, a two-phase project that will eventually include additional improvements to South Capitol Street and adjacent streets on both sides of the river. On the west side of the river, improvements in phase II will reach all the way to the intersection with the Southwest freeway. Construction on the first phase will begin in late 2017 and will run through 2021. More images and an animated video showing the bridge project can be found on the project website.

Politics and Prose Coming to District Square

Just a few days after I mused that there were few non-restaurant retail tenants announced so far at District Wharf comes this news: it was announced yesterday that Politics and Prose will open a bookstore there this October. Per WTOP, the 2,300 SF bookstore will be located at District Square, on the ground floor of The Channel apartments. Politics and Prose often hosts authors at its Upper NW bookstore and will also do so at District Wharf. From the article: 

Among those already scheduled to appear this fall are MSNBC host Chris Matthews, Jordanian-Filipina American writer and editor Malu Halasa, national security affairs specialist Mark Perry and cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy.

The grand opening for Politics and Prose is scheduled for October 12, the same day as the bulk of Phase 1 of District Wharf will make its debut.

Photo Tour Part 2: Buzzard Point

Over in Buzzard Point, progress is being made at Audi Field (the new home of D.C. United) at 2nd and R streets and construction of a Pepco substation across R Street from the stadium site. The former is scheduled to open in June 2018 while the latter is much further along. Groundbreaking for Audi Field occurred back in February, but environmental remediation started months prior. At the July ANC meeting, Victor Melara from D.C. United stated that most of the environmental remediation was complete - just one area was left to finish. Precast seating bowl installation along the west side of the stadium was supposed to start in late July. Site utility installation was also expected to start in late July. On the south side of the stadium, basement excavation is complete and grade beams are being installed.

The Pepco Waterfront substation project includes the substation structure, transmission lines, and the installation of duct banks. The substation structure is nearly complete, but electrical work still needs to be completed.  Duct banks north and west of the substation also need to be installed. Pepco is partnering with the DC Commission of the Arts and Humanities to bring artwork worth $250,000 to the planned plaza on the south side of the substation at 1st and R streets near Audi Field. A sculpture designed by local artists David and Eli Hess called Flash Point will be located in the plaza. An additional $100,000 will be spent to adorn portions of the exterior of the substation with a light installation from local artists. 

East aerial view of Audi Field.

Pepco substation at 1st & Q streets.

Photo Tour Part 1: District Wharf

On a picture perfect Saturday, I decided to go around and take photos of most of the construction activity in the quadrant. First up was District Wharf. It’s hard to believe the first phase will finally open in less than two months! Of course, portions of the first phase are already complete - 525 Water and St. Augustine's Church were completed in 2016 and Waterfront Park, with a portion dedicated to DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton opened last spring. Leasing has begun at both apartment buildings along Maine Avenue – Incanto and The Channel. Meanwhile, a large share of the condo units at VIO have already been pre-sold and two of the office buildings have landed tenants that traditionally wouldn’t locate in Southwest, including a law firm. One tenant I neglected to mention previously is Washington Gas, which according to the Washington Business Journal will move its headquarters from 101 Constitution Avenue NW to 1000 Maine Avenue and will occupy at least 70,000 SF of space in two floors. The Anthem continues to line up acts for its inaugural year of operations, including Foo Fighters, who will perform on opening night - October 12. Dozens of restaurants will be opening in the coming months, although only a few non-restaurant retailers have been announced so far, such as CVS, District Hardware & Bike & Cafe, The Press, Bella Moda Salon and Spa, and Cordial Craft Wine, Beer & Spirits. Below are some photos taken from East Potomac Park:

Going from west to east (or left to right): VIO, Canopy by
Hilton and Hyatt House hotels, the gazebo at 7th Street Park
and the recreation pier.

From left to right: Intercontinental Hotel, Capitol Yacht Club,
VIO, Canopy by Hilton and Hyatt House hotels.

From left to right: 1000 Maine Avenue, The Channel
apartments, and District Pier.

Zoomed-in view of The Channel apartments and the entrance to
the Anthem, as well as the Transit Pier, with space for
Cantina Marina Bambina.

From Maine Avenue, one can see more details coming along, including signs for parking garages and entrances to buildings. Don't try to follow the parking garage signs just yet though...the garages are not open to the public yet.  See below:

Hyatt House faces 7th Street Park, which now has landscaping
and lighting installed.

A sliver of Incanto apartments, 800 Maine, and The Channel.

A portion of The Channel apartments, which has over 500 units.

View of 800 Maine, District Square, & The Channel apartments.

Pier 4 office building from Waterfront Park

A view of the first phase of District Wharf from 10th Street.

Construction Underway at Portals Apartments

Construction is underway on 1399 Maryland Avenue, the first new residential building north of the Southwest freeway and south of the National Mall since urban renewal. Originally planned as an office building at The Portals, Republic Properties decided to change course and build multifamily instead. The current design by Robert A.M. Stern Architects is for a 373-unit rental apartment building. Many of the units will have sweeping views of the Tidal Basin and the building will be prominent for drivers entering the city on the 14th Street Bridge. Delivery is scheduled for 2019.

Rendering courtesy of Republic Properties

Capitol Hill Firm Moving to The Wharf

Add another lobbying firm to the list of office tenants at The Wharf. If was announced that Cornerstone Government Affairs will relocate its headquarters from Capitol Hill to 800 Maine Avenue in 2018. The public policy firm will take 15,000 SF of space on the 7th floor of the 11-story office building. Cornerstone Government Affairs will join the American Psychiatric Association, MakeOffices, and Van Scoyoc Associates at 800 Maine. 

In retail and restaurant news, the following liquor licenses were supported by the ANC at last week’s meeting: 

• Hank’s Oyster Bar (facing 7th Street Park on the ground floor of Canopy by Hilton)
• Shake Shack (on Wharf Street near to the entrance of The Anthem)
• Intercontinental Hotel (restaurant, lobby bar, and rooftop bar) 
• Kaliwa by Cathal Armstrong (ground floor of Vio Condominiums on Pearl Street)
• Cantina Marina Bambina (on Transit Pier near The Anthem)
• The Brighton (on Wharf Street next to entrance of The Anthem)
• La Vie (near District Square on the ground floor of The Channel Apartments)
• Marinai Pizzeria (an Italian restaurant from the same owners of Station 4 on the ground floor of Incanto apartments on Pearl Street ) 

The only one not supported was for The Anthem. In light of the reduction in hours on Metro, the ANC has concerns about the egress of concertgoers late in the evening. A group of commissioners will negotiate with the operator to come up with a solution that will give the ANC more confidence to give their support for the liquor license. 

Rendering courtesy of Hoffman Madison Waterfront

Library Community Meeting Tomorrow

A community meeting will be held tomorrow evening at the Southwest Branch Library to begin discussions regarding the new, $18 million stand-alone library that will replace the current building. DCPL recently selected Perkins + Will and Turner Construction as the design-build team for the library. At the meeting, you will get to meet the design team, learn about the project schedule, and share ideas. The meeting will start at 7pm tomorrow at the Southwest Branch library, located at 900 Wesley Place in the lower level meeting room.

Construction Progress at Audi Field

Vertical construction is underway at Audi Field, the future home of D.C. United at 2nd and R streets in Buzzard Point. The most visible portion so far is on the western side of the construction site along 2nd Street, where a portion of the stands has been erected. A groundbreaking ceremony occurred in February after the Zoning Commission approved the PUD for the project, but site work was underway for several months prior. A webcam has been installed so you can keep track of construction progress. Across R Street from the stadium site is the new Pepco substation, which is concurrently under construction. Its brick exterior is visible in the photo below looking north. An easement for Pepco transmission lines runs below the stadium site and will connect to the new substation. 

Audi Field will contain about 20,000 seats and 31 luxury suites. An adjacent site on the east side of the stadium will eventually contain mixed-use development, likely to be retail and residential. The stadium is scheduled to be completed around June 2018, so D.C. United will need to play the first portion of their season on the road since their lease at RFK ends this year.