Residential Infill Planned at Town Center

A new 3-building infill residential development just to the east of Sky House I at Town Center was revealed in this week's Washington Business Journal (subscribers only). The Bernstein Companies is moving forward with plans to build on their parking lots that currently serve Waterfront Tower condos and 1001 @ Waterfront apartments. According to the Zoning application that was submitted last month, there will be two new 11-story buildings flanking M Street and K Street and a 4-story building between the two existing towers on 3rd Street. In addition, 1001 @ Waterfront will be renovated.  Maurice Walters Architect, PC has designed the new buildings. The article states that 1001 @ Waterfront will remain as apartments after the renovation. Once completed, the proposed development at Town Center will yield 401 new multifamily units with a mix of studio, 1BR, and 2BR units, 128 renovated apartment units, 289 below-grade parking spaces, and 2,940 SF of retail on M Street and K Street. In addition, 20% of the housing will be set aside as affordable (5% to households making 50% or less than AMI, 5% to households earning 60% or less than AMI, 5% to households making 70% or less than AMI, and 5% to households earning 80% or less than AMI). Below is a breakdown of what will be built/renovated (note that the buildings shaded in green are what will be built/renovated):

Here is part of the description of the new buildings from the PUD application:

The new North and South Towers will include a two-story high base that will be enclosed but will feature large expanses of glazing that relate to the open ground floor of the Pei Towers. The main massing of the new towers will rise to a height of 90 feet (9 stories), which is approximately the same height as the Pei Towers. The remaining two stories of  the building will taper with setbacks and terraces to a height of 110 feet (11 stories).

The new North and South Towers will replace existing surface parking lots, creating a more pedestrian friendly experience on both M and K Streets. The new four-story Center Building will replace an existing brick wall along 3rd Street, adding new stoops and entry doors to 3rd Street. These doors and entries from 3rd Street, along with large expanses of fenestration above on the building, will help to activate 3rd Street.

New Middle Building on 3rd Street

All of the parking and loading will be accessed from an alley to the west of the site off of K Street and a circular drive on M Street that's being created in conjunction with Waterfront Station, with only one curb cut on K Street.  The other curb cuts that currently exist on the site (including M Street) will be removed. Town Center will aim for LEED-Silver and will have environmental enhancements such as green roofs, underground cisterns for collecting storm water runoff, and energy efficient lighting.  Some of the public benefits included in the PUD application include:

• a capital contribution to the SW Library
• restoration of the north Pei building
• tree planting on both sides of 3rd Street
• creation of angled parking on 3rd Street

New North Tower motor court

The WBJ article states that there is no construction timetable yet for the Town Center project and each building will be done separately, not concurrently.  If the consolidated PUD application is approved, it will be valid for two years, but the developers can apply for an extension if building permits have not been secured within the two-year window. 

Renderings courtesy of Maurice Walters Architect, PC

Waterfront Tower Almost Sold Out

Urban Turf reports that only seven units remain at the 123-unit Waterfront Tower, the condo conversion next to Waterfront Station at 3rd & M Street. This is the same condo building that was featured on HGTV's House Hunters last fall. Sales began in the fall of 2009. When I toured the project last summer, the sales staff told me that in a few years, the apartment building across the courtyard (1001 @ Waterfront) will likely get renovated like Waterfront Tower and convert to condo. Future phases call for two new residenital towers to be built - one on the parking lot facing M Street (which is why those spaces are leased and not sold) and the other on the parking lot on the north side of 1001 @ Waterfront.

Urban Igloo Interview

Each month, Urban Igloo, a company that matches apartment renters with landlords in the DC metro area, does an interview with a "Neighborhood Expert" on their blog. This month was Southwest's turn and here's a link to the interview they did with me. Back in January, Urban Igloo profiled 1001 at Waterfront in their Rent Check newsletter.

What Others Are Saying About Southwest

- In January's issue of Urban Igloo's Rent Check newsletter, they profile 1001 at Waterfront apartments, which is located next to Waterfront Station and is the sister building to Waterfront Tower, the condo conversion developed by The Bernstein Companies.

- This is a bit old (over 6 months), but I thought I'd add a link to this post from the WeLoveDC blog, who profiled the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood back in June as a part of their Where We Live series.

Updated Town Center Apartments Photos

Windows are starting to be installed in the South tower of the former Town Center Apartments. The North tower was renovated earlier in 2008 and is now called 1001 at Waterfront.

The side of the South tower facing the courtyard is first to receive new windows. Even more of this facade has received windows since I took this photo back on December 19th. These windows look different than the ones on the renovated North tower and resemble the new windows installed at The View at Waterfront on the west side of Waterfront Station.

Here is a view of the South tower from M Street. This side of the building hasn't received windows yet.