Pool Schedule Released

DPR has announced pool and spray park opening dates and operating hours for the summer season. In Southwest, Randall Pool and East Potomac Pool will open on Memorial Day weekend (May 28-30) from 12-6pm. The pools will be open only on weekends through June 12. Starting on June 18, the pools will be open most days of the week, starting at 11am and will remain open until Labor Day (Monday, September 5). Meanwhile, the new King-Greenleaf Spray Park at Canal and N streets will open for the summer on Saturday, May 28, operating daily from 10am-7pm. The spray park will close on Labor Day. 

On a separate note, the SW Duck Pond, which has been closed for construction, is expected to reopen on July 4.

Randall Field Ribbon Cutting this Saturday

The new multipurpose turf field at Randall Recreation Center has a new name which may sound familiar to Nationals fans…the Ryan Zimmerman Field will officially open this Saturday with a ribbon cutting at 10am. The festivities begin at 8:30am with “fun and games” and concludes with an inaugural baseball game at 10:30am. Guests will include the aforementioned Zimmerman, Nationals manager Dusty Baker, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Ward 6 Council member Charles Allen, ANC 6D commissioners, and other dignitaries. All are welcome to attend. The field was redone this past fall and winter by a partnership between DPR/DGS, the Nationals Dream Foundation, the Cal Ripken ?Sr. Foundation, and Under Armour, which includes baseball and soccer fields.

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

Randall Field Improvements Imminent

Field improvements will soon begin at Randall Field. 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 will shift from its current configuration to the northwest corner. A turf field will do a better job of water drainage than grass and will result in more use of the field. Only one of the fields will be turf – the other ball field on the southeast corner will remain grass due to lack of funding. According to Mark Bacus from DGS, there will be a seamless transition between the turf and grass field. 

The revised plans for Randall Field were presented at a community meeting on Tuesday evening. Most of the attendees seemed to be in support of the changes, but there was some opposition from those who currently use the field for adult leagues. 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.  

Construction on the field should be complete by early November. Funding for this project only covers the ball field area – there is currently no funding available to make improvements to the tennis and basketball courts. However, other areas of Randall have recently been improved or will soon undergo renovations. Earlier this summer, the playground reopened at Randall with an ocean life theme and construction activity at the community center building began in late July – new windows and doors will be installed and should be done by September. The window and door replacement was funded by a $200,000 donation from The Bernstein Companies as a part of the PUD agreement for their Town Square East development. In addition, DPR has $250,000 available to make ADA-compliant improvements, but they are seeking more funds in the FY 2017 budget to make additional improvements. There was some confusion at the community meeting about where the $250,000 came from and whether there was additional funds available in the budget for improvements (for instance, $250,000 was secured in the soccer stadium community benefits agreement for improvements to Randall). DPR wanted to solicit ideas from the audience for what additional improvements should be made, but the majority of the time allotted was used up by discussion about the ball fields and amount of renovation dollars available for the Community Center. Therefore, a follow-up community meeting is scheduled for August 26 at 6pm to brainstorm ideas for renovating Randall Community Center.

Rendering courtesy of DGS

Free DPR Events at Randall

July 25 will be a busy day at Randall Field and Pool, located at South Capitol and I streets. During the afternoon, DPR will celebrate National Park and Recreation Month with the first annual “Recreation Day” at the field. From 11 am to 4pm, there will be a variety of free activities for the whole family, including music, swimming, soccer, basketball, softball, moon bounce, dodge ball, horseshoes, sack races, tug of war, gardening tips and demonstrations, among other events. One of those other events is “Talent Search.” From the press release: 

Throughout the day, join us for “Talent Search,” where residents can go onstage in DPR’s Show Mobile and sing, dance, or perform whatever talent they have for fun and DPR prizes. 

Later in the evening, DPR will be hosting a second event, “A Splish Splash Summer” Late Night Pool Party Series at Randall Pool from 8:30pm to 11:30pm. Randall is one of the three public pools that will host the event this summer. The event series is open to all ages and is free (for both District and non-District residents) although photo ID is required for adults to enter. A DJ and music will be provided, but no outside food or drink is allowed.

Randall Playground Open

The playground at Randall is now open for use while the newly planted grass still needs time to grow. It’s been several years in the making, although the improvements are a scaled back version of the original plans due to cost overruns. For instance, the skate and splash parks have been replaced with grass. Below are some additional photos of the new plaza and playground.

The next phase of improvements includes a new turf baseball and soccer field that will be built under a partnership with DPR, the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, and Under Armour. The new turf fields should be complete by November.

Construction Update - Playgrounds

 

Two playgrounds are currently under construction in the neighborhood – both are part of the Play DC playground improvement program. One is located at King-Greenleaf Recreation Center at 201 N Street and the other is at Randall Recreation Center, located at South Capitol and I streets. King-Greenleaf’s new play equipment has a nautical theme. In addition to new play equipment, there will be a splash park. Below are some construction photos: 

Splash park

New play equipment

Playground sign

Over at Randall Recreation Center, the playground was delayed for over a year before construction began in late 2014. At one point, the site was under consideration for a charter high school, but KIPP decided to build elsewhere in the city amid neighborhood opposition. A skate park and splash park that would have fronted I Street have been removed from plans for phase one of the playground due to lack of funding. The playground equipment at Randall also has a nautical theme, but focused on pirates. Below are a couple construction photos: 

New play equipment

New sidewalks

Both playgrounds should be complete later this spring.

Randall Park Renovations Finally Getting Underway

Construction fencing and equipment have appeared this week around Randall Park adjacent to Randall Recreation Center on I Street, which means the start of long-awaited improvements to the park should be imminent. Randall Park is one of the playgrounds slated for improvements as a part of the PlayDC initiative. The project has been delayed for over a year, first due to a proposal to build a charter high school on the site, then funding issues. Eventually, over $1 million was secured to fund the renovations.

Originally, the scope of improvements was to be more comprehensive, including: new playground equipment for all ages, renovation of the existing basketball/tennis courts, removal of asphalt and brick walls and installation of a new splash park and seating areas in the plaza area fronting I Street, a skate park, walking path, adult exercise equipment, drinking fountains, picnic & game tables, security lighting, fencing, landscaping and gates. There was an objection by the developers of the adjacent Randall School project to the placement of the skate park, which would have been located next to the eastern portion of their site. Subsequently, the Department of General Services determined that there was not enough funding to do all of the renovations in one phase, so the skate and splash parks, walking path, and adult exercise equipment will not be completed during this phase. The asphalt plaza fronting I Street will still be removed, but for now it will become a grassy area.

In addition to the park improvements, $250,000 has been set aside in the FY 2015 budget to renovate the historic recreation center building, due to the Community Benefits Agreement included in the DC United soccer stadium legislation passed by the DC Council last week. Programming will also be extended for Randall, which was set to lose funding at the end of FY 2015. Park improvements should be completed by next spring.

Rendering courtesy of DPR

Playground Construction Date Near at Randall

If you’re a kid in Southwest, play options in the neighborhood have improved recently and will soon get even better. After more than a year of delays, the Randall Recreation Center playground at South Capitol and I streets will become the latest District playground to be revamped under DPR’s Play DC initiative when construction begins later this month. In addition to the Randall playground, the King-Greenleaf Recreation Center playground will also be renovated this fall. Last month, the 3rd & I Street Park adjacent to the Southwest branch library was renovated and a playground was added. In the last two years, a playground was added at Syphax Gardens and the play equipment at Amidon-Bowen Elementary was replaced. 

 

The renovations at Randall will cost over $1 million to complete and will begin on September 15 with completion before the end of the year. Improvements include: new playground equipment for all ages, renovation of the existing basketball/tennis courts, removal of asphalt and brick walls and installation of a new splash park and seating areas in the plaza area fronting I Street, a skate park, walking path, adult exercise equipment, drinking fountains, picnic & game tables, security lighting, fencing, landscaping and gates. The park funding had been in limbo since 2013 when KIPP unsuccessfully lobbied to build a charter school on the site. Subsequently, the Office of Planning conducted the Southwest Neighborhood Plan, whose final recommendations should be released this fall. 

Rendering courtesy of DPR

A Few Quick Labor Day Items: Doggie Day Swim, Wells' SW Office Hours, M Street Yoga Opens ths Week, Waterfront Academy Starts Classes, Wharf's Search for $$

DPR and the Department of Health will host the sixth annual DPR Doggie Day Swim on Saturday, September 6 from 12pm to 4pm. One of the pool facilities that will participate is Randall Pool at South Capitol and I streets. Admission is free; however, all dogs must have a valid, DOH-issued DC dog license to enter the pool. Licenses will be issued on site, however dog owners must have all the required documentation (proof of rabies and distemper vaccinations; and proof of spaying/neutering) and fee payment. Only money orders or personal checks are accepted (no credit cards nor cash), made payable to "DC Treasurer." The cost of the license is $15 for dogs that are spayed/neutered and $50 for non-spayed/neutered dogs. 

Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells will not have September Southwest Office Hours since the Council is in recess until September 15. The next Southwest Office Hours will be on Thursday, October 2 from 8am to 9:30am at the Southwest Safeway (1100 4th Street). 

M Street Yoga will finally start offering classes next week on the ground floor of Carrollsburg, a Condominium’s North Building at 300 M Street. Ahead of the start of classes on Thursday, there will be an Open House on Wednesday, September 3 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. The studio’s website recently went live, where classes can be scheduled. 

Waterfront Academy, the new dual immersion Montessori school opening this fall at 60 I Street, has hired its teaching staff for the 2014-15 school year. Karina Trejo will serve as the Spanish Montessori Primary Guide; Garry Robert will be the Bilingual Catechist; and Concepcion Roque will be the Primary Assistant Catechist. The trio joins Head of School Rebeca Shakleford. The first day of school will be on Tuesday, September 2 and the Grand Opening will take place on October 2 at 6:30pm. 

Photo courtesy of Waterfront Academy (foto cortesía de Waterfront Academy) 

An article in Capital Business profiles Amer Hammour, executive chairman of Madison Marquette, one of the developers of The Wharf. The article mentions how Hammour had to travel around the world to find financing for the project. From the article: 

One colossal Chinese firm expressed interest, and after Hammour and Hoffman made their pitch, the chairman declared that instead of investing he would buy the entire waterfront and build a five-story shopping center. “He happens to be one of the richest guys in the world, period,” Hammour said. “And he comes in and makes it clear that, you know, he’s going to own this project. And then talks about what he wants to do with the project, which is completely unrealistic. We had to explain to him that, to build a Chinese-like shopping center like that on the Potomac might not be a great idea.”

Imagine the reaction if that idea went anywhere...

A Few Quick Tuesday Morning Items: Wharf Club Renderings, WPA Relocation, Randall Historic Nomination Hearing

UrbanTurf has gotten their hands on some renderings from Capital Pixel of the Wharf Club amenity space in Parcel 2 of The Wharf. The expansive space above the Wharf Center concert hall with views of the Washington Channel will have amenities for the rental apartment residents including a pool and deck with cabanas, fitness center, sand volleyball court, dog run, and lounge. This is the same parcel where a significant amount of the apartments will be “micro-units” with studios ranging from 300 to 400 square feet, so it appears that the large amenity space is making up for the smaller unit sizes. 

Rendering courtesy of Hoffman-Madison Waterfront

Washington Project for the Arts, a non-profit organization whose mission is to support artists at all stages of their careers and promotes contemporary art by presenting exhibitions, issues, and ideas that stimulate public dialogue on art and culture, will be moving from the Capitol Skyline Hotel to a new development under construction next to the 9:30 Club by the fall of 2015. Before they leave the neighborhood, though, they will install a piece of artwork this summer along the side of the hotel that faces South Capitol Street to cover up the area where the old Best Western sign used to be located. The first image will be from Capitol Hill artist named Julie Wolfe. 

A Historic Preservation Review Board hearing to consider the merits of classifying the Randall Community Center building at South Capitol and I streets as historic will take place on Thursday morning at 441 4th Street, NW, Room 220 from 9:45 to 10:30am. The building was constructed in 1912 and served as the District Dog Pound and Stable. The application was submitted by SWNA and the hearing was triggered because the CBCC has found a developer partner to install new doors and windows on the building.

Former SEU Campus to Become Actors' Housing

An article in Broadway World offers some details on the plan to develop the former Southeastern University campus at 6th and I streets into actor and apprentice housing for the Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC). The campus was under contract back in October from The Graduate School USA. STC will be partnering with real estate developer Erkiletian Real Estate on the project. From the article:

The Company plans to transform the property into a residence for actor and apprentice housing, rehearsal and performance space, storage for costume and set equipment, education classrooms, and the STC administrative headquarters...In addition to a full public benefits and amenities package to be delivered in conjunction with the redevelopment, [Managing Director Chris] Jennings hopes the new location will foster partnerships with local community organizations and the STC Education department's programming. With the addition of more rehearsal studios and performance spaces, Southwest community members will be able to take advantage of the new location's resources at a reduced rate.

The campus has been vacant since The Graduate School USA absorbed SEU and the university lost its accreditation in 2009. The development will be located two blocks north of Arena Stage and adds another arts component to the 6th and I street corridors, which already has Arena Stage, weekly jazz and blues performances at Westminster, arts programming at Randall Recreation Center, and a planned modern art museum at the former Randall Junior High School.

Update: A Housing Complex article states that the planned residential units will include both market-rate and artists' housing.

A Couple Thursday Morning Quick Items: DC United Stadium Speculation, Randall Rec Center Funds

Soccer Insider from The Washington Post speculated about the soccer stadium deal’s chances for success depending on who wins the DC Democratic Mayoral primary. With Ward 4 Council member Muriel Bowser’s victory Tuesday night over Mayor Gray, the author theorized that the deal may still have a chance to move forward. From the article:

Where does Bowser stand? Initially, she came out against the proposal, saying she would not support a plan that would turn over the city-owned Reeves Center at 14th and U streets NW to a developer in exchange for a large parcel on the stadium footprint. Her stance was fueled in large part by politics: opposing a major Gray initiative ahead of the campaign.

But in recent months, her tone has softened and those involved in the stadium talks believe, in the event she wins, they could work with her. One figure said Bowser is “open-minded and reasonable. She wants the right deal.”

Terms of the proposal would probably have to change and the process would slow, but the plan could remain on track, especially if Bowser retained City Administrator Allen Lew, Gray’s stadium point man. 

Rendering courtesy of Gensler

The CBCC tweeted on Tuesday (not an April Fools’ Day joke) that over $1 million that had been held up for months by the city to rebuild the playground and plaza area at the Randall Recreation Center on South Capitol and I streets has finally been released. The park funding had been in limbo since 2013 when KIPP unsuccessfully lobbied to build a charter school on the site. The planned improvements include:

• New playground equipment for all ages 
• Renovation of the existing basketball / tennis courts 
• Renovation of the plaza area to include a splash park and sitting areas 
• A skate park 
• Walking path around the fields 
• Adult exercise equipment 
• New fencing, landscaping, and gates 
• Security lighting 
• Removal of asphalt and brick walls 
• New drinking fountains, picnic tables, game tables, trash cans, recycling cans, bike racks, and signage 

In addition to the renovations, the front door and windows at the rec center may be replaced with new ones. There is no estimate yet for when the playground and plaza will be completed.

Rendering courtesy of DPR

2013 in Review

Since 2013 has come to a close, let’s take a brief look back at the major events that shaped the year in Southwest and what is in store for 2014. 

The Wharf 

Arguably the largest development project in Southwest took a major step forward in 2013 when the Zoning Commission approved the Stage 2 Planned Unit Development (PUD) application for phase one of the Wharf. While ground breaking was supposed to occur by the end of 2013, the timeline has slipped to 2014 since a financing agreement has not been made public yet. Meanwhile, the houseboats at the Gangplank Marina were moved this fall to make way for construction and businesses along the waterfront were given notice to vacate within five months. 

Rendering courtesy of Hoffman-Madison Waterfront

Apartment Wave Hits Southwest 

Leasing began in April at Camden South Capitol, the first new rental apartment building to open in Southwest in decades. So far, more than half of the units at the 276-unit building have been leased; however, the ground floor retail space at South Capitol and O streets is still vacant. Camden hopes to attract a restaurant to the space, located across the street from Nationals Park. 

In addition, leasing was supposed to begin on December 2 at the East tower of Sky House, the adaptive reuse of the former EPA towers at Waterfront Station, but it was delayed by a month to January 2. There are a total of 266 units at the East tower, located at 1150 4th Street, with 20% set aside as affordable housing for residents earning up to 50% of Area Median Income. A second 264-unit tower will open in spring 2014 at 1151 4th Street. 

Waterfront Station 

Aside from Sky House, other activity is underway at Waterfront Station. The last retailer to open along 4th Street was Z-Burger back in 2012. Since then, it was learned in May that the two vacant storefronts on the northern end of 1101 4th Street have been leased by restaurateur Atul Bhola to open Masala Art, an Indian restaurant. This would be the second Masala Art restaurant – the other restaurant is located in Tenleytown. Building permits are stuck on the windows and visible work on the tenant build-out began in November. It is rumored that the restaurant will open in June 2014. This leaves two vacant retail spaces at Waterfront Station – one each at 1100 and 1101 4th Street. 

Meanwhile, planning is underway for a residential building by Forest City and Vornado on the vacant northwest parcel next to the future Masala Art. A PUD was filed in late 2012 and the project went through the zoning approval process in 2013, with PUD approval received in September. The 360-unit building will have all market-rate units and approximately 5,300 square feet of ground floor retail space. There will be 12 two-level townhouse units with private entrances on Makemie Place and along a private drive to be built to the north of the project. Construction may begin sometime in 2014. 

Rendering courtesy of Waterfront 1001 4th Street, LLC

Town Center East 

In June, HPRB designated both multifamily buildings at Town Center East and the grounds as historic. The buildings, located on 3rd Street between K Street and M Street, were designed by I.M. Pei and built in 1960-61. The owners at Waterfront Tower, along with the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, applied for historic designation in response to a PUD submitted by The Bernstein Companies to build two large multifamily buildings on the parking lots of the existing Pei buildings and a smaller building on the courtyard separating the two existing buildings. After the HPRB designation, the Bernstein Companies altered their plans and among several things, removed a small building that was to be built along 3rd Street. After reviewing the changes, the ANC reversed their prior disapproval with the PUD and offered conditional support in September.

Rendering courtesy of Maurice Walters Architect, PC

Randall 

 

A contentious proposal to build a charter high school for KIPP DC kept the future of the Randall Recreation Center site at South Capitol and I streets in limbo. Back in the fall of 2012, the District government announced that Randall would be one of 32 playgrounds across the city that it would improve during the 2013 fiscal year. In addition, the plaza area facing I Street would be upgraded with a skate park and fountains. The project was put on hold while the KIPP proposal was being vetted, but ultimately, the city decided against the KIPP proposal. It’s unknown at this point when the playground and plaza area will be improved, but presumably it will happen sometime in 2014. Meanwhile, some limited programming was implemented over the summer at the recreation center, which has been underfunded and underutilized for years. More robust programming is now underway, which started this week. 

Next door to the pool and recreation center, Telesis/Rubell have been advancing their plans for the Randall Junior High School site. According to the revised PUD, a non-profit contemporary art museum from the collection of the Rubell family will be located in the original 1906 center building - the first floor of the museum will be used as a community cultural space that is open to the public, with an art gallery featuring local artists, 100-seat auditorium, library, bookstore, café, and meeting space. The upper two levels will house the museum exhibits. Other arts-related uses will be located in the west wing – perhaps a culinary incubator. A destination restaurant with outdoor seating will be in the east wing (both wings were built in 1927). Behind the center building, a new three-story addition will house additional exhibition space for the art museum. Two 12-story towers with 550 residential units will wrap behind the historic buildings and courtyard. The courtyard will be open to the public and six commercial spaces may be created on the ground level facing the courtyard containing artist studios. Twenty percent of the residential units will be set aside as affordable to households earning up to 80% of AMI. The ANC gave qualified support for the PUD and the Historic Preservation Review Board approved the project in November, while the Zoning Commission generally showed support for the project at the hearing in December. The PUD is likely to receive approval during the first half of 2014 with construction on the first phase (including the historic buildings and at least one of the residential buildings) either in late 2014 or 2015. 

Rendering courtesy of  Bing Thom Architects