Peninsula 88 Groundbreaking

According to the Capitol Riverfront BID, a ceremonial groundbreaking for Peninsula 88 condos in Buzzard Point was held late last month. The condo project site from Capital City Real Estate is located adjacent to the shuttered Buzzard Point Marina at 88 V Street. There will be a total of 110 units with a mix of 1BR, 1BR/den, 2BR and penthouse units. Prices will range from $500,000 to $2.5 million. 

This is the first residential building to start construction in Buzzard Point south of Q Street. Other proposed projects include Riverpoint, the redevelopment of the former Coast Guard headquarters located to the west of Peninsula 88; 1900 Half Street, a former office building that will be converted to a 462-unit apartment project; 1800 Half Street, the site of warehouses and Ziegfield’s/Secrets that will be redeveloped as an approximately 300-unit apartment project. In addition, the vacant “Parcel B” adjacent to Audi Field may one day contain a residential component. Akridge’s 100 V Street parcel may also include residential (if Amazon H2Q doesn’t locate there). 

Even though a groundbreaking ceremony was held on October 26, actual construction has still not started. Sales at Peninsula 88 are expected to begin in 2018 with delivery in about two years.

Renderings courtesy of Eric Colbert & Associates

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.

Designs for Final Phase of District Wharf Filed with City

As expected, Hoffman Madison Waterfront submitted a stage two Planned Unit Development (PUD) application in May for the third phase of development at District Wharf and details are now available. Back in March, representatives from the development team indicated that they would be submitting an application for Parcels 6 – 10, as well as three water buildings, parks and piers. One major change from what was approved during the stage one PUD process for the entire project is the addition of hotel use to Parcel 8. Originally, only residential and office uses were approved for the parcel, either with ground floor retail. Below is a description of each of the parcels and public spaces in the final phase of development. 

Parcel 6 & 7 

These parcels are located to the east of 7th Street Park and will contain an approximately 539,000 SF office building, including about 34,000 SF of ground floor retail. The building was designed by SHoP Architects and will rise 10 stories to a height of 130 feet. As designed, the building will be contemporary in style with two glass towers connected by a “belt-level” on the second floor. The second level will contain office space as well as a large oval opening called the Oculus. On the ground level, there will be a north-south pedestrian connection between Maine Avenue and Wharf Street. In addition, an east-west service corridor will provide loading access for the building and allow for ground floor retail on all four sides of each office tower and along the service and pedestrian corridors. Two winter gardens will be incorporated into the design – one on the northwest corner facing 7th Street Park and the other on the south side facing Wharf Street. 

Parcel 8

ODA has designed the Parcel 8 building, which will include about 26,000 SF of ground floor retail, 79,000 SF dedicated for a 116-key hotel, and 266,000 SF for a residential building with 235 units (115 will be market-rate units). The remaining 120 units will be reserved at different levels of affordability, including 30% of Area Median Income (AMI), 60% of AMI, and workforce housing. Parcel 8 is designed in a U shape with the open portion of the building facing the Washington Channel. On the north and east “bars” of the building, residential uses will be built, while the hotel will occupy the west “bar.” The east “bar” will be set back at each floor to provide terraces for residents while the west “bar” will do the opposite so each successive floor will cantilever over the lower floor. A covered alley will run in the middle of the building on the first floor, allowing pedestrian and vehicular access, as well as providing for retail entrances on four sides of the building. The design of the building will allow for a large landscaped courtyard facing Wharf Street and the Washington Channel, containing a pool and other amenities for the residential building. The hotel and residential lobbies will be accessed from Wharf Street and will be located on the ground level. 

Parcel 9 

Designed by Rafael Vinoly Architects, Parcel 9 will contain an 82-unit condominium building with about 16,000 SF of ground floor retail. All of the units in the condo building will be market-rate. Its positioning gives the building great visibility for travelers coming west on M Street and due to its proposed height of 130 feet, it will be the tallest building on the east side of District Wharf so boat passengers will see it as they travel north on the Washington Channel. The building is also next to M Street Landing, one of the larger planned open spaces in the Southwest Waterfront redevelopment. There is a curve to the building, which complements the design of Arena Stage located just to the north. 

Parcel 10

Parcel 10 steps down in height from the other parcels in this phase to 60 feet. Designed by Morris Adjmi Architects, the building is planned as an office building with about 60,100 SF of space and 16,200 SF of ground floor retail. Seat steps will be built onto the podium of the building to allow for views down Wharf Street. 

Water Buildings

In addition to the five parcels, there are three water buildings planned for a variety of uses. Water Building 1 will be located adjacent to Parcels 6/7 with a maximum height of 34 feet containing 11,900 SF of space dedicated to retail and maritime uses. 

Water Building 2 will be located on the Wharf promenade next to Parcel 9. It too will be two stories tall with a maximum height of 34 feet. Retail/service uses will be located on both floors of the building, but terraces will be incorporated on the second floor to afford views of the Washington Channel and District Wharf. 

Meanwhile, Water Building 3 is located to the east of Parcel 10. This building will be slightly taller than the others at 38 feet and will contain about 5,000 SF for use by the live-aboards at Gangplank Marina. 

Interspersed throughout the promenade in the final phase of development are kiosks. From the PUD application: 

These outdoor kiosk structures are intended to serve as incubator spaces for small local businesses to try out their retail concepts on a low-risk basis. If successful, the kiosk operators will have an opportunity to move indoors, into one of the spaces reserved throughout of the redevelopment project for unique and local business enterprises. 

New marina docks will be constructed for the live-aboards at the Gangplank Marina. Other open spaces planned include M Street Landing, The Grove, The Terrace, and The Mews. If approved by the Zoning Commission, construction on the last phase of development at District Wharf could start in 2018. Meanwhile, the first phase of development is scheduled to open starting in October and the smaller second phase (including improvements to the Municipal Fish Market and Parcel 1 will be completed by next spring.

Reporters Building to be Redeveloped as Residential

Back in 2013, the National Capital Revitalization Corporation developed the SW Ecodistrict Initiative for a 110-acre area south of the National Mall and north of the Southwest freeway. One of the goals of the initiative was to create a sustainable mixed-use community by introducing residential and/or hospitality uses in the area, which has been dominated for decades by government agencies and other office users. Since then, Republic Properties has proposed residential uses for one of the planned buildings at The Portals and Douglas Development purchased the Cotton Annex on 12th Street, with plans to redevelop the historic building and adjacent parking lot. 

Next up for redevelopment is the Reporters Building at 300 7th Street, located across the street from the D Street entrance to the L’Enfant Plaza Metro station at Constitution Center. Urban-Atlantic has plans to redevelop the aging office building as a multifamily project by re-skinning the exterior and adding up to five levels to the existing eight-story building. This is the same developer that converted the former EPA towers at Waterfront Station to Skyhouse East and West (now known as The Leo and The Lex). The 300 7th Street project will include about 370 units, which will be mostly rental apartments with condos on the top floor of the building and retail will remain on the ground floor. Current retailers include a barber shop and Pizza Autentica, the latter which opened back in 2009.

The proposed development is by-right and does not need zoning approval. However, it does need to get approval from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and the project will be on the agenda for this month’s meeting. At last night’s ANC meeting, the commissioners voted 5-0-1 to support the project. The lone abstention came from Commissioner Rhonda Hamilton, who was disappointed that the project will contain 100% market-rate units – no affordable units are required since the development is by-right. 

As more details of the project are made available, including renderings, I’ll provide updates.

Groundbreaking for Riverside Redevelopment

Construction has begun on a new Riverside Baptist Church and a multifamily rental building at 680 I Street. Back in December, demolition started on Riverside, where some of the façade will be used in the new church building. The church will be located at the corner of Maine Avenue and 7th Street while the 173-unit rental building, developed by PN Hoffman, will be at 7th and I streets. About 10% of the apartment units will be set aside as affordable housing for households earning up to 50%, 80% and 100% of Area Median Income. There will be space on the ground floor of the apartment building for community-serving uses, such as a daycare center. 

This is the first multifamily project to start construction in 2017. Other multifamily projects that are likely to start this year include The Kiley on 4th Street apartments, 1399 Maryland Avenue apartments at The Portals, 1319 South Capitol apartments, Peninsula 88 condos and Riverpoint apartments & condos. According to a press release, construction is expected to be completed at 680 I Street by late 2018. 

Rendering courtesy of PN Hoffman

Condo Developer Purchases Buzzard Point Sites

A new condominium project may be developed one block north of the new D.C. United stadium. Two sales closed back in early October at the corner of 1st and Q streets in Buzzard Point, which may foretell a redevelopment of these sites into a condominium building. The larger of these sites is 1546 – 1550 1st Street, a commercial building currently occupied by Lucky Kabob and Shulman Liquor. According to DC land sale records, the lot size is 6,138 SF and the sale price is $2.8 million. Just to the north of Lucky Kabob is 1542 1st Street, which was approved by the Zoning Commission earlier this year to be developed into Stadium Lofts (rendered above), an eight-unit rental apartment building by TMASSHLDG LLC. This lot is 3,000 SF and the sale price is $1,830,000. (The High Road Primary & Middle School building next to 1542 1st Street is also for sale, but I have not found a land sale record for that site.) 

The buyer of both of these lots is an affiliate of DBT Development Group, a Capitol Hill-based company that specializes in condominium development. Their most recent project was the Maryland Condominiums near the H Street NE corridor. They recently purchased a site not too far away on L Street SE in Near SE/Capitol Riverfront/Navy Yard and plans to build condominiums there in 2017. 

The 1st and Q streets site would be the second condominium building planned for Buzzard Point. Capital City Real Estate is planning to build Peninsula 88 next to the shuttered Buzzard Point Marina at 1st and V streets and ANC 6D is scheduled to vote on proposed changes to the PUD for this site at this evening's January's monthly meeting.

Stadium Lofts rendering courtesy of TMASSHLDG LLC

Landscape Architect Selected for Riverpoint

West 8 was selected as the designer of the public realm and waterfront for the Riverpoint project on Buzzard Point. This will be the firm’s first Washington project – it has done work around the world, notably at Governor’s Island in New York City, Madrid, Seoul, and Hong Kong. While we don’t know yet what the project will look like, this excerpt from West 8’s website gives some clues about their design philosophy: 

West 8 approaches the production of nature in two different - but characteristically Dutch - ways. First, we take a classic civil engineering approach for creating landscape - a logic based on utility and necessity. Second, we are part of a landscape tradition that confers identity and, therefore, understand the need for creating symbols in the production of landscape. This method envisions a new nature, a 'second nature' of constructed landscapes that respond to pragmatic demands (water management, population growth, traffic congestion) and also reinforce the culture to which they belong (identity, symbols, expression).
In a departure from the old demolish and install engineering methodology, or the current preserve and protect model, we are adding and expressing new natures. The real future in today's debate about sustainability lies not in a political or philosophical dialogue about what we are protecting or how we are going to 'sustain' it, but rather how to actively create new ecologies. Creating land and then painting it: in many ways, this is the soul of Dutch culture. 

Riverpoint is a planned mixed-use development on the site of the former Coast Guard headquarters at 2100 Second Street, spearheaded by Western Development, Akridge, Orr Partners, Redbrick LMD LLC and Jefferson Apartment Group. Anticipated uses include apartments, condos, 80,000 SF of retail, and floating restaurants.

Design Changes for Peninsula 88 Condos

Developers filed with the Zoning Commission last month a request to review and approve a “Modification of Significance” for the planned condo project at 1st and V streets on Buzzard Point, formerly known as Marina Place condos. Since Capital City Real Estate purchased the land for this project, located just north of the shuttered Buzzard Point Marina, plans changed for the design of the building and the condominium project is now called Peninsula 88. The previous design resulted in pie-shaped units, creating awkward floor plans that would be difficult to furnish. In addition, there were fewer two bedroom units and the 1 bedroom units were larger. 

The revised design will incorporate 97 condo units in an eight-story building with the flexibility to have between 75 and 110 units. This includes five 2-story “rowhouse” units along V Street with direct access from the street. Ground floor units will have terraces and the upper floors will have balconies. Some units on the top floor will have private rooftop decks. A communal rooftop deck also will be available for residents with a fire pit, outdoor grill, dining table, and various seating including chaise lounges, dining chairs, and benches. 

Unit sizes range between 1,300 and 1,500 SF. The project is designed by Eric Colbert & Associates and will seek LEED-Silver certification. Some of the green features include an extensive green roof and bio-retention tree pits. Building materials, include precast concrete wall panels, aluminum vertical fins, and glass railings on the balconies. There will also be 1,800 SF of retail along 1st Street. Parking will be provided in a garage with 70 spaces (an additional 44 “vault” spaces will be provided if approved by the Zoning Commission since they would be located in public space) and 38 bike parking spaces. 

Previous design of Marina Place

A hearing is scheduled in February to review the proposed design changes and construction is expected to begin later in 2017. On a related note, a meeting will be held by the National Park Service on December 13 where design concepts will be revealed for the adjacent Buzzard Point Marina site. The meeting will take place at the SW Branch Library (901 Wesley Place) King-Greenleaf Recreation Center (201 N Street) from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Following the meeting there will be a 30-day comment period, which will close on January 12. Comments and feedback can be sent via http://parkplanning.nps.gov/BuzzardPointParkDCP or mailed to: 

Tammy Stidham 

National Park Service National Capital Region 

ATTN: Buzzard Point Park Development Concept Plan 

1100 Ohio Drive SW 

Washington, DC 20242 

Renderings courtesy of Eric Colbert & Associates

Law Firm, Additional Retailers, Water Taxis, and Construction Update for District Wharf

It was announced at a press event this morning with the Spanish tall ship replica El Galeón as a backdrop (alas, I was unable to attend) that law firm Fish + Richardson will occupy 60,000 SF of space on the top two floors of 1000 Maine, a 250,000 SF trophy office building just starting to come out of the ground on parcel one of District Wharf next to the...Municipal Fish Market. The law firm will move from its current downtown location by May 2018. This is the first office tenant announced for 1000 Maine, but more than 65% of 800 Maine has already been pre-leased. The third office building under construction is Pier 4, which will be partially occupied by Entertainment Cruises. In other tenant news, more retail leases were announced: 

• Blue Bottle Coffee: a San Francisco-based artisan coffee roaster will open in the Market Square area of District Wharf near the Municipal Fish Market. 
• FLORENTIJN: a unique, ultra-modern Belgian-concept bistro by Chef Jan Van Haute. 
• The Press: a neighborhood dry cleaning and laundry shop with tailoring services by Je Kang.

Bisnow reported that two additional retailers will be coming as well, including Ben & Jerry’s and Bella Moda Salon & Spa. 

Entertainment Cruises will operate a water taxi service which will connect District Wharf with Georgetown, Nationals Park, Old Town Alexandria, and National Harbor, as well as the potential for a larger network in the near future (perhaps to the new D.C. United stadium in Buzzard Point or Reagan National Airport?). The vessels will have a maximum capacity of 100 and will allow bikes and luggage on board. They will also have WiFi access and outlets available. Using new vessels designed for faster travel in no-wake zones, a water taxi trip from District Wharf to Old Town Alexandria will take about 20 minutes. The water taxi service will operate from March to December, with peak season from Memorial Day to Labor Day with three routes that pick up passengers at District Wharf more than 10 times daily. During the non-peak season, there will be less frequent service with a minimum of four pick-ups per day. 

In addition, during Monday’s ANC 6D meeting it was announced that a free water taxi jitney will connect District Wharf with East Potomac Park. The boats will hold up to 12 passengers and will depart District Wharf from the Transit Pier. A new pier will be built in East Potomac Park near where a historic pier was located. The jitney will also operate from March to December. 

Meanwhile, construction continues on Z Dock, which will be used by the liveaboards at Gangplank Marina once completed in early 2017. Afterwards, the docks by what was formerly 7th Street Landing will be demolished so construction can begin on the 7th Street Recreation Pier. Portions of the park near the Titanic Memorial have reopened and Waterfront Park should be completed by April 2017. While the Washington Business Journal reports that the Washington Kastles will not return to The Wharf in a planned floating barge, part of the Transit Pier will have an ice skating rink during winter.

The first phase of District Wharf is scheduled to be complete by October 12, 2017, but initial planning is already underway for phase two (parcels 6-10), which includes the Gangplank Marina, three office buildings, an apartment building, a condo building, retail, and public spaces. The design team has already been selected and plans will be submitted to the Zoning Commission in 2017 with a hearing likely scheduled for next summer. Parcels 8 through 10 are referred to as Phase 2A, which will get underway sooner than the other remaining parcels. Here is a summary of what is currently planned at each parcel: 

• Parcels 6 & 7: 500,000 SF of trophy office space with ground floor retail (two levels of retail on parcel 6) which will be built depending on market conditions 
• Parcel 8: 225,000 SF of rental apartments with ground floor retail 
• Parcel 9: A 155,000 SF of condominiums with ground floor retail 
• Parcel 10: A 65,000 SF office building described as a “jewel box” with ground floor retail 

Construction on Phase 2A is expected to start in mid-2018 with completion in 2021, so there will be less than one year of a lull in construction between phase one and phase two. 

Renderings courtesy of Hoffman Madison Waterfront

Condos Nixed at The Portals, Will Be All Rental Instead

Republic Properties has decided to convert 75 condo units it planned on the top four floors of its 1399 Maryland Avenue residential project at The Portals to rental apartments. Originally, this project was planned as an office building, but market conditions caused the developer to change course a couple years ago and move forward as a hybrid rental/condo building. This latest change brings up the total number of rental units at the project to 373 units. Unit sizes of the former condo units will still be large, especially compared to most new apartment buildings – averaging about 1,400 square feet. The project is planned as a high-end building and many of the units will have sweeping views of the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial (and traffic conditions on the 14th Street Bridge). 

This will be the first residential building constructed north of the freeway within the quadrant since Urban Renewal. Permits have been issued and construction is anticipated to start before the end of the year, but that timeline could slip into early 2017. Delivery will likely occur in the late 2018 or 2019 timeframe. 

Renderings courtesy of Robert A.M. Stern Architects

Photo Tour Part Two: Parcel 11 & Waterfront Park

Parcel 11 at The Wharf is further along than the other portions of phase one of development. 525 Condos started settlements in late July while St. Augustine's Church will have its convocation service celebrating its grand opening in September. Utility work is complete at Waterfront Park and some vertical construction is now evident - the large trellis has now been built.

Kitchen in model unit in 525 Water

Living room in 525 Water model unit

525 Water lobby area

Street access to units at 525 Water

Trellis at Waterfront Park

St. Augustine's Church

Parcel 11 Update

Construction will be wrapping up at the new St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in the next couple of months. On Wednesday, September 24, the church will celebrate its reopening with a convocation, starting at 4pm. Meanwhile, 525 Water condos are approaching 50% pre-sold and the building is open for unit tours. Move-ins are scheduled to start this summer. These are the first buildings at The Wharf that will be completed. Infrastructure work continues at Waterfront Park, a three-acre open space adjacent to 525 Water, and construction should be completed either late this year or by early next year. The remaining buildings in phase one are supposed to be complete in the fall of 2017.