Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Recent Questions

A couple of questions have popped up recently that I can't answer. Does anyone have any info on these?


Anyone know what is being built on Bladensburg NE between Yellow Cab & Mt Olivet cemetery?

What's happening with that big building on Bladensburg near Jimmy Valentine's?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'd like to add to this list of questions:

What is happening at Wheatley Elementary?

Anonymous said...

Wheatley: http://www.hessconstruction.com/Bid%20Items/Wheatley/Wheatley.htm

Anonymous said...

Can I add one? When is Pap & Petey's going to open? I've seen a lot of activity there lately, but no word on when they will open. We're really looking forward to hanging out there.

John said...

I'm writing in from New Zealand, so my sources are probably a lot worse than yours, but I think the owner of the building near Jimmy Valentine's wants to restore it and build a small set of condos.

Alan Page said...

not sure about the spot b/t the cemetary and yellow cab, but bladensberg is gonna get a heck of a facelift. i think the following project is pretty far along:

http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2006_3rd/Sep06_NYAvenue.html

Washington DC's New York Avenue In the Process of Transformation - Suton LLC Planning
Two Hotels, a 126-room Fairfield Inn & Suites and a 125-room Holiday Inn Express
By Jen Haberkorn, The Washington TimesMcClatchy-Tribune Business News

Sep. 15, 2006 - A Travelodge hotel at New York Avenue and Bladensburg Road Northeast is scheduled to be razed by the end of the year and replaced with two hotels, part of a slew of recent redevelopment on New York Avenue.

William R. Conway and Samuel A. Rock, Washington-area hotel developers, plan to open a Holiday Inn Express and Fairfield Inn & Suites there in March 2008.

Mr. Conway and Mr. Rock's company, Suton LLC in Vienna, Va., plans to close the Travelodge Oct. 31 and start construction in January.

They have owned the nearly 4 acres since 1994, when they redeveloped a Masterhost Inn into the Travelodge. Now that the building is more than 50 years old, they decided to start from scratch instead of pouring repairs into the old building.

"Because of the size of the lot, we thought, why not come back with two really popular products within our market share?" Mr. Conway said.

The 150-room Travelodge will be replaced by the 126-room, five-story Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott and 125-room, five-story Holiday Inn Express by Intercontinental.

Both are midmarket, limited-service hotels that don't include the glitzy restaurants and bars of the fanciest hotel chains but have the basics and cost less -- about $120 to $150 per night. The average hotel rate in the District is $179.

(snipped out part about NY Ave)

...

Just across Bladensburg Road from the Travelodge, Abdo Development is working on a $1 billion proposal for a massive retail and residential project on 15 acres currently occupied by junkyards, fast-food chains and a gas station.

Demolition is expected to start in the spring, contingent on zoning approval.

Construction would begin in late 2008 or early 2009, said Eric Price, vice president at the D.C. development company.

Mr. Price, former deputy mayor for planning and economic development, said Abdo Development was drawn to the site because of its proximity to the Arboretum and the busy intersection of Bladensburg Road and New York Avenue.

District development over the past five to eight years has moved from west to east, Mr. Sellars said. The economic success in Georgetown traveled west to Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, 14th Street Northwest, Seventh Street, North Capitol and finally to New York Avenue Northeast.

"It's a natural progression," he said.

Anonymous said...

Hi John! I hope New Zealand is treating you well...things are pretty quiet in our hood (your neighbor across the alley...Lucci)
I drive by what appears to be a condo or apt development on Bladensburg Road across from Jimmy's everyday. It's not a small space. I will stop tomorrow morning and ask the workers what's going on. By all appearances it's a condo or apt structure but not sure.

John said...

LUCCI! I was just thinking of you the other day but didn't know how to get in touch with you. If you see this message, please e-mail me at healey.j@gmail.com or john.healey@oag.govt.nz.

I was thinking of a building next to Jimmy Valentine's, but the area across Bladensburg from JV's is supposed to be the rehabilitation center, "Hyacinth's Place," right?