I'd like to think there is some synergy between the Dreyfus project moving forward and getting a grocery store to commit at 3rd & H. It just makes the site that much more attractive. They can already count on the residents of Senate Square as customers, and there will be hundreds more in the Dreyfus project (not to mention the further hundreds living above the grocery store). That is a pretty sweet built-in market.
Count me among those few who are really annoyed that this is taking so long. Development is being held up along H street while property owners what to see what, if anything, gets built on the West End. I live close by and have no trouble with the added desnity. It's more important to me to have a thriving commercial corridor on H. I'm sick of driving to Virginia to shop, sick of the chaos that the dilapidated stretch of H street brings. I've been here almost a decade, and I'm also sick of waiting for this neighborhood to start to blossom...
Looking at those renderings I definitely don't have a problem with it. As it shows, it's not any different than Senate Square on the other side. Kudos to everyone who gave input and had the design changed.
The project has not been delayed at all by going through the mediation and negotiation process.
Dreyfus has stated all along that they will not begin construction on this project until after they complete the 3rd SEC building (across 2nd Street, right now the hole in the ground). The 3rd SEC building is not due to deliver until 2009, meaning that the earliest they plan to begin this project is late 2009 or 2010.
So, the hard-fought improvements that we won for the community have not delayed the project at all. Rather, we have vastly improved the project in terms of height, total sq ft, design and community amenities--all while keeping the project on track.
On a somewhat related note, does anyone know when they expect people to start moving into the Senate Sq. building? I drive by it every other day and it appears mostly complete but no work going on inside. Whats the status??
I heard -- and I hope this is just a crazy, farfetched rumor -- that ABDO has stopped selling the units and is now trying to sell the building or possibly turn it into rentals/apartments?? Please tell me this is not true...
So, it sounds like Senate Sq. will be just another vacant property on H St. (though fancier) for the foreseeable future. Lovely.
Match that prospect with the fact the Streetscape improvements continue to be pushed back indefinitely, makes for a very different future than what people are constantly about.
From what I'm seeing on the ground, developers like Abdo will take a bath on their projects due to increased financing costs/housing crunch and H St. will stay status quo for 5 or 10 more years. Sad, but what can you do when you also have a city government that makes shop owners go through 6 different inspections to start a business on the street and does nothing to improve the streets even though they keep telling us they're just about to start. Total tease.
There will still be some more design modifications to the Dreyfus project. The Zoning Commission had a problem with the 2nd and H tower (especially the 18 foot cornice "embellishment"). Mr. Turnbull (a ZC commissioner) thought that the 2nd and H tower wasn't inspired enough to be part of the H Street gateway. The community groups also asked for changes be made to the design of the 2nd and H Tower.
Other changes asked for by the community groups:
1) The corner of 3rd and H. The renderings show a modern all glass facade. The groups asked Dreyfus to keep the most modern elements across from the SEC building and design a more traditional corner for 3rd and H (in keeping with the general styles of the Abdo and Steuart developments and the rest of H street). The 3rd and H corner will set the architectural context for the building on the south side of the 300 block of H.
2) There is also a lot of glass on the top of the H Street facade (think the glass top of the SEC building). The community groups asked that the architect re-examine the use of glass and consider alternative materials that could reduce the apparent height of the building (the intended reason for the glass)
Overall, this project had a much tougher time at the Zoning Commission than anyone (certainly myself) expected.
15 comments:
I'd like to think there is some synergy between the Dreyfus project moving forward and getting a grocery store to commit at 3rd & H. It just makes the site that much more attractive. They can already count on the residents of Senate Square as customers, and there will be hundreds more in the Dreyfus project (not to mention the further hundreds living above the grocery store). That is a pretty sweet built-in market.
Count me among those few who are really annoyed that this is taking so long. Development is being held up along H street while property owners what to see what, if anything, gets built on the West End. I live close by and have no trouble with the added desnity. It's more important to me to have a thriving commercial corridor on H. I'm sick of driving to Virginia to shop, sick of the chaos that the dilapidated stretch of H street brings. I've been here almost a decade, and I'm also sick of waiting for this neighborhood to start to blossom...
renderings?
I copied the enclosed link to the latest renderings of the Dreyfus Project from Alan Kimber's blog - so thanks to Alan.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/akimber96/sets/72157601986467880/
I cut off the address in my previous post:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/akimber96/sets/72157601986467880/
Hmmmm . . . . didn't work again. How about a link to Alan Kimber's blog?
http://anc6c05.blogspot.com/
Thanks Mose (and Alan),
I stuck both links in the actual post.
Looking at those renderings I definitely don't have a problem with it. As it shows, it's not any different than Senate Square on the other side.
Kudos to everyone who gave input and had the design changed.
Anonymous,
The project has not been delayed at all by going through the mediation and negotiation process.
Dreyfus has stated all along that they will not begin construction on this project until after they complete the 3rd SEC building (across 2nd Street, right now the hole in the ground). The 3rd SEC building is not due to deliver until 2009, meaning that the earliest they plan to begin this project is late 2009 or 2010.
So, the hard-fought improvements that we won for the community have not delayed the project at all. Rather, we have vastly improved the project in terms of height, total sq ft, design and community amenities--all while keeping the project on track.
I hope this information helps.
Best,
Alan Kimber
ANC Commissioner, 6C05
On a somewhat related note, does anyone know when they expect people to start moving into the Senate Sq. building? I drive by it every other day and it appears mostly complete but no work going on inside. Whats the status??
I heard -- and I hope this is just a crazy, farfetched rumor -- that ABDO has stopped selling the units and is now trying to sell the building or possibly turn it into rentals/apartments?? Please tell me this is not true...
the senate square sales office on 2nd street is closed until they refinance their construction loans.
i've also heard that one of the buildings will be rental, the other one will be condo.
anyone else know this for a fact?
I was anon 9:54. Thanks for the feedback poo poo.
So, it sounds like Senate Sq. will be just another vacant property on H St. (though fancier) for the foreseeable future. Lovely.
Match that prospect with the fact the Streetscape improvements continue to be pushed back indefinitely, makes for a very different future than what people are constantly about.
From what I'm seeing on the ground, developers like Abdo will take a bath on their projects due to increased financing costs/housing crunch and H St. will stay status quo for 5 or 10 more years. Sad, but what can you do when you also have a city government that makes shop owners go through 6 different inspections to start a business on the street and does nothing to improve the streets even though they keep telling us they're just about to start. Total tease.
actually, if you go to dcmud.blogspot.com for senate square.
it's not all bad news.
they're adjusting their pricing "upward", if you can believe it!
There will still be some more design modifications to the Dreyfus project. The Zoning Commission had a problem with the 2nd and H tower (especially the 18 foot cornice "embellishment"). Mr. Turnbull (a ZC commissioner) thought that the 2nd and H tower wasn't inspired enough to be part of the H Street gateway. The community groups also asked for changes be made to the design of the 2nd and H Tower.
Other changes asked for by the community groups:
1) The corner of 3rd and H. The renderings show a modern all glass facade. The groups asked Dreyfus to keep the most modern elements across from the SEC building and design a more traditional corner for 3rd and H (in keeping with the general styles of the Abdo and Steuart developments and the rest of H street). The 3rd and H corner will set the architectural context for the building on the south side of the 300 block of H.
2) There is also a lot of glass on the top of the H Street facade (think the glass top of the SEC building). The community groups asked that the architect re-examine the use of glass and consider alternative materials that could reduce the apparent height of the building (the intended reason for the glass)
Overall, this project had a much tougher time at the Zoning Commission than anyone (certainly myself) expected.
Drew
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