RSS FeedTwo New Hotels Coming To Penn Quarter/Downtown DC – Trump & Modus
We’ve seen two new hotels make progress this month here in downtown DC and Penn Quarter. One is very high profile, received lots of press, and the rooms will be expensive. The other hotel received almost no press, is low profile, and the rooms will be intentionally smaller due to the target market.
Groundbreaking took place on July 23 at the Old Post Office building (11th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW) for the Trump International Hotel, Washington DC, set to open in 2016. The event drew national news stories as well as local dignitaries such as Mayor Vince Gray, Eleanor Holmes Norton, and a number of Councilmembers. The hotel will feature 271 guest rooms with the two largest suites, Presidential Suites, clocking in at 3,500 and 5,000 square feet. The Trump Hotel Collection has a web page up with information about the hotel here.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Modus Hotels, a downtown DC headquartered hotel group, received approval on July 22 for a 245 room hotel at 627-631 H St NW that will feature micro-units and no dedicated parking. The target market is millenials whom Modus believes will not rely on cars to transit to and from the hotel. We reported this hotel was in the works in mid-June as it will sit on one of the last vacant lots in our neighborhood and will be a prominent feature at the very busy 7th and H St intersection. This hotel received a zoning variance requiring it to materially support and encourage both bicycle and car share for employees and guests in lieu of supplying dedicated underground parking. We have no word on when construction will begin or finish.
Berries Berries Berries
It’s berry season and the farmers markets are bursting with juicy fruit. There are four farmer’s markets in or near Penn Quarter and downtown DC to choose from:
- Tuesdays at CityCenter DC (I Street NW between 10th and 11th Streets)
- Thursdays in Penn Quarter (8th Street NW between D and E Streets)
- Fridays at Woodrow Wilson Plaza (Intersection of 13th Street NW and Pennsylvania Ave NW)
- Saturdays at Mount Vernon Triangle (Intersection of 5th and K Streets NW)
One of my favorite ways to enjoy strawberries is sliced with balsamic vinegar syrup and fresh mint (a little scoop of vanilla ice cream doesn’t hurt!). The combination of sweet and tart is so refreshing! Do you have a favorite recipe for strawberries, blueberries, blackberries or raspberries? Share them in the comments.
Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative Public Workshop On Wed, July 23
The National Capital Planning Commission is hosting a free public meeting to discuss the future of Pennsylvania Avenue on Wednesday, July 23 from 6 pm to 8:30 pm. RSVP here – details follow below from the announcing e-mail:
The National Capital Planning Commission Presents
Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative Public Workshop
Wednesday, July 23, 2014 | 6:00 – 8:30 PM
Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and the U.S. Capitol is a major symbol of our nation’s capital. However, today’s Avenue shows wear and tear from increased event uses, aging infrastructure, and jurisdictional challenges.
To develop a vision for the future of Pennsylvania Avenue, the National Capital Planning Commission, in partnership with the General Services Administration and the National Park Service, is launching the Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative. This study will help identify existing challenges as well as near- and long-term opportunities along the Avenue and vicinity. It will also identify the future role of the Avenue to meet the needs of a 21st century capital city.
This initial public workshop will provide members of the public an opportunity to learn about the initiative and provide feedback on what they view as priorities for Pennsylvania Avenue as its local and national roles continue to evolve.
WHEN
Tuesday Wednesday, July 23, 2014
6:00 – 8:00 PM
WHERE
National Capital Planning Commission
401 9th Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20004
Metro: Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter
RSVP
Attendance is free and open to the public. RSVP at this link.
VISIT US
Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative website
On the web
On Facebook
On Twitter
Penn Quarter Neighborhood Assn Breakfast On Thur, Jul 24
By e-mail we were notified of the next Penn Quarter Neighborhood Association breakfast meeting. An RSVP by noon Tuesday, July 22, is requested. Please indicate if you heard of this meeting from Penn Quarter Living:
Penn Quarter Neighborhood Association Breakfast Meeting
Thursday, July 24, 8:30amLocation
The City Club of Washington
555 13th Street, NW
Lower Level - There is a building entrance on F Street between 12th and 13th Streets, but it requires descending a flight of stairs
Metro: Metro Center – exit at 12th and F StreetsAgenda
Continental Breakfast: 8:30 – 8:55am
Brief Announcements: 9:00am
Speaker: 9:15amSpeaker
Jamie Henson
DDOT Project Manager for the North-South Corridor Planning StudyJamie Henson returns to report on the Department of Transportation’s three alternatives for locating the streetcar tracks through Penn Quarter. Following his presentation, he will seek comments on these options as well as suggestions for modifying any of the three routes. Don’t miss what may be your last opportunity to help shape DDOT’s streetcar route.
Please respond if you plan on attending this meeting as it will help our host prepare. RSVP via email to my new email address by noon Tuesday, July 22:
Jo-Ann[at]PennQuarter.org
Include the first and last names of all those attending and their affiliations.
Picnic and a Movie
The perfect reason to gather your friends and a delicious picnic, Screen on the Green (SOTG) starts on the National Mall on Monday, July 21, with The Karate Kid. Check here for everything you need to know about dates, movies, and locations.
4th Annual Bastille Day Baguette Relay Race At PAUL Penn Quarter Today
We heard from PAUL Bakery on Market Square (801 Pennsylvania Ave, NW) because today beginning at 11 am they will host their annual baguette relay race. Participants/spectators are welcome to join/watch! On to the details from the press release:
4th ANNUAL BASTILLE DAY “BAGUETTE RELAY RACE”
Monday, July 14th at famed French bakery PAUL in Penn Quarter
WHAT:
To commemorate France’s National Holiday, PAUL invites the public to come have some fun and participate in our 4th Annual “Baguette Relay Race” which will take place in front of PAUL Penn Quarter.
Gather Your Friends to create relay teams! Cheering Spectators are welcome!
We’ll divide up racers into six teams of five people. Each team will be led by a PAUL employee. Each racer will “quick-walk” one lap around the circle of the US Navy Memorial, and then hand off his/her baguette to the next teammate. All members of the winning team will get a $25 gift card to PAUL!
WHERE:
PAUL Bakery and Café in Penn Qtr. (at the US Navy Memorial)
801 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
Tel: 202-524-4500/01
WHEN:
Monday, July 14, 2014 at 11am (Kids Race), and 11:30am (Adult Race)
Massive Cribs XXIII: Truly Living Large In Penn Quarter
Ed Note (7/14/14): We received am ex-post revision to the size of the Mather Studio condo requiring a slight amendment as below. It’s still darn big though! To see the biggest and most unique condos in downtown DC, check out our Cribs series of posts.
Two massive cribs for sale hit our radar screens this last week, one at The Ventana (912 F St NW) (photo above) and the other at the Mather Studio (916 G St NW). What really caught our eye? Both of these condos are combined units meaning two or more units were joined together to form a single unit. We’ve been in combined units in both Market Square (701/801 Pennsylvania Ave NW) and The Pennsylvania (601 Pennsylvania Ave NW) but those are older buildings. These are the first combined units we’ve seen in the newer downtown buildings and the first condo is the y are the two biggest residences we know about in any downtown residential building. Both are dramatically beautiful in their own way.
The first condo is in The Ventana (912 F St NW), Unit 905 (MLS #DC8380852 – Visual Tour), and the asking price is $4.5 million. It’s a four level, five bedroom, penthouse unit with a roof deck clocking in at 4,500 ft2. Condo fees run $2361 per month and the unit comes with 2 parking spaces. The unit was created by joining two stacked two level units together. We like the modern decor which is stunning, and that the staircase can be seen from the exterior of the building is a unique aesthetic. This is the biggest and most expensive residence we’ve seen come to the public MLS market in Penn Quarter and downtown DC.
The second condo is in the Mather Studio (916 G St NW), Unit 703 (MLS #DC8393957 – Visual Tour) and the asking price is $1.45 million. It’s a one level, three bedroom, two bathroom unit with 2,500 2,200 ft2 of space; condo fees run $1,052 per month and no parking is included. (There are numerous rental garages nearby.) The unit was created by putting two side-by-side units together to create a massive space. We like the raw brick walls and the historic nature of the building. This is the sixth second biggest residence we’ve seen come to the public MLS market in Penn Quarter and downtown DC.
