New Gallery Square Development Drawings (7th & H St NW)

I have been waiting for an update on this for quite a while, and the renderings look promising.

I am also happy to learn that CVS settled with Yeni Wong out of court to allow this development to proceed.

The renderings show an office building right in the spot of the former China Doll and Lei Garden buildings. What am I missing here?

So is Vapiano no longer going to open a Chinatown location? Or, does this mean Vapiano won’t be opening until after 2009?

Ugh! I’m find with keeping the China Doll facade, but why are they keeping the ugly CVS building and its squat little neighbors — some of the worst brick architecture in downtown? This is one of the busiest locations in all of DC, and they’re squandering a rare opportunity to put up a grand, lasting structure.

China Doll and Lei Garden aren’t there anymore– facades came down a couple weeks ago. Its a vacant lot next door to the Vapiano building.

Thanks TJM, that should teach me to check things out right before I post.

otavio: You’re right, I interpreted the picture incorrectly. The two buildings are being replaced by the office building.

It also looks like the Vapiano building is *not* part of the development.

wasn’t there some plan to cover the CVS building and its neighbors with flashy advertising a la Times Square? that’d be uh, neat..

Jason: Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post

Anon: Vapiano will be opening in the neighborhood. More info soon.

This development falls within ANC2C03, which is Doris Brooks single member district. I just called her to find out if the developer would be presenting their plans to the ANC anytime soon (as I believe they are required to do), and she said they were presented in last Wednesday’s AND SMD meeting, which is where neighbors get to ask questions and provide feedback to the developer.

Unfortunately, Doris does not have email or a website, and she does not distribute fliers, at least not to buildings outside her part of the neighborhood like the Artisan (which until this morning she apparently didn’t know existed), so we tend to miss out on this stuff unless we go to every SMD meeting. In order to find out where the meeting is, you have to call her sometime just before the meeting. Her meetings are on the first Wednesday of each month. She does not know where the November meeting will be yet, and asked me to call her back at the end of the month and ask again.

Perhaps we could ask the DNA to see if they can get the developers to present at that meeting as a courtesy.

FYI…here is Doris’s info:
2C03 Doris Brooks
ANC2C Chair and Treasurer
(202) 682-1633
612 Emmanuel Court NW, Suite 204, Washington DC 20001

The CVS building is historic and cannot be razed. One of the oldest buildings in the neighborhood, I believe.

Yes it is ugly — but when the windows are opened, it will look completely different

Ahhhh…. ANC2C03 meetings…..could be the subject of their very own blog…The best way to address that is the next election, but won’t get too off topic here.

this project will be the last of the corners at 7th and H to be rehabbed/redeveloped. the other three corners have been redone and this completes the job. I look at that corner as the epicenter of the East End.

in general, I think the drawings depict a thought out plan that is tasteful and while I don’t enjoy construction disruption, the end result will justify the means to get there.

Regarding the CVS building, I’m glad it will be preserved. It will look better once it is cleaned up and the windows replaced. If you have the boon “Washington DC: Past & Present” by Peter Penczer, on page 86 there is a photo of it circa 1901, showing it was Rudden’s Furniture and Carpets.

is the alley already closed?

Vapinao H Street, according to their website will be opening in March 2008.

Wow! This is great to hear. Can’t wait to see tomorrow’s post!

ANC voted to support the Yeni Wongt phase II BZA application before Commissioner Brooks fell ill at the meeting and had to leave. This was a full ANC 2C Commission meeting. As far as I know, ANC 2C03 Commissioner Doris Brooks does not hold Single Member District (SMD) meetings. You can view video from this meeting and others on ANC 2C02 Commissioner Kevin Chapple’s site: http://chappleanc.com/public/index.php

Meeting videos:

http://www.anc2c02.com/anc/anc2c/anc2c20071003pt01.html

http://www.anc2c02.com/anc/anc2c/anc2c20071003pt02.html

more info & links at:
http://lifein.mountvernonsquare.org/index.cfm/2007/10/4/ANC-2C-Meeting-cut-short-but-went-on

http://www.fifthandoh.blogspot.com/

I spoke with Doris and asked her specifically, and only, about her SMD meetings. But you’re correct, the first Wednesday of the month is the ANC 2C meeting. It doesn’t surprise me that Doris doesn’t seem to know the difference nor that she doesn’t hold SMD meetings. I only wish there were enough people in this part of ANC 2C03 for vote here out.

Riverdale International did present the development plans at last month’s DNA meeting, and they also held a small reception after the meeting to answer residents’ questions. The summary is that they’re building in two phases: the CVS building and condos along 7th Street, then the office building on H Street to replace China Doll and Lei Garden. They didn’t say when they expected to break ground (the CVS settlement was still in the works).

I can’t believe the Artisan, Ventana, Mather Studios, and Terrell Place (among others) are all in Doris Brooks’s district (pdf map here). She must have one of the largest SMD’s in the city. Redistricting can’t come any sooner!

just a comment for the record: if taken, alleys with historic significance like this particular one have no advocate and are therefore gobbled up for these solid block developments. it would have made a nice Blues Alley here in the East End.

I hope the city will see this development as an opportunity to beautify H Street. The small planted trees can’t survive and should be replaced with planters. The sidewalks need to be cleaned. And incentives should be offered to neighboring businesses to update their buildings.

The Georgetown BID has for several years installed cascading petunias in huge iron baskets from the lamp posts which look great day or night. They add much to the streetscape. We should look into getting something funded for a similar look here in the east end.

RR446 – Maybe you’ve missed it, but those exact hanging flowers from lamp posts you speak of are already hanging from many of the streets in the east end… check out the 400 block of H St, much of 4th St from C northward. It’s a fantastic addition to the neighborhood and I hope it continues on more streets!

ha. good to hear, i didnt walk every block on H street yesterday, my path turned north at 5th and H.

CVS at 7th and H closing on Cotober 21 for renovations according to a sign on the door.