RSS FeedZoning Adjustments Underway At Center City Development
This week, we noticed a small sign attached to two small wooden posts on the south side of the old convention center parking lot at about 9th & H St NW (AKA the site of the Center City development). We were going to take a picture of the sign this morning, but it appears that yesterday’s rain storms washed away the sign because all that is left are the two wooden posts. That’s ok, because we remembered the date for the public meeting it was announcing: Dec 1st. Here is a link to the official public notice that was on the sign and the text:
Case Number: 18002
Case Name: Application of Gould Property Company, through Square 374 LLC
Case Summary: (Area Variance,Special Exceptions) pursuant to 11 DCMR § 3104.1, and 3103.2, for special exceptions to provide two rooftop structures that are of varying heights under subsections 411.11 and 777.1, and from the loading requirements to provide a non-dedicated service and delivery space under subsection 2201.1 and 2202.2, and variances to provide elevator penthouses with a maximum height of 22 feet under subsections 400.7, 411.2, and 777.1, to allow the construction of a new office building with ground floor retail in the DD/C-3-C District at premises 900 new York Avenue, N.W. (Square 374, Lot 45).
ANC: 2F06
Zoning adjustments don’t necessarily indicate that construction is imminent, but any activity on the site is welcomed! The project website now anticipates construction to start in 2010. At our last update, construction was scheduled to start in March 2009. Of interesting note is that the project now includes a 400 room hotel, which we don’t recall being part of the original plan. No doubt, the current state of the housing market is prompting developers to choose the construction of hotels over condos.
Fit For A Suit In A Suite
More than two years ago we wrote about wanting to order a bespoke suit from one of the traveling Hong Kong tailors that visit DC. Specifically we were writing about Raja Daswani whom we had discovered via a column by Washington Post columnist John Kelly. One of the commenters in our post recommended W.W. Chan as an alternative, so we’ve kept our eye on their schedules for the last couple of years.
Searches for reviews online about both Raja & Chan ran the gamut; you could find comments praising and complaining about each. In the end we went with Raja but would have been equally comfortable with Chan. Our appointment for a fitting was this past Sunday.
Downtown Holiday Market Begins Dec 4
It’s hard to believe that the holidays are approaching especially when nature hands Washington gorgeous weekends in the middle of November. But it’s true and we know it’s true because one of our favorite seasonal events, the Downtown Holiday Market, begins Friday, December 4 and runs through Wednesday, December 23. The details follow:
WHAT: Fifth annual Downtown Holiday Market produced by the Downtown DC Business Improvement District in partnership with Diverse Markets Management
WHEN: Friday, December 4 – Wednesday, December 23 – daily from Noon to 8 pm
WHERE: The sidewalk of F Street, NW between 7th & 9th Streets NW in front of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery
DC Link Roundup: Heard In The ‘Hood
Here’s what we were reading last week about neighborhood news in DC. Follow PQ Living via Facebook here and Twitter here.
Mount Vernon Triangle – Reactions to the yellow sculpture now mounted on the northeast corner of 5th and K Streets NW. [The (Mount Vernon) Triangle]
Mount Vernon Triangle – Yale Steam Laundry’s condo association is about to transfer to unit owners. [District Chatter]
14th Street – Garden District, the nursery and plant retailer on 14th Street NW, filed for bankruptcy. [14th and You]
All Over DC – The long awaited debut album from DC hip hop artist, Wale, titled Attention Deficit dropped on November 10 and is featured on the front page of iTunes. Video for “Chillin” with Lady Gaga on guest vocals shown below. [Wale music website] & [Fox 5 interview]