RSS FeedPenn Quarter Building Permit Update (1050 K St Office Building Starts Construction)
06/06/07
750 9TH ST NW
ALTERATION AND REPAIR
RENOVATION OF BASEMENT OF WEST WING BASEMENT AND ALTERATION OF STORM DRAINS OF RAMP FROM PARKING LOT,
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
06/06/07
900 9TH ST NW
Building
DELIVER AND SET TRAILER OPENS INTO A LEVELED 20X24 STAGE WITH AN 18 FT HYDRAULIC ROOF . DELIVER AND SET UP 30X30
WASHINGTON CONVENTION CENTER AUTHORITY
06/08/07
1050 K ST NW
NEW BUILDING
$23,126,000.00
CONSTRUCTION OF NEW 11 STORY WITH PENTHOUSE & 4 LEVELS OF PARKING OFFICE BLDG. AS PER ATTACHED THIRD PARTY
THE LENKIN COMPANY & THE TOWER
New Apartment Building: 919 F St NW (Above/Behind Cowgirl Creamery)!
Just noticed this posting on craigslist: “919 F Street, NW is a private boutique 5 unit building situated behind the now famous ‘cowgirl cheese shop’ in the heart of all the action in downtown DC. There are four units in total and all units come fully furnished and fully equipped for modern day living […]” Units start at $2200/mo.
The Cowgirl Creamery building is owned by Doug Jemal and sits next to Akridge’s row of yet-to-be-leased buildings (Carroll Square). Judging from the ad pics, we’re pretty sure two of the units utilize the 2nd & 3rd floor windows of the building. The building’s advertisement follows Jemal’s MO when comparing it to the apartments above the Spy Museum (which he also owns): there is no website, no one really knows it’s there, and realtors only advertise the space when there is a vacancy.
The 919 F St ad also mentions parking available for rent. On this, we are baffled – there is only alley parking behind the building.
Three square windows – the same windows that can be seen above the Cowgirl Creamery shop
All pics courtesy of the 919 online advertisement.
WaBiz Journal Asks: Where should Apple put a new store in DC?
Vote for your favorite location!
The options are:
- Georgetown
- Gallery Place
- U Street
- Central Business District
- NIMBY — I’m not a Mac fan.
Thanks to Cheryl for the tip!
Downtown Neighborhood Association – Meeting Notes for 6/12/07
Last night’s DNA meeting brought about 35-40 Penn Quarter residents to the Naval Heritage Center.
Here are some highlights:
Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans served as the night’s featured guest speaker.
– Evans discussed a number of tax issues. Currently, yearly tax increases for residential property are capped at 10%. Evans is hoping to pass legislation to reduce that down to 5%. He also noted that there is no cap on commercial property taxes – hence the problem we’re having with getting non-chain stores to come in, and stay in, to the expensive downtown area, since the Starbucks-type companies can afford the high rents. He did not have an immediate solution, but recognizes the problem and welcomes input.
Evans also addressed some quality-of-life issues from the audience:
– Residents of the 1150 K condominium expressed their concerns about the problems brought by the homeless shelter in the former Franklin School at 13th and K. They stated that many residents of the shelter discard food in the historic Franklin Square Park across the street and act in a menacing way, and that rats and personal safety have thus become significant problems. Evans discussed the long and troubled history of the Franklin School shelter and stated that there have long been competing views in the Council, Mayor’s office, activists, and community as to what to do with the shelter – close it, keep it open and refurbish it, or leave it as is. Evans stated that the executive branch (the Mayor), not the legislative branch, has the power to make that decision. He suggested we raise this concern to Mayor Fenty.
– A resident of 6th Street complained that many buses running the Chinatown-to-Chinatown (DC-NYC) route are idling/running their engines at all hours of the day and night on H and I Streets near 6th, monopolizing the sidewalks to queue up long lines of riders, and attracting an unsavory and possible dangerous group of people. Evans said he had not heard of this problem and resolved to look into it.
– Noise levels continue to be a problem for many residents. Attendees generally agreed that the problem is not classic “city noise” like people, buses and sirens, which is part of the vibrant streetscape that attracted many of us to living here, but rather amplified noise and the infamous bucket drummers. There is pending legislation in the DC City Council, introduced by Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells, to strengthen and clarify existing noise restrictions. Evans and meeting attendees discussed the legislation and whether it would actually achieve its goals – which was not entirely clear. Evans encouraged residents to testify before the Council on the legislation.
Evans’ appearance was not the most dramatic of the evening – in a Perry Mason-like turn, a surprise guest at the back of the room appeared. He identified himself as John Viglianti, EVP for development at Western (who, with Akridge, developed and own Gallery Place). He explained the developer’s plans to put up 3 large video screens at the corner of 7th & H, on that round turret-like protrusion above the Metro entrance. They would broadcast ads and possibly encompass an audio component. This raised major worries from attendees – especially because it was unclear exactly how all this would work. Would the screens be blasting commercials 24-7? Would their images cause an unsafe distraction for drivers and pedestrians? Viglianti asserted that he would “turn the speakers off” if residents found them too loud, but it is unclear how that would work (would the advertising contracts include a provision for audio “unless residents complain” ?). Viglianti asserted that he would be happy to meet with residents of Gallery Place about the project and listen to their input. This blogger has no doubts the GP residents will hold him to that. Stay tuned.
– Representatives of Cool Capital discussed their grassroots organization’s goal – to reduce the carbon footprint of Washington. They expressed their desire to work with the DNA and individual condominiums to plan energy-saving techniques – which would also have the benefit of reducing our buildings’ utility bills and helping keep our condo fees down! (Speaking of which, has everyone switched to those fabulous energy-saving fluorescent bulbs??)
– DNA President Miles Groves gave updates as to the grocery store saga (discussed in GPLiving’s previous post), which is stalled, as well as the Reeves Bakery issue. Miles has met with the Reeves people and offered the DNA’s support to help the bakery find suitable property to lease in our area. Keep your fingers crossed for hot cross buns – or at least Reeves’ pies and cakes – in Penn Quarter soon!
– We have a new Metropolitan Police Department representative for our neighborhood – Sgt. Terri Alexander. Her email is terri.alexander@dc.gov and her phone number is (202) 698-0355. (A list of other contacts for our neighborhood compiled by the DNA is here.)
– As attendees left, coupons to Gifford’s Ice Cream (buy a cone, get one free!) were handed out. There’s often a benefit to staying till the end!
Thanks as always to the DNA President and Board for organizing the meeting.