tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095284393772305956.post3713621082359295698..comments2023-10-22T10:53:07.976-04:00Comments on 14th & You: New Restaurant Rumor14th & Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10401615764637283832noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095284393772305956.post-8061704776642172182007-11-16T12:38:00.000-05:002007-11-16T12:38:00.000-05:00Builder floats 10-story plan for 14th and UBy Kati...Builder floats 10-story plan for 14th and U<BR/><BR/>By Katie Pearce<BR/>Current Staff Writer<BR/>November 14, 2007<BR/><BR/>If a local developer's plans move forward, a 10-story<BR/>residential building could land on the busy<BR/>intersection of 14th and U streets across from the<BR/>Reeves Municipal Center.<BR/><BR/>In the corner where a McDonald's now anchors a<BR/>disparate mix of shops and restaurants, developer<BR/>Georgetown Strategic Capital, working with architects<BR/>Eric Colbert and Associates, has proposed a 75- to<BR/>100-foot-tall residential building that would include<BR/>ground-floor retail, an affordable-housing component<BR/>and parking spaces.<BR/><BR/>The project is still in its conceptual stages and<BR/>would potentially impact a complex mix of properties,<BR/>retailers and landlords on the 1900 block of 14th<BR/>Street and the 1400 block of U Street, including a<BR/>group of historic buildings. The proposed boundaries<BR/>of the project, sources said, extend from the Ruff &<BR/>Ready Furnishings store at the corner of 14th and T<BR/>streets to the Extra Space Storage warehouse at 1420<BR/>U St.<BR/><BR/>"It's huge," Rob Halligan, president of the Dupont<BR/>Circle Citizens Association, said of plans he saw for<BR/>the building.<BR/><BR/>The architect, Colbert, unveiled early designs last<BR/>week at a meeting of the Cardozo-Shaw Neighborhood<BR/>Association and will meet with Dupont Circle groups<BR/>this week. A November notice shows the concept filed<BR/>with the Historic Preservation Review Board.<BR/><BR/>Phil Spalding, a U Street-Columbia Heights advisory<BR/>neighborhood commissioner who saw the plans at last<BR/>week's meeting, said "the room seemed about 50/50 on<BR/>the general idea of the development." Spalding said<BR/>"some very telling comments" from the community<BR/>revealed concern over increasing population density at<BR/>an already bustling corner and the project's<BR/>synchronicity with the Greater U Street Historic<BR/>District.<BR/><BR/>The entire project area falls within the historic<BR/>district, according to Richard Busch, president of the<BR/>Dupont Circle Conservancy. "The conservancy is going<BR/>to be looking at how this fits in the neighborhood,"<BR/>he said.<BR/><BR/>Some of the buildings on the corner, including the row<BR/>houses on U Street that house restaurants like Coppi's<BR/>and Utopia are considered contributing structures to<BR/>the historic district and are subject to stringent<BR/>preservation laws. Halligan said the early plans work<BR/>around facades that are historic.<BR/><BR/>Meanwhile, the project could potentially absorb the<BR/>buildings considered non-contributing, such as those<BR/>housing retailers like Taco Bell and Foot Locker on<BR/>14th Street. Sources said the project would not<BR/>include the Salvadorian restaurant El Paraiso at 1916<BR/>14th St. Bobby Srour, who with his father owns the<BR/>Domino's building at 1926 14th St., as well as a<BR/>nearby parking lot, said he has been in discussions<BR/>with the developer. "I think it's a great idea," he<BR/>said of the concept, which could coherently organize<BR/>a now-random cluster of retail within walking distance<BR/>to the Metro.<BR/><BR/>He confirmed that the developer has proposed buying<BR/>100-year leases of available properties. But Srour<BR/>predicted complications: There are a lot of<BR/>landowners involved,and it could be difficult to get a<BR/>unanimous agreement, he said.<BR/><BR/>One D.C. company, the Jenco Group, owns a bulk of the<BR/>corner properties, from the Foot Locker building on<BR/>14th Street over to the Utopia building on U Street.<BR/>Reports have linked Georgetown Strategic Capital and<BR/>the Jenco Group for a potential redevelopment project<BR/>in Arlington. Marvin Jawer, president of the Jenco<BR/>Group, declined to comment on the proposed<BR/>development.<BR/><BR/>Scott Pomeroy, head of the Midtown Association, said<BR/>this is the only major development proposal he has<BR/>seen recently for the prominent corner, although he<BR/>recalled an early 1990s plan from the D.C. Commission<BR/>on the Arts and Humanities that suggested a 75-foot<BR/>building for the site. "When you look at the<BR/>intersection of 14th and U and the massing you have<BR/>around there, it makes reasonable sense," he said.<BR/><BR/>Sources said the developer, with some minor<BR/>exceptions, plans to work within the existing zoning<BR/>laws for the block. "They're asking for very little<BR/>zoning relief," said Halligan.<BR/><BR/>Halligan noted that the quick forward momentum of the<BR/>plans surprised him. "Frankly, I was a little<BR/>disturbed when I found out that [Colbert]was calling<BR/>this a ˜conceptual pitch", he said. "They're already<BR/>in front of HPRB. That's not a conceptual pitch,<BR/>that's a ramp-up." Phyllis Klein, who lives in an<BR/>alley row house that sits directly behind the<BR/>project's proposed area, wrote in an e-mail to The<BR/>Current that she and her family support improving<BR/>conditions on the block. But, she continued, they<BR/>have early concerns about vehicular flow and safety<BR/>issues and preserving light and air" for the nearby<BR/>residents.<BR/><BR/>Bob Meehan, a Dupont Circle advisory neighborhood<BR/>commissioner, also addressed the potential impact of<BR/>parking and traffic. Plans show that the building<BR/>could use the residential, one-way T Street for<BR/>access to its parking garage.<BR/><BR/>If I were living on T Street, I would oppose having<BR/>this 100-foot building use parking access on T<BR/>Street, Meehan said, suggesting 14th Street as a more<BR/>viable parking entrance.<BR/><BR/>Colbert, the project's architect, declined to be<BR/>quoted for the article, and he said his client, Bob<BR/>Moore of Georgetown Strategic Capital, is now out of<BR/>the country. The architect presented plans to the<BR/>Dupont Circle Conservancy last night and will meet<BR/>with the Dupont Circle advisory neighborhood<BR/>commission tonight.<BR/><BR/>Catty-cornered from the massive proposed project,<BR/>another corner of 14th and U streets is also ripe for<BR/>redevelopment. The existing vacant historic building<BR/>at 2001 14th St. will be completely redone, according<BR/>to Spalding, while a three-story modern addition next<BR/>door will increase commercial space.<BR/><BR/>The joined buildings will lease at an average price<BR/>of $55 per square foot, according to the property’s<BR/>broker, Ken Noroozi. He said the buildings are<BR/>designed to house a restaurant and lounge with an<BR/>outdoor terrace spot.<BR/><BR/>We're negotiating, but nothing has been signed yet,<BR/>Noroozi said.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095284393772305956.post-58072377609235635982007-11-15T15:01:00.000-05:002007-11-15T15:01:00.000-05:00The for lease sign is for the gray building which ...The for lease sign is for the gray building which is only 800 square feet of space. The L shape building going up around it is Policy. Check out Policydc.com for details and there yummy menu!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095284393772305956.post-64498696798456925452007-11-13T13:10:00.000-05:002007-11-13T13:10:00.000-05:00I'm not a fan of the "Policy" name either. Also, ...I'm not a fan of the "Policy" name either. Also, color me skeptical re: the Apple Store, particularly with the aformentioned opening of the store in Georgetown.Mr. Other Upper NWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12536367497290075887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095284393772305956.post-41340300612969472092007-11-12T15:40:00.000-05:002007-11-12T15:40:00.000-05:00What do y'all think about naming a restaurant Poli...What do y'all think about naming a restaurant Policy? Maybe I'm being kind of grumpy, but that just seems really lame and annoying. But maybe it's not the name itself but fear that with a name like that the restaurant will be a beacon for all kinds of uptight political types.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095284393772305956.post-51977189947728108222007-11-12T15:33:00.000-05:002007-11-12T15:33:00.000-05:00Meant to add Apple article:http://washington.bizjo...Meant to add Apple article:<BR/>http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2007/10/08/tidbits1.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095284393772305956.post-25119725818201225532007-11-12T15:31:00.000-05:002007-11-12T15:31:00.000-05:00I doubt the thing about Apple; they bought the fre...I doubt the thing about Apple; they bought the french connection store in Georgetown and will build there; I cant imagine them opening two stores in DC so close to each other.<BR/>What Im wondering is...what deal is contingent on the apple store? the deal where Policy will move in or the entire PUD planned for the corner? <BR/>wont' Mcdonalds put up a fight for their corner? Though I guess they lease so they cant fight eviction forever.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095284393772305956.post-56243892290350630382007-11-12T11:54:00.000-05:002007-11-12T11:54:00.000-05:00i'm skeptical about the apple bit. there have bee...i'm skeptical about the apple bit. there have been rumors about apple opening in the union row building 2 blocks up the street flying about for years, and i'll believe anything about apple only when i can buy one there.<BR/><BR/>there are some good places that i would hate to see the neighborhood lose though, like the salvadoran place on 14th and 24/7 up on u street!IMGophhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10389077782536090328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095284393772305956.post-14854108459592350902007-11-12T11:44:00.000-05:002007-11-12T11:44:00.000-05:00Yes, this is true. However, I heard this deal is ...Yes, this is true. However, I heard this deal is contingent on a deal with Apple Computer to open up a store there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095284393772305956.post-17360009304184787102007-11-12T11:22:00.000-05:002007-11-12T11:22:00.000-05:00Yes, all of the small retail spaces on the SW corn...Yes, all of the small retail spaces on the SW corner of 14th & U will be gone. The project travels down 14th St to include the parking lot closer to T St. <BR/><BR/>It also wraps the corner on U and connects to the storage company. However, some of the retail on U will be worked into the design of the new building.<BR/>The residential component will be apartments.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095284393772305956.post-44948774077276026212007-11-12T09:30:00.000-05:002007-11-12T09:30:00.000-05:00kelly,there's one response. how is that interesti...kelly,<BR/><BR/>there's one response. how is that interesting post and responses?<BR/><BR/>aside from that, mr. anonymouse...are you saying that this will be something that entails tearing down the mcdonalds and other chains there (as well as the seafood place) and building a new, taller building?<BR/><BR/>because if that's the case....bravo. that's too valuable a corner to have a cheap, one story stripmall-type building there.IMGophhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10389077782536090328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095284393772305956.post-81482824797711713472007-11-11T18:45:00.000-05:002007-11-11T18:45:00.000-05:00Interesting post and responses.Interesting post and responses.KellytheCulinarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17157742508302761756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095284393772305956.post-36914684377908190752007-11-09T17:33:00.000-05:002007-11-09T17:33:00.000-05:00The rumor is correct...the restaurant at 14th & T ...The rumor is correct...the restaurant at 14th & T will be called Policy. <BR/><BR/>Also, there is a massive residential/retail development in the planning stages for the entire SW corner of 14th & U (all the way down 14th St to the Policy site).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com