Residential project at 15th and V adds to growing list of area projects

Last month, we noted the announcement of a forthcoming residential project at 14th and T set to bring new residents, retail, and some really staid architecture to the 14th Street corridor. Although, as recently launched blog U Street Dirt (welcome to the blogosphere, guys) reported, the Historic Preservation Review Board didn't look to fondly upon architect Eric Colbert's plan for the building, and basically sent him back to the drawing board.

Earlier this week, the Meridian Hill Neighborhood Association blog broke the news that yet another large (by DC standards) residential project is forthcoming, this one for the parking lot of the Paul Revere Dunbar Apartment complex at 15th and V streets.



The project, which is being developed by Jair Lynch Associates and was designed by WDG Architecture PLLC, is proposed to stand 9 stories tall and will contain 96 units. It does not appear that any ground level retail will be included as part of the plan, but two levels of underground parking will be included.

Pardon us, if you will, but the rendering for this project looks remarkably similar to a number of residential buildings that have either been proposed, are under construction, or have been built throughout the neighborhood in recent years. In fact, it doesn't look tremendously dissimilar to the Colbert-designed building that was just rejected by HPRB (although, it should be noted, HPRB personnel had other, specific reasons for rejecting the 14th and T building--namely, its size in relation to nearby structures.)



According to Jair Lynch, the senior citizen residents of the Dunbar building have given their full support to the project, which will also include a complete renovation of the existing Dunbar building.

The plans for the building are currently with HPRB, who could discuss and vote on the matter as soon as their July 28 hearing.

Neighborhood Meetings

Some things to put on your calendar:

ANC Stuff
The monthly ANC 2F meeting will be held next Wednesday, February 5th.The ANC 2F Community Development Committee (CDC) meeting will be held at the end of the month on Wednesday, February 2nd. All ANC 2F meetings are scheduled to run from 7 to 9 p.m. and are held at the Washington Plaza Hotel on Thomas Circle.

ANC 1B will meet on Thursday, February 7th from 7 to 8 p.m. at the True Reformer Building, 1200 U Street, NW.

As of today, no agenda has been posted for any of the above ANC meetings.

Streetscapes
The third of four public meetings regarding the 14th Street streetscape will be held on Tuesday, February 19th from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Studio Theater. At this session draft recommendations for the project will be reviewed. As Mr. 14th & You mentioned in "P is for Phrustrating," it is a little scary to think of all of the pending NW street projects in and around Logan Circle. One of our suggestions would be to make sure that they are all very well scheduled so that we aren't beset with DDOT projects on P Street (in Logan, as opposed to the prior Dupont streetscape), 11th Street, 14th Street, 15th Street, and 17th Street running simultaneously or very close together.

There will also be a public meeting to review design concepts for the 17th Street Streetscape Project this coming Saturday, February 2 at the United Methodist Foundry Church, 1500 16th Street, NW.

Have issues with Verizon, Pepco, or Washington Gas?
Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh is holding hearings on the quality of utility services in our city. If you want to give praise, or more likely, gripe, plan on attending the Saturday, February 9 meeting at 11 a.m. in Room 412 of the Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Alternatively, there will also be a hearing during the work week at 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 7 in the Council Chambers. If you are already thinking about how you'd love to rant publicly about your high home phone bill, contact Aukima Benjamin at (202) 724-8062 or abenjamin{at}dccouncil{dot}us to arrange to testify.

Less Lead in Your Water
WASA is holding meetings in each quadrant of the city to update residents on the current plans for replacing lead service lines. The NW forum will take place on Tuesday, February 26 from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Fort Stevens Recreation Center, 1327 Van Buren Street, NW.

Police Department PSA Meetings
On Thursday, Feburary 14th from 6:30 to 8 p.m. you can join local citizens and police from PSA 308 (Shaw) for a meeting about crime problems and potential solutions. Meetings are held at Gibson Plaza Apartments, 1301 7th Street, NW on the second Thursday of every month.

PSA 307, which covers Logan circle, also meets monthly. The February meeting is not yet on the calendar, but you can see more information about the meetings here.

Dupont Circle Citizens Association
The DCCA will meet on Monday, February 4th at 7:30 p.m. to discuss plans for a senior village to allow older area residents to "age in place" in their Dupont neighborhood. The meeting will be held at The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies of The Johns Hopkins University Bernstein-Offit Building, 1717 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Room 500.