Details emerge of plans for Verizon building at 14th and R

Last night, the ANC2f community development committee met to review plans for PN Hoffman's renovation ofthe Verizon substation building at 14th and R streets. A few interesting details emerged from the meeting that shed some light into what the project will entail.

The biggest piece of news is that PN Hoffman acquired only the smaller south building for their project, not the larger building to the north. Verizon will retain that building, as well as a small amount of space in the renovated south building to store equipment.



The image above depicting the building as it appeared in its former life decades ago was provided by the PN Hoffman team and their architect, Eric Colbert. While the renovation will not be an exact replication of how the building once appeared, it provides a good indication of where Colbert and the development team are taking the project.

Chief among the alterations will be the reintroduction of the large storefront windows on the first floor of the building, and the repair/replacement of existing windows, along with the installation of new windows throughout the building. The image below shows the architectural rendering of the building along the R Street-facing side.



The building will have room for one ground-level commercial tenant, most likely a restaurant. (The developer has plans for the eventual installation of some kind of sidewalk seating.) The building will have four levels of residences, including a penthouse level with private rooftop decks/gardens for each unit, along with a communal rooftop area. The penthouse structure will very closely resemble the rooftop structure at the top of the Room and Board building at 14th and T streets.

There was discussion of what would happen to the SmartBike rack at that corner during construction, particularly since the construction of the condo building across the street will be underway at the same time. PN Hoffman representatives indicated that they weren't certain whether the station would be able to remain where it is, but that they have been scouting possible nearby alternatives (the ZipCar lot was mentioned.) It's worth noting that, once both of these projects are built, it's unlikely that there will be a bike to be found at that station after 8 AM on weekdays. Just sayin'.

PN Hoffman is looking at an agressive timeline for construction, with an anticipated delivery of mid-late 2012. All in all, it's an exciting development for the neighborhood, and by all rights appears to be a very thoughtful design of a woefully underutilized building.

Verizon Building @ 14th and R Sold, Redevelopment Plan in Works

Big news for the Logan Circle neighborhood today from PN Hoffman:

We have learned that last week, PN Hoffman purchased the Verizon substation building on the northwest corner of 14th and R Streets (1401 R Street). They are planning to redevelop the existing five-story structure into a residential building with ground-floor retail.



The architect for the project is Eric Colbert, who also designed the Room & Board store and is working with Giorgio Furioso on the commercial project he is building on the east side of 14th Street, NW, between P and Q Streets.

I don't have any further details at the moment, but this is a significant development for the neighborhood. For years, the Verizon building has bee a so-called "block killer", in that it was basically dead space at a prominent corner along an otherwise vibrant thoroughfare. It will be interesting to see what plans are drawn up for the redevelopment of the building.

TBD Reports on Hate Crimes Along 1400 Block of R Street

A truly horrific story appeared this morning on TBD detailing a series of brutal attacks on homosexuals gays that have occured along the 1400 block of R Street.

The piece centers around the recent efforts to attract moderate and higher income-earning individuals to the R Street Apartments along the 1400 block, following the successful effort last year to ensure that affordable housing units remained on the Block for the next 40 years. The initiative was the result of an agreement between the District government, the National Housing Trust and Hampstead Development Group.

That the 1400 block of R Street has a higher rate of crime that surrounding blocks has been the area's worst-kept secret for years. However, marketing efforts by the Trust were geared towards attracting more affluent residents to a development that had predominantly been home to low-income African-American residents. The dreaded "g word," in other words.

So how's that working out?

Not so good for at least a couple of white, homosexual gay males who decided to take the plunge. According to one excerpt from the story, within a week of moving in, a gentlemen named Stanley experienced the following:

On March 26, Stanley moved to R Street; by April 2, he found himself splayed out in the middle of it. Stanley was drifting in and out of consciousness, talking with a paramedic on the pavement. He remembered walking home on the south side of the street, his grocery cart in tow. He passed a group hanging outside the row of apartment buildings on the block. A woman led the group in taunting him. “She screamed at me about not wanting another white faggot on her side of the street,” Stanley says. A fight broke out, Stanley felt the cart pulled from his hands, and “after the whack on the head, I don’t remember much,” he says.

According to a police report, Stanley was punched in the face and repeatedly beaten on the back of the head. A neighbor from across the street recovered his cart and called an ambulance. He spent the night in Howard University Hospital.

Things weren't any better for Ted Puntanen, who moved into a studio apartment in the complex nad soon encountered problems.

The next day, Puntanen noticed “five young black guys standing around in my hallway, just standing around,” he says. “I didn’t think anything of it. I said hello, and they all just stared at me.”

Two days later, Puntanen noticed another group of black men inside the lobby. As he walked past them with his bicycle, the suspects said, “you don’t belong here, faggot, we’re going to kill you,” and “we don’t need any more faggots in here.” According to a police report, five to six suspects beat and kicked Puntanen in the eye, nose, and knees. “They had pulled my pants down and left me half-naked, half in and half out of the door, bleeding,” says Puntanen. His right eye swelled completely shut. “And out of all the screaming, all the run-around, all of the laughing and calling me faggot,” Puntanen says, “nobody called 911.”

In all, it's both a horrific and sad commentary on what human beings are capable of doing to each other. Crime has been a problem along that stretch of R Street for years...but to learn of the personal story behind such a violent act is particularly troubling.

According to the story, two of the men who beat up Puntanen--Michael Speight and Delonte Olden--were arrested and pled guilty to assault with significant bodily injury. The crime was deemed to be bias-motivated, meaning that both Speight and Olden are looking at longer jail terms. Practically inconceivable, however, was the statement made by Speight's mother: "Michael is a good kid. He just got in the wrong place at the wrong time." As if *anyone* would have beaten the crap out of Puntanen, it just happened that Michael drew the short straw.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news Ms. Speight, but your son is not a good kid. Perhaps he looked out for you, brought the groceries in from the car, or picked up little sister after school sometimes. But he also pummeled a man senseless for no reason other than because he was gay. That is appalling behavior. I hope prison helps your son straighten out his life, because he is not a "good" kid now by any definition of the word.

As for the 1400 block of R Street: I guess old habits die hard.

A New Condo Tower at 14th and R

Suddenly, it feels like 2006 all over again. Via Borderstan and the WBJ, news today that the vacant lot at the SW corner of 14th and R streets is going to be the home of a new five story, 30,000 sf mixed-use condo building. The project will rise on a relatively small patch of land adjacent to the AYT auto repair shop.

Building architects Bonstra and Haresign describe the building as "patterned after the showrooms of the former 14th Street 'Automobile Row'". They also describe the building as possessing an "iconic crown." Hmmm, I'm not so sure i'd call it "iconic". It looks more like a black fence on the roof that tipped over. The building is like no small number of others that have sprung up along 14th Street in recent years--rather bland and unattractive. (Go here and scroll down to see drawings of the new building.)

To say the project has been a long time in the making is an understatement. ANC2F first saw a presentation on the plans for the building back in April 2004. Since that time, the project has been held up by approvals by the Board of Zoning Adjustments and the Historic Preservation Review Board, changes in the scope of the project, and--yes--the economic collapse.

Interestingly, the project has changed rather substantially since it was first introduced over five years ago. Plans at that time called for six duplex apartments and one 3500 sf penthouse. The current plans now call for as many as 32 "luxury" (Aren't they all luxury these days?) apartments at the space. Let's see, 30,000 sf, 32 units...I hope your definition of luxury is "less than 1,000 sf".

At long last, though, one of the few remaining vacant lots along 14th Street will be developed, and we can now move on to the inevitable handwringing over what type of retail might make an appearance there. First person to call for a bagel shop wins the prize.

Mugging Confirmed at 13th and R Streets

On Monday, a commenter left the following message in another post:

Just wanted to let you know there was a brazen and odd assault/robbery attempt on the 1300 block of R St. tonight. At about 9:00 p.m. a black male and black woman, both appeared to be late teens-early 20s, attempted to rob a woman by spraying her with mace. They fled the scene in a silver car (possibly Nissan Versa) parked just up the street when neighbors responded. Be on the lookout.

We've since received confirmation of the attack via a report from the MPD which indicates an "assault w/ intent" took place at 9:15 PM on Monday at the corner of 13th and R Streets.

This bit of news, coupled with the recent news about an increase in gun crime in the neighborhood, is certainly cause for concern. But is this part of a larger trend, or merely yet another "typical" summer in the city? Time will tell. In the meantime, please be careful and maintain an awareness of your surroundings. And don't hesitate to contact the MPD should you see anything suspicious.

R Street Muggings

Courtesy of neighborhood crime-watchers Borderstan, we learn of some Rather unsettling news: three muggings during the past week, all along R Street between 13th and New Hampshire.

The three incidents include a robbery with gun along the 1300 block of R Street, another robbery with gun at the corner of 15th and R, and yet another robbery with gun at the corner of R and New Hampshire. In at least one of the incidents, suspects have been arrested. It is unknown if the suspects arrested are also suspects in the other incidents.

It is said frequently, but it bears repeating: particularly with warmer weather here, it is important to take precaution when you're out and about, even in areas that "appear" nice. You can also sign up to receive crime alerts from DCPD by visiting this address.

Assault at 17th and R Last Night?

According to an eyewitness account, 17th St. between Q and R last night was flooded with cops and EMS vehicles after an individual supposedly was assaulted with a knife. Details are sketchy at the moment, so if anyone can point us towards anything more substantive, please do.

MPD is Watching

On the 1400 block of R Street MPD recently installed a surveillance camera. The camera, one of six in Ward 2, is part of an effort to monitor higher crime areas throughout the city. I have mixed feelings about its location; I like that the camera may prevent crime and assist in prosecutions of crimes, but I hate that this block so close to our home is considered a high crime area.

I do not, however, have mixed feelings about this recent development on the 1400 block. The 1416 building of Wardman Row has a DC Housing and Community Development posted in the yard. I hope that DHCD's involvement is a sign that we can keep affordable housing in Logan Circle while improving the safety and appearance of blocks along 14th Street.

A quick history of the 1400 block of R Street NW for the unfamiliar: Crimes both large and small have plagued the block for decades. Problems have ranged from periodic unlawful entry to nearly constant drug dealing to a fatal shooting in 2001. At one time the building owners did such a poor job of providing security and monitoring illegal activity in and around the apartments, that the United States Attorney's Office for DC successfully prosecuted them. In 2005 MPD attempted to combat persistent problems with drug dealing through the temporary placement of large flood lights on the block. This past summer, police began nightly foot patrol of the block, and monitoring has continued through the cooler months. The patrols did drastically reduce loitering, and there was a commensurate decrease in crime. However, the USAO's "Court Report" documents from last year show quite number of prosecutions of residents from the 1400 block of R Street.

This past summer, the five buildings that were under the ownership of R Street Associates were purchased by a developer who requested DHCD's and the DC Finance Agency's assistance in funding renovations. Current residents will be given the option to remain in their units or apply Section 8 vouchers toward rent at another location. After renovation, several income-based pricing tiers will be offered, including six units to be offered at market rates.

Summer Loitering = Summer Garbage

I am pleased that since I moved in to Logan four years ago the five apartment buildings on the 1400 block of R Street have started a daily morning garbage clean-up. Yet, a few yards east of the apartments, there's always street filth accumulating in every available corner — the gutter, the treeboxes, and the Zipcar lot.
The trail originates across Corcoran from Kazanchi's, runs through the alley, and terminates just before reaching 1416 R Street. It's not as if the prevailing winds blow trash tumbleweeds in that direction.

It's just a bummer, if an inevitability, that some apartment residents feel that using garbage cans is too taxing. Is it too much to wish that A.Y.T., Zipcar, and Kazanchi's would also help out? While I await the unlikely, I'll put this area on my mental list of potential neighborhood clean-up sites.