Tim Krepp’s Activism Among the Absurd — Tim Krepp’s efforts to make Capitol Hill more livable often work because he understands the absurdity of District politics, Washingtonian Magazine said in a new profile of the neighborhood activist and one-time congressional candidate. [Washingtonian]
More Details on Cathal Armstrong’s Three Planned Eateries at The Wharf — The three eateries that restaurateur Cathal Armstrong is planning for The Wharf include a distillery and a rooftop lounge at the InterContinental Hotel. [SWTLQTC]
Developer Plans to Raze Former H Street NE Church for Condos, Retail — A developer is looking to demolish a vacant church on the H Street corridor to make way for a four-story, mixed-use building. [Hill Now]
Rose’s Luxury Hints at Winter Opening for Sister Eatery — Pineapple and Pearls, the sister eatery of chef Aaron Silverman’s Rose’s Luxury, might open on Barracks Row as soon as this winter. [Hill Now]
A developer is looking to demolish a vacant church on the H Street corridor to make way for a four-story, mixed-use building.
The proposed building in the former St. John’s Church of God space at 1301 H St. NE would have retail on its ground and cellar floors and nine condominiums on its upper three floors, according to documents submitted to the District today by S2 Development, under a subsidiary called 3317 16th Street LLC.
Each of the condos would have between 1,035 and 1,100 square feet of space. The retail space would be about 5,600 square feet.
“The project represents the continuing extension of the revitalization of the H Street Corridor,” the paperwork says. “The expected make-up of the commercial space would be general retail and possibly restaurant space.”
Northern Virginia investment partnership Carderock Investments bought the church in 2014 for $2.2 million, according to Washington City Paper. The company initially planned to keep the building’s facade and use the property for retail. Renderings of the space released last year did not include condos.
Photo via Google Maps
Southwest Residents Resist Shakespeare Theatre’s New HQ — Worrying about the influx of development in their neighborhood, a group of Southwest residents are rallying against the Shakespeare Theatre Co.’s plan to build a new headquarters at 501 I St. SW. [Washington City Paper]
A Closer Look at the Capitol Hill ‘Crime Wave’ — Violent crime and property crime are up this year in Capitol Hill and the rest of D.C. But it might be too early to call it a full-scale crime wave. [The Hill Is Home]
D.C. Water Releases Plans for New Headquarters Near Nationals Park — D.C. Water has put out new renderings of a curvy, glass and aluminum building it plans to build along the Anacostia River in Navy Yard. [Washington Business Journal]
Developer Looks to Build Seven-Screen Cinema in NoMa — NoMa may get a seven-screen movie theater as part of a new development, according to documents filed today with the D.C. government. [Hill Now]
(Updated at 3:35 p.m.) NoMa may get a seven-screen movie theater as part of a new development, according to documents filed today with the D.C. government.
D.C.-area developer The JBG Companies is planning to build a seven-screen cinema as part of a mixed-use building between North Capitol, M, N and 1st streets NE, according to the paperwork submitted to the D.C. Board of Zoning Adjustment. The theater would hold about 1,200 seats.
It wasn’t clear in the documents what kind of movies the cinema would show or when it would open. But Landmark Theatres, which owns the E Street Cinema in downtown D.C., announced in 2013 it would build a 10-screen cinema in NoMa, Washington Business Journal reported.
A JBG representative couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
The development, which would be called “Capitol Point South,” would include about 540,000 square feet of residential, retail and office space.
“Applicant will show that the public good will be served by a high-quality infill development project that will replace an outdated office building and surface parking with a state-of-the-art new mixed-use building that will contribute to the revitalization and resurgence of the NoMa neighborhood,” JBG said in a filing.
Image via The JBG Companies
New Seafood Restaurant for Southwest — Requin, a high-end seafood restaurant from chefs Mike Isabella and Jennifer Carroll, is slated to open in The Wharf development in 2017. [Washington Post]
H Street Corridor Pie Shop Plans Expansion — Dangerously Delicious Pies is planning to build a bar and rooftop deck in its H Street NE location. [Washington Business Journal]
Large Residential Project Proposed for NoMa — A proposed residential project would bring 1,140 apartments and condos to an almost 7-acre site west of North Capitol Street. [UrbanTurf]
‘Zen Park’ for Northeast Capitol Hill? — A pocket park in northeast Capitol Hill soon might become an urban oasis of “tranquility, simplicity and balance,” a landscape architect told locals earlier this week. [Hill Now]
Mayor Muriel Bowser and Councilman Charles Allen of Ward 6 donned hard hats today to officially break ground on a redevelopment project near Eastern Market.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the transformation of the former Hine Junior High School property at 700 Pennsylvania Ave. SE into homes, retail and office space followed more than a month of demolition work. Construction is expected to end in 2017.
“I’m actually pretty shocked by the site behind me,” Bowser said as she stood in front of where the school used to stand. “I have looked at this site . . . for my entire life one way, and now we can stand here and see its future before us.”
The $150 million development by Stanton-Eastbanc LLC will have 60,000 square feet of retail space, 180,000 square feet of office space, 327 parking spaces and 162 apartments, including 46 affordable housing units.
The development also will reopen C Street SE between 7th and 8th streets SE and provide space for the area’s weekend flea markets.
The project will create a “connective tissue” between Eastern Market and Barracks Row, Allen said.
“These are two incredibly special, unique, wonderful places in our neighborhood that we love and treasure so much and creating that connection is going to be something that is really special,” he said. “It’s something we’re going to be incredibly proud of.”
The development’s construction isn’t without controversy, however.
A group of Capitol Hill residents tried for years to reduce the height and density of the seven-story complex. But they lost a bid in the D.C. Court of Appeals to send development plans back to the D.C. Zoning Commission.
ANC 6B chairwoman Kirsten Oldenburg, who joined Bowser and Allen in the groundbreaking event, said she realizes that some locals still might think this project isn’t right for the neighborhood.
“I hope that the resulting complex, this beautiful complex . . . will help change this point of view,” she said.
From Coal Yard to Apartment Complex — Developers are seeking to turn a coal yard near the NoMa Metro station into an apartment building housing with more than 100 units. The new structure would include a combination of one- and two-bedroom units, as well as an underground auto-garage. [Washington Post]
Memorial Day Metro Repairs — Anyone in Capitol Hill, Southwest and Near Northeast should expect delays if you’re planning to use the Metro this weekend. The Orange, Silver, Blue and Yellow lines will run at 18- to 24-minute intervals, and the Red Line will run every 20 minutes before 9 a.m. and after 9 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. [WMATA]
Another Hit to D.C.’s Gun Law — A federal judge has ruled that the law’s requirement that applicants for concealed carry permits prove that they need a gun to defend themselves is unconstitutional. [WAMU]
Vincent Orange’s Anti-Noise Push — The city Councilman has introduced legislation requiring bars and restaurants to measure late-night, outdoor noise levels and submit reports to the D.C. government. [Washington Post]
Brand-New Condo Building to Be Torn Down — The new condo building at 1744 D St. NE is being demolished after D.C. Water found the building could damage the aging water tunnel beneath it. The developer, Edge Investments, said they had all the proper permits. D.C. Water said they found damage to sewers caused by improper construction of the building. [NBC Washington]
Boozy Cupcake Law Now in Effect — Bakeries that serve alcohol-infused cupcakes — like Crunkcakes and Curbside Cupcakes — are now required to get a liquor-license. As Hill Now previously reported, the law requires businesses that sell booze-infused baked goods to sell the products only to people 21 or older, and sell the sweets in sealed containers. [DCist]
New York Pizza, Paint Store Moving Onto Pennsylvania Avenue — New York Pizza and McCormick Paints will move into 1442 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, the website for the development says. Two other paint stores are nearby. [Capitol Hill Corner]
Group Still Trying to Stop CSX Tunnel Work — The Committee of 100 on the Federal City is fighting a judge’s decision last month refusing to stop CSX tunnel construction. The group filed a motion to freeze the project before “irreversible” work like tree removal occurs. [Washington Post]
Capitol Hill CSA Guide — Interested in getting deliveries of local produce? Hill Rag has a guide to community-supported agriculture groups in the area. [Hill Rag]
How the Gyrocopter Made It Onto the Capitol Lawn — Aviation and security officials said yesterday that the gyrocopter that landed on the west lawn of the Capitol building April 15 appeared on radar screens as a tiny dot — like how a balloon or a flock of birds would appear. [Washington Post]
Transit Perks at H Street Development With Little Parking — A 28-unit development planned at 501 H Street NE will have just five designated parking spaces, so residents have proposed giving new residents a SmartTrip card, Bikeshare membership and carshare membership. ANC 6C supports the plan. [UrbanTurf]
Metro Fare Evasion Crackdown — Metro is warning people not to try riding the bus without paying. Police may make arrests on board buses with high numbers of unpaid fares. [NBC Washington]
Union Kitchen Grocery to Open Next Week — The founders of Union Kitchen will open their cafe and small grocery store at 538 3rd St. NE on Monday. Union Kitchen Grocery is a “combination of a comfortable coffee shop and … [will] harken back to its history as an old school corner grocery,” co-owner Jonas Singer told Hill Now earlier this year. [Washington Post]
Construction Site Check-ins — The Whole Foods on New Jersey Avenue SE and Homewood Suites on M Street SE are under construction. JDLand checked in on workers’ progress. [JDLand]
More Opinions on the Streetcar — Candidates in the special election today for the Ward 4 and Ward 8 D.C. Council members weighed in on what to do about the streetcar. [Greater Greater Washington]
Most Expensive Parking Spaces — A brick garage on 21st Street NW is on the market for $900,000, likely because it could be razed to make way for residential development. The last time we checked, the most expensive parking space on Capitol Hill was going for $101,500, on 13th Street NE. [Washington City Paper]
Private Bus Service Launches Today — A startup that aims to make commuting easier begins operations today in a limited area that includes Capitol Hill. The service will cost $5 per ride but is offering free rides now. [Washington Post]
Pepco Wants to Raze Brick Building on 7th Street SE — Pepco has filed an application to tear down its unused substation at 732 7th St. SE, near the fitness center Biker Barre. It’s not immediately clear what would replace the building near Barracks Row. [Hill Rag]
More Renderings of School Building Development — UrbanTurf has more images of apartments and townhouses in the works at 13th and D streets SE, on the site of the former Buchanan School building. [UrbanTurf]
How the Food Truck Parking Spot Lottery Works — Food truck operators are vying for prime spots at L’Enfant Plaza, in Navy Yard and near Union Station. [WAMU]
Tour Bus Fire in NoMa — A tour bus caught fire in a parking lot last night near North Capitol and P streets NE. No one was on board, a firefighter said. [Twitter/Martin Austermuhle]
H Street Streetcar Update — The H Street/Benning Road streetcars will be free at first, but not for long, the head of DDOT said yesterday. The system won’t accept SmarTrip cards. The streetcars will run less frequently than previously planned; they are now expected to run every 12 to 15 minutes, not every 10 minutes. [Washington Post]
H Street Robbery Update — A boy under 18 was arrested yesterday for stealing the tip jar from Manny & Olga’s Pizza after a failed attempt to crack into the cash register. The youth is accused of committing six other armed robberies across D.C. on Tuesday alone.
More Info on School Building Redevelopment — Developers are planning 81 residences on the site of the former Buchanan School at 13th and D streets SE. The current plan calls for 40 townhouses priced about $1 million each and 41 condos between $300,000 and $1 million each. [Capitol Hill Corner]
Rainfall Total — (Updated at 5:40 p.m.) The H Street corridor got about 1.5 inches of rain during the downpour last night, according to one estimate. [Twitter/H Street Weather]
Redevelopment of School Building on 13th Street SE — A plan is underway to convert the Buchanan School building at 13th and D streets SE into residential units. The historic structures would be preserved, and newer buildings would be razed and replaced with townhouses. [Capitol Hill Corner]
House Republicans Fighting D.C. Law — Conservative House Republicans are challenging a District law that prohibits employers from discriminating against employees who seek contraception or family planning services. D.C. leaders are not protecting the rights of religious organizations, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) said. [Washington Post]
‘How DC Water Turns Poop Into Power’ — WAMU explored how DC Water converts wastewater into an energy source. The American Biogas Council plans to hand out solids from the process to local garden centers, to use as compost. [WAMU]
Navy Yard is slated to get a public marina this year amid a flurry of construction at The Yards.
The marina should be completed by the end of this year, after construction starts this summer, Yards developer Forest City announced today. The marina will have 50 slips and may accommodate a water taxi, according to the developer and a General Services Administration report.
By early 2016, The Yards also is expected to have “substantially” completed an 11-story, 327-unit apartment building known as the Arris at Tingey and 4th streets SE, according to Forest City. The building will have 19,000 square feet for street-level retail and a rooftop pool with views of the Anacostia River.
Across from the Arris, construction of a 10-story, 130-unit condo building from P.N. Hoffman will begin later this year. Forest City also is planning to build a two-building, 190-unit apartment complex with 16,700 square of retail space next to the condo building.
The construction will displace the Trapeze School New York – Washington DC this fall. The school, which offers flying trapeze, static trapeze, trampoline classes, will move two blocks west to N Street and New Jersey Avenue SE.
Photo via Forest City
Streetcar Rails Already Need Repairs — Though passenger service hasn’t started, broken rails on the H Street/Benning Road streetcar line are being repaired. Cold weather caused the damage, a DDOT representative said. [WAMU]
The Reason for the Power Outage — Power snapped off yesterday afternoon across the District because a piece of metal on a Pepco transmission conductor in Mechanicsville, Md. “broke free from its support structure and fell to the ground.” [Washington Post]
Survey on Police-Community Relations — A newly released survey shows local perceptions about the relationship between police and locals have worsened somewhat in Ward 6. [DCist]
Union Station Expansion Plans — The effort for a proposed $10 billion expansion of Union Station will be led by the architects who remade Grand Central Terminal in New York. Three million square feet of development above the tracks north of the station are in the works. [Washington Post]
Homes and Stores Could Replace Warehouse in NoMa — A developer is proposing to turn the Capital Self-Storage building at 301 N St. NE into a residential building with ground-floor retail. [Urban Turf]
