Developers gobbling up Rhode Island Ave. (Washington Post) With less developable land available downtown, some traditional developers are eyeing - and buying - land near the Rhode Island Avenue metro stop, and farther out.
6 questions for defenders of DC's height limits (Atlantic Cities) Limiting downtown construction has had the effect of making DC one of the most expensive places to live and rent office space in the country, so why does it persist?
A few reasons the commercial real estate market may not rise like NAR thinks (Globe Street) The NAR's prediction that commercial real estate will improve, albeit modestly, fails to note the fiscal cliff and implications of Dodd-Frank.
DC home price gains are highest in the nation (Washington Business Journal) FHFA statistics show DC area home prices up 15% over this time last year, second only to Arizona.
Groundbreaking on new Reston apartment building (Multihousing News) Renaissance Centro has broken ground on Parc Reston, a 360 unit apartment building.
Rabu, 28 November 2012
NoMa's Trilogy Apartments Open Thursday
NoMa's newest apartments open Thursday as developers and city officials gather for a photo op to inaugurate one of Washington DC's largest apartment buildings. "Trilogy" - 3 buildings designed by the Preston Partnership and formerly known as NoMa West - will add 603 rental units to the border between NoMa and Eckington at 151 Q Street, NE.
The first of the three buildings - Cirq, Linq, and Esqe - is now open, with the other two opening within the next few months. Designed by developer Mill Creek Residential Trust to appeal to nearly any taste and architectural preference, each of the three buildings sports several motifs, a "highly differentiated architectural style," say its developers, that will span the centuries, architecturally speaking, with "traditional and contemporary" in Cirq, "warehouse, contemporary and art deco" in Linq, and finishing with the "highly contemporary" Esqe when it completes in March.
The project broke ground in March of 2011, but has been in the works far longer, at least since the team of CSX (as owner) and Fairfield Residential (as developer) plotted a 2006 groundbreaking for the residences. The torch then passed to Trammell Crow Residential, and finally to the current team, who can finally spike the ball at tomorrow's ceremony. Mill Creek is also working on an even larger project at the Dunn Loring Metro station.
Washington D.C. real estate development news
Selasa, 27 November 2012
District Releases RFEI for St. Elizabeths
Today, the District government released a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) in a bid to get development going at St. Elizabeths. The Phase I development puts 4 parcels, totaling almost 7 acres, up for development bidding. The proposal is the first of what will be a long, multi-phased development by the DC government for the East Campus of St. Elizabeths, following on the heels of development on the West Campus by the federal government that is now well underway.
The District had previously issued general guidelines for what the site could look like, with office, residential and commercial taking the place of the hospital now on site, with the hospital moving to the back of the current site. The RFEI notes that the land is "especially ripe for complementary residential and retail development," and that the area presents an opportunity for "underserved" retail and "the next office submarket," and that historic preservation will also be a key element of consideration. The District intends to make final selection of the development team by next summer.
Envisioning the Visio and Murano
Q and A with Suman Sorg by Beth Herman
Seeking to venerate but modernize Washington D.C.'s classic row house archetype, and drawing from the surrounding urban U Street corridor neighborhood, Suman Sorg of Sorg Architects created the 19-unit Visio and Murano, 2109 10th Street NW. Studying historic preservation at Cornell University, though a modernist at heart, Sorg's work is often a confluence of the two, with compatibility a word she uses to define her efforts in the contextual realm. The Visio and Murano has won six awards, including two AIA awards for Architectural Excellence and one for Washington Residential Design. DCMud spoke with Sorg about the project.DCMud: What was the design impetus behind the Visio and Murano?
Sorg: The idea was to build so-called stick buildings that are not steel or concrete but wood, and to redefine the concept of infill row housing. When we built the Visio, we used mezzanines -- or internal stairs -- in each apartment so you could get extra space and still build a building out of wood frame, though the exterior is brick and glass.We had really tall ceilings -- 11 to 18 feet high -- each one has a double-height living room. We used English basements to create extra square footage at street level.
DCMud: How did the neighborhood's vernacular manifest in the design?
Sorg: We wanted to make these buildings compatible with the adjacent church. There's an alley between the church and Visio and Murano, but they almost form a street line. My idea was to look at what's important in the church, which is a turret, and how to add that kind of verticality to the facade of Visio. I wanted to work with the church's material which is red brick -- traditional Washington. We used that but in a modern application. I was also thinking about the industrial character of the area. You look at the Visio's front stair through bent steel - almost sculpture, and then the windows have steel mullions. The brick is sharply cut; it's not antiqued at all. These are some industrial features in the design.
DCMud: In what ways does the design emulate more doctrinal area architecture?
Sorg: In D.C. we have what's called the traditional bay house which allows you to project into public space by four feet. I was interested in incorporating that concept, but in a modern way. I wanted a modern vocabulary -- one that's Washington's own vocabulary rather than an imported one -- as well as taking advantage of what zoning allowed so we could have maximum square footage inside.
DCMud: Can you elaborate on the concept of imported, or as some have called it borrowed, architecture?Sorg: I believe we've been importing architecture from Europe since the very beginning, and lately importing architects themselves. Washington's own architecture can develop in its neighborhoods rather than downtown where there's more commission scrutiny. We should look at what's traditional to D.C. and then reinterpret it.
DCMud: There is a prodigious use of glass in these buildings, and they are not towers, so with that how was privacy executed in the Visio and Murano?
Sorg: There's a general trend right now -- a shift from post modern to modern. Because the shift was so quick, people went back to early modernism -- the 20s and 30s. In residential architecture, however, people don't want to live in a glass box. They do want a sense of privacy and warmth.
When there are large amounts of glass in residential architecture, proportion is important. Again people don't want to live in glass boxes, so we broke it into smaller panes. We used zero sightline windows so the ones that do open don't look different from the rest of the glass. We also set the glass back behind balconies for shade. Hardwoods were used in the interior, including wood stairs. We followed LEED Silver requirements and used some natural materials, low-E windows and Energy Star appliances, though did not pursue certification.
Sorg: I did a similar housing project in Kuwait in 2005. Following the war, the U.S. was given a piece of property by the king on which to build a new embassy. We did the housing in the embassy compound. It's somewhat the same in its proportion and materials, including glass and shading.
I've also been working in historic neighborhoods for a long time. The Visio and Murano are the evolution of townhouses that we did in Georgetown and particularly in Ledroit Park, south of Howard University, where we built 14 brand new infill townhouses. While you couldn't tell them apart from other historic townhouses in the neighborhood, it taught me about proportion and management of materials in these historic buildings. It became a foundation for the Visio and Murano's modern interpretation.DCMud: Speaking of interpretation, is there a place in the District that calls to you?
Sorg: I like buildings that are unassuming -- beautiful, quiet buildings or spaces where, when you walk or bike around the city, they do not scream for your attention. One of these is the Decatur Terrace Steps and Fountain (sometimes referred to as D.C.'s Spanish Steps) between 22nd Street and Decatur Place. The large trees that surround it make for a perpetually shaded resting spot to listen to the bubbling fountain and enjoy a respite from the busy city.
Arlington Publishes Major Plan for its Bikeshare
Arlington County has just released a six-year blueprint for growth in its share of the Capital Bikeshare system, and planners say the blueprint - with recommendations for growth and funding - could be the first bikeshare Transportation Development Plan (TDP) in the country. |
| Bikeshare trips to and from Arlington. Image: BikeArlington |
Over the past year, the county's BikeArlington staff solicited public feedback both online and in person, surveyed local stakeholders including agencies, businesses, and users, and based on the results laid out scenarios for growth for the system over the next six years.
"Capital Bikeshare is an integrated part of the transportation fabric in the Washington D.C. region, and it should be treated as such," Chris Eatough, program manager for the county's BikeArlington program, which oversaw the plan, wrote in a column published by Mobility Lab, Arlington's transportation innovation branch.
Findings
 |
| Existing Arlington bikeshare stations. Image: BikeArlington |
Funded Growth
In one growth scenario, the report outlines what Arlington can do with existing funding to grow and maintain the system.
According to the report, with existing funding, Arlington would grow most in 2013, adding 40 stations, three through "external sponsorships" and the rest with transportation grants and other funding. New stations will "build out" the system in Shirlington and South Arlington, along Columbia Pike east of the Washington and Old Dominion trail.
Pending approval by the National Park Service (NPS) and the Department Defense, stations will also pop up at Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon. More stations will go into neighborhoods to create connections between the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor and Columbia Pike, as well as between Crystal City and Shirlington.
Beyond Existing Funding: Big Demand for Lots of New Stations
 |
| Funded Arlington bikeshare growth. Image: BikeArlington |
Funding
Currently, bikeshare gets operating revenue from fares and from station sponsorships. However, the report estimates continuing operating deficits, and suggests opening up bikeshare station panels to advertising sales, but Arlington County would first have to change its policy against on-street advertising.
According to the report, the system gets $200,000 in capital revenue from Arlington County vehicle decal fees. In the past and for 2013, the system has gotten funding from a federal program called Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ), though the continuity of that program is uncertain beyond 2013.
What Comes Next
Next, according to Eatough, the plan goes to the State of Virginia to be considered for transportation funding.
In the meantime, the plan lays out 15 ambitious performance measures that Arlington will monitor to keep an eye on how well things are going with its plan for growing its bikeshare, as well as other more abstract things like sustainability, safety, health, and bicycle culture. Those performance measures include the ratio of Alrington's bikeshare miles traveled to total vehicle miles traveled, helmet use, crash rates, even average calories burned per trip.
The county is also still accepting public suggestions for future stations with its crowdsourcing map.
Morning Real Estate Fix
Commercial real estate vacancies declining (Wall Street Journal) With a low level of new inventory coming online, most markets are showing stronger tenancy rates.
Fannie Mae more bullish on housing market (DS News) Seeing elements of a housing recovery, Fannie Mae revises its futures numbers upward to show a jump in housing starts and single family home sales.
Get ready for epic DC zoning fireworks (Greater Greater Washington) The Office of Planning has 8 meetings planned to discuss zoning changes; anti-development forces will undoubtedly open their arsenal to scare the public against a zoning update.
Lehman to sell Archstone to Equity and AvalonBay (NASDAQ) In a deal worth $6.5 billion, the rump investment firm that remains will sell its whole share of the apartment building giants.
Strong November points to housing recovery (HousingWire) Gaining strength in November, the housing market is likely to continue into 2013, with homebuilders showing more confidence in their product for the near future.
3rd quarter mortgage delinquency and foreclosure rates decreasing (Mortgage Bankers Association) 3rd quarter 2012 figures for residential properties fell to 7.4% of all loans, a decrease of 59 basis points from a year ago.
DDOT to hold final meeting for Benning Rd. trolley plan (DDOT) DC will hold the last public meeting for the Benning Rd. streetcar study today.
Fannie Mae more bullish on housing market (DS News) Seeing elements of a housing recovery, Fannie Mae revises its futures numbers upward to show a jump in housing starts and single family home sales.
Get ready for epic DC zoning fireworks (Greater Greater Washington) The Office of Planning has 8 meetings planned to discuss zoning changes; anti-development forces will undoubtedly open their arsenal to scare the public against a zoning update.
Lehman to sell Archstone to Equity and AvalonBay (NASDAQ) In a deal worth $6.5 billion, the rump investment firm that remains will sell its whole share of the apartment building giants.
Strong November points to housing recovery (HousingWire) Gaining strength in November, the housing market is likely to continue into 2013, with homebuilders showing more confidence in their product for the near future.
3rd quarter mortgage delinquency and foreclosure rates decreasing (Mortgage Bankers Association) 3rd quarter 2012 figures for residential properties fell to 7.4% of all loans, a decrease of 59 basis points from a year ago.
DDOT to hold final meeting for Benning Rd. trolley plan (DDOT) DC will hold the last public meeting for the Benning Rd. streetcar study today.
Senin, 26 November 2012
Your Next Place
Seriously though, this house is light years ahead of anything else on the market right now. With a geothermal heat pump system, a rigid insulation envelope, high-performance insulated windows and doors, and energy recovery ventilators, this house is as energy-efficient a house as present-day technology could produce, aside from some sort of hermetically-sealed fart-warmed life capsule. This is what all new construction should be like, but isn't, because ... because I don't know why. It really made me step back and marvel at how inefficient the typical turn-of-the-century DC rowhouse is, with gas-fired furnaces pumping hot steam up through metal coils scattered throughout a swiss-cheese-like brick-and-mortar shell. It's no wonder that it costs $250 a month to keep my apartment at 62 degrees in the winter.
But this house isn't just environmentally-efficient - it's also beautiful. With gleaming (responsibly harvested) hardwood floors and an open floor plan, the house is full of light, and spacious. The coffered ceiling of the family room and cutting-edge color palette of the formal dining room and kitchen belie a design aesthetic as up-to-the-minute as the construction. There's a huge screened-in porch with panoramic views, and out back is a fantastic in-ground pool, next to which is a wide flagstone-lined lounge area that features an outdoor stone fireplace, where you can recline in sunglasses and surreptitiously judge everyone else's swimsuit bodies.
And since it's a green house (not to be confused with a "greenhouse," which is where our parents grow their glaucoma medicine), the buyer will receive a $35,000 geothermal tax credit, which is almost as much as I get for my made-up family of dependents, Pablo, Marian, and the triplets. (Hey, as far as I'm concerned, if Mitt Romney pays 14% taxes, all bets are off.)
5420 Galena Place NW
6 Bedrooms, 6 Baths
$2,785,000
Langganan:
Postingan (Atom)