First Look at Parcel N at The Yards

Parcel N at The Yards. Image: Robert A.M. Stern

New renderings have been released of "Parcel N," one of two new apartment buildings planned for Forest City Washington's The Yards mega-development in DC's Capitol Riverfront neighborhood.

Robert A.M. Stern is the primary design architect on the "Parcel N" project, WDG is the architect of record.  Planning for the building is still in the design stage, although architects said they expect permits for the 340,000 s.f. structure to be secured by May 2013, with a groundbreaking set for August of 2013, according to WDG.

Parcel N at The Yards. Image: Robert A.M. Stern

Forest City broke ground this summer on the other project, "Parcel D", directly catty-corner to Parcel N.  That building is being designed by Shalom Baranes.

The Foundry Lofts, a 170-unit adaptive re-use project and the first residential building in the group, completed last year.  In June Forest City secured funding for an adaptive reuse project called The Lumber Shed, described as the The Yards' "retail centerpiece".  Another adaptive reuse of a century-old building into retail and restaurants, The Boilermaker Shops, is set for opening this spring.

Parcel N at The Yards. Image: Robert A.M. Stern

Plans for parcel N include an 11-story, 325-unit building at 310 Tingey Street with ground floor retail, two courtyards, a rooftop pool, a small green roof, and a LEED target of gold.

Peter Garofalo, architect with Robert A.M. Stern in New York, said the building's design references the area's industrial architectural tradition.  There used to be an old foundry on the site, Garofalo said, but it was torn down in the 1970's.

"What we are striving to do is build a building that references historical essences, but updates them in a playful and modern way and stitches those two vocabularies together..." Garofalo told DCMud.  He said the design features glass on top of a traditional base.  Materials include glass, concrete, and dark metals.

Parcel N at The Yards. Image: Robert A.M. Stern

Garofalo said the building's design also features a zig-zag pattern across the east face of the building.  "That was done so that in the future, when the rest of the parcel is being built out, it will create diagonal views up and down 4th street for those residential units."

Designers anticipate one and two-bedroom units that Garofalo called "standard DC-sized," and don't foresee any micro-units.  "There is some debate about it, but I doubt that is going to be included," he said.

Parcel N at The Yards. Image: Robert A.M. Stern

Washington D.C. real estate development news

10 Questions with Deborah Ratner Salzberg

10 Questions is a weekly feature in which we interview some of the leading District figures in real estate, architecture, development, and planning. This week's subject ... Deborah Ratner Salzberg, President of Forest City Washington, Inc.

For Deborah Ratner Salzberg, real estate runs in the family.  As President of Forest City Washington, Inc., Salzberg oversees the local branch of billion-dollar development giant Forest City Enterprises Inc., the company her family founded in 1920.  A former attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, Ms. Salzberg also holds leadership positions with many community, arts, and philanthropic organizations, including The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, the Washington Ballet, and Arts for the Aging.

1. What's a typical day for you?

Wake up and head to the gym. Go into the office. Check emails. Spend the day balancing Forest City Washington work with community/nonprofit activites. Check emails. I generally have a lunch meeting and after work often head to a fundraiser or nonprofit event.  Head home and check emails. Get an advance start on tomorrow’s headlines on my iPad. Go to sleep and start again.


2. What or who is your biggest influence?

My biggest influences are my relatives. I work with my relatives, and they influenced my decision to join Forest City. I was surrounded by strong independent women growing up. My mother, paternal grandmother and three aunts all worked outside of the home. My father has always been my advisor, biggest fan and supporter. To this day I've never given a speech without running by him first. Although, I didn’t run these answers by him!


3. What neighborhood do you live in?

The Edgemoor area of Bethesda.


4. What is your biggest DC pet peeve?

We can’t see stars at night due to the bright lights.  It’s time to convert to directional street light fixtures.




5. What is the #1 most played song on your iPod?

Born to Run….I play it when I’m working out.


6. Favorite DC haunt?

Sterling.  My gym.


7. What's your favorite thing to do on a Sunday afternoon?

Yoga


8. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Here, but I wouldn’t mind a second home in NY, SF, Paris or Tel Aviv.


9. If you couldn't be a developer, what would you be?

An international flight attendant. I love to travel.


10. Name one thing most people don't know about you.

I took a semester off from college my sophomore year and moved to Hawaii where I ended up working in security for McInerny Department Store.

Today in Pictures - Boilermaker Shops

With exterior construction of the boilermaker building complete, southeast DC will soon have its own retail pavilion in one of the city's more exciting venues.  Forest City started construction on the project in late 2011, turning the century old boilermaker building of the Navy Yard into a waterfront locale for destination restaurants.  With exterior work complete, tenants are now beginning to build out their restaurants, which should put opening day next spring.  On track so far are Buzz Bakery and Blue Jacket brew pub, both operated by Neighborhood Restaurant Group.  Blue Jacket, named after the common apparel for navy personnel, will take the end space (on 4th) with walls of glass reaching 3 stories to the steel raftered ceiling.  On tap at the opposite end (on 3rd) is Willie's Brew & Crew (a sports bar & barbecue) from restaurant mogul Xavier Cervera, as well as a drycleaner.  BRB, which had originally signed on, is no longer on the list, but officials say a burger joint is likely.  Across the street construction is underway on a new apartment building, Harris Teeter, and now a Vida Fitness.

Vida at the Yards, Officially

Vida Fitness finally announced today that it is opening its next location at the Yards, Forest City's mixed-use neighborhood next to the ballpark.  The site has been a not-very-well kept secret for the past few years, but new details emerged about the 28,000 s.f. facility, including that it will house another Penthouse Pool Club and Lounge, a rooftop lounge which Vida added to its new U Street location last year.  Vida, along with 50,000 s.f. Harris Teeter, is being built as part of Forest City's Twelve12 mixed-use project at the corner of 4th and Tingey Streets.  Designed by Shalom Baranes Associates, the building will house 218 apartments, and is scheduled to open in the spring of 2014.

Washington D.C. real estate development news

Lumber Shed Construction at the Yards Begins this Week

Construction begins this week on the Lumber Shed, an adaptive reuse component that will become the retail centerpiece of the Yards, a Forest City project. The Shed is set to be completed in the third quarter of 2013, according to a press release.

The Yards, which is one of the largest projects in Southeast D.C., has been named the best new public space by City Paper. Seven restaurants and a Harris Teeter were announced this past year in the boilermaker shops, and recently, the Alatmarea Restaurant Group of New York City announced a new Osteria Morini restaurant to open in The Yards in summer 2013.

The area was formerly the Navy Yard Annex then the Naval Gun Factory. Forest City Washington received the chance to redevelop the 42-acre riverfront property site in 2004, and construction began on several parcels within the yards in 2007.

When finished, the Yards will be a 5.5 million s.f. development, completed during three phases during the next 10 to 20 years.

The Lumber Shed - formerly owning up to its name - is located on the edge of the Yards park overlooking the Anacostia River.  The Shed will be a 30,000 s.f., two-level, retail, glass pavilion, which will temporarily house Forest City’s offices on the second floor and include five restaurants.

The inclusion of Osteria Morini and Forest City’s offices means the building is 60 percent leased.

Washington D.C. real estate development news