SHAW: "Gang of Three", The Restoration, and More in Blagden Alley

Over the past 24 months the Badwolfdc Blog has been following closely the Douglas Development Project named "Gang of Three" (which encompasses 3 buildings on 9th Street NW and reaches into the Blagden Alley at its rear).
Tweaks and delays have slowed the project at times, and many local residents have wondered will it ever be completed?  The latest tweak and associated delay, looks to be the last as Douglas Development will get the BZA (Board of Zoning Adjustment) final word in April for a request for "parking relief" following a tweak of the buildings design to accommodate a client. In my conversations with Douglas Development representatives, "this will be the last delay, we need to complete the project, we have clients waiting to move in". The full ANC2F (and CDC) has already approved the parking relief, and its unlikely that the BZA will stand in the way, so its time to look at what's going on on-site, and especially in Blagden Alley.

First a little on the structure. The front, 9th Street NW facing, townhouses have been carefully restored with the interiors rehabilitated (or replaced) to meet their new function as a small office building. Douglas Development have 2 client's for the office space on the upper floors, the lower floor is slated to be a Yoga Studio

 

The new section at the rear is finally taking shape, and you can now get a really good idea of what the future holds. What you cannot see yet is how the people flow to the two new restaurants will be achieved (more on that later). The structure will in its final form have three levels stepped in places, not a lot of flat uninteresting walls. Large windows, red brick and modern surfaces are the story here. There will be a walkable alley between the Gang of Three and the other new building that will take up the corner of the Alley entrance off 9th Street, S-Urban's Micro Unit Project (which just passed its final hurdle with the BZA and will start construction soon).
For me, one of the special parts of the project is progressing - the stable, which had to be demolished due to its instability. At the time I complained about its removal, and Douglas Development promised that this would be rebuilt, using the original brick, and would again add to the historical facades of one of Washington DC's remaining H style alley's.

Pre-Construction Photograph of Stable in Blagden Alley

True to their word, this is almost complete, and when complete will look better than it did before the demolition.

Rendering Courtesy of Douglas Development Access to Both Restaurants are in Blagden Alley

Finally a quick update on the two clients/restaurants that are planning their move into the Blagden Alley segment. The current delay (and tweak) is due to the Derek Brown's 'Columbia Room' (formally located at the rear of 'The Passenger' on 7th Street NW) requirements. No harm here, as with any business moving into new space, build outs can mean adjustments. The resulting space will undoubtedly wow when complete and open. The Columbia Room will be on the second floor, and be accessed via elevator from the new walk-in alley. (No information on occupancy #'s or hours as yet)
 'The Dabney', Jeremiah Langhorne's much anticipated restaurant will be taking up most of the ground floor, with its entrance in Blagden Alley. The ABRA permit request was posted this week, with the following info;
Full Service Restaurant serving American Food.  Total Occupancy of 180, with a Summer Garden occupancy of 18. Hours for the restaurant are Sunday through Saturday 8am till 1pm and for the Summer Garden, Sunday through Saturday 8am till 12 am. Both restaurants are highly anticipated arrivals in Blagden Alley.

So, overall a wonderful development project from Douglas Development that will add to the vibrancy of Blagden Alley, and that has taken care not to remove the history or charm of the neighborhood.