SHAW: A Walk Through (The South End) Shaw's Construction 2.0

The first article that we did on the Badwolfdc Blog, back in March 2013, was about the construction and growth of the 9th Street NW corridor in Shaw. So it seems fitting that we celebrate our 2nd anniversary with what has now become Shaw/9th Street growth 2.0. The following covers all the construction going on and planned, not only for 9th Street NW, but also the surrounding area.

Starting at the farthest South, at 9th & L Streets. The Quadrangle/Marriott Phase Two will start later this year. All of the arguments have been made, all of the changes to the initial plans have been made, and most of the DC Agencies have signed off on the project - expect to see work start soon on this major project (2 Hotels and an apartment Building) that will arguably change the look of the neighborhood significantly.

Corner of 9th & L Street's NW now.

An older rendering but pretty much the same, future 9th and L Street's NW

Heading up to 9th and M Street's, 4 projects ( 1 started, 2 approved, 1 in early planning). The first, that has already begun is actually at 11th and M Street's, filling in an open spot/parking lot and remodeling/preserving the corner buildings, for a nine-story, 80-unit condo building, with ground floor retail and below-grade parking. This project seems sure to revitalize that portion of 11th Street NW.

Photograph of site, from Alley off 11th at M Street NW

When completed 11th and M Street NW will look like this

Back towards 9th Street, at the entrance to Blagden Alley, 2 projects have been approved, and will begin work shortly. The first project, by Ditto Residential, is for a 2 Unit Condo.

They are only awaiting their Building Permit

"..we are waiting for final building permits from DC and plan to start in the next few months" states Martin Ditto

View from M Street NW, provided by Ditto Residential

Across Blagden Alley, the M Street building of  SB-Urban's 126 Unit Apartment Complex, that spans Blagden Alley onto 9th Street. Again this project has received all its approvals, and will begin shortly. The Micro-Unit project has now been approved, without parking.

Site of the M Street lot for planned SB-Urban Micro Units

SB-Urban provided this rendering of their Micro-Unit Project from M Street NW

 Finally, a new project is being proposed for the (South) corner of M Street NW, at 9th. This one is very early in its planning stage. The developer has begun meeting with the local community. The current plan calls for a 9 story condo building that will front on 9th Street at the old Southern Utilities building (next door to Baby Whale) and in-fill the open lot on M Street between First Cup Cafe and The Whitman Condo.

Empty lot that developers want to turn into huge condo at M Street NW

Early Days/From the Developer, a first run, rendering of 9th and M Street NW

Heading back down 9th Street, Douglas Developments "The Gang of Three", which we have written quite a bit about, is racing towards completion. With clients waiting to take possession, the latest, and final delay, over parking, will be decided in April.

"The Gang of Three" front  Beautifully restored by Douglas Development

Meanwhile work continues, especially in Blagden Alley. The client list includes The Dabney restaurant, The Columbia Room (late of 7th Street's The Passenger), a Yoga Studio, that will use the ground floor and basement facing 9th Street and 2 clients taking the 9th Street facing office space.

"The Gang of Three" rear ( From Blagden Alley)

The historic stable rebuilt will be part of The Dabney restaurant

As promised, Douglas Development have rebuilt the demolished stable, using the original bricks and original design - it will be incorporated into The Dabney restaurant.

Douglas Development is also starting a new project in Blagden Alley itself. 920 N Street/Rear is located next to Rogue 24, the open area, used by LongView Gallery for its 'outside events' will, become a new restaurant? I am waiting for Douglas Development to confirm the usage, and will update this article when I hear back from them.

Next to Rogue 24 a new restaurant?

Rendering by Douglas Development

Douglas Development Render / View from the rear of Lost & Found

 At the 10th Street entrance to Blagden Alley, the developer who allowed 1211 10th Street to collapse through neglect is now taking what is left and building something (no idea what!!)

A neighborhood disgrace - this is all that's left of a historic property

At the N Street entrance to Blagden Alley, the latest neighborhood building by the Suzane Reatig Architecture firm at 926 N Street NW is taking shape.

"The building will have 15 apartments - mostly one and two bedrooms, some with dens. They will be spacious layouts ranging from about 800 sf to more than 1300 sf. All units will have multiple exposures and some will have balconies and private terraces on the roof. There will be an 1800 sf leasable retail space at the corner of Blagden Alley and N Street" says Megan Mitchel

926 N Street from Blagden Alley

926 N Street NW from N Street

On the corner of 9th an N Streets, as we have noted in earlier articles, The Colonel is finished and accepting leases for its apartments. The ground floor retail seems to be fully leased with 3 restaurant/retail clients..the developer has done a nice job, the building, although modern, does not seem out of place and fits the 9th Street vista.

The Colonel adds to the 9th Street NW vista

Off of 9th Street, at the corner of 8th and N Streets a new project is going through the motions. (has received ANC approval) The new, 22 unit, development, features all two bedroom units, with the exception of a single one-bedroom condo with 1.5 baths. 

Currently the corner of 8th & O Street is car parking and sales

If the Project gets through DC development process, the corner of 8th & N Street will look like this

Between 9th and 8th Street's at O Street NW. At 8th and O Street's the plans are on hold (per the Mayor). The proposal is for 70 residential units with ground floor retail by Roadside Development and Dantes Partners, the team behind City Market at O. 

8th & O Street NW - site

Roadside Development Rendering of winning bid for 8th and O Street's NW

 At 9th and O Street, Shaw Development Partners, a joint venture of Four Points and the Warrenton Group, have put out a proposal for a nine-story, 60-unit residential building with ground floor retail for the site of the Scripture Cathedral Church.(the architect, Phil Esocoff, also designed The Whitman at 9th and M Street NW.) 

Raze request is in for 9th and O Street to build a 60 unit Condo

Also on 9th Street at 1322, the developer has started to rebuild the demolished stable, that was the center of the delays for developing the lot. As the structure, a 19 Unit Apartment Building with street level retail, planned for the lot had been approved, by the ANC and HPRB back in 2013, no news on whether this has to be re-done. 

Personally, happy to see stable re-constructed - view from Naylor Court

The final stop on this construction tour is the Carter G Woodson Memorial Park at 9th Street NW at Rhode Island Ave and Q Street's NW. Weather has delayed the work, but the project is still expected to be completed this Spring, a great addition to and for the community.

Work continues on the Carter G Woodson Memorial Park at 9th and Rhode Island Ave

This is where I stop this article. There is much more going on in Shaw, and I intend to get to all the places under development, so look for the next article on Shaw Construction 2.0

My thanks to the developers, who kindly responded to my request for latest (for public) information.
All Photographs are by me, Renderings via individual developers