New Mount Vernon Triangle Apartments Blend Design, Luxury & Historic Charm
455 Eye Street’s First Residents Began Moving in June 1
Integrating three historic structures into a luxury apartment building is an incredible challenge, and the results are magnificent and tinged with history. 455 Eye Street welcomed its first residents June 1 into the heart of the bustling Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood.
The unique 174-unit residential property melds local artistic flair and modern living with a nod to its industrial past. Sleek towers rise around a central courtyard, maximizing natural light and views throughout the building. The historic buildings provide a focal point and now house the amenity spaces, accented with salvaged fixtures and furniture from local artists.
When prominent military surveyor John Wyess built a 14-foot rowhouse on I Street in 1876, he contributed to a growing entrepreneurial and working-class boom in Mount Vernon fueled by immigrants; his elegant “W” still remains in the rowhouse pediment today. Another German immigrant, William Beuchert, built a new blacksmith shop on the alley in 1912, then added an auto repair shop in a two-story warehouse a few years later. 455 Eye Street has restored and highlighted these historic assets, and will even utilize the warehouse’s garage bay doors for outdoor seating in Prather’s on the Alley, a new 2,000-square-foot restaurant targeting an opening in late 2017.
Each residence in the building is slightly different, ranging from spacious industrial lofts to crisp, modern apartments with floor-to-ceiling windows (studios to two-bedrooms). The rowhouses were converted into four units, all two bedrooms, with walk-out access onto Eye Street. Residences are finished with quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, wide-plank hard surface floors and in-home washers and dryers.
Just coming home to 455 Eye Street is a one-of-a-kind experience. A social courtyard in the center features a fire pit and doors on two sides, becoming a passageway and community space for residents. The mailroom, lounge and wet bar are steeped in historic touches, courtesy of local artist James Kerns, who salvaged century-old wood and freight elevator parts to create furniture and fixtures throughout. Original brick walls in the warehouse received a whitewashing treatment from decorative finish artist Laura Harris. Graham Caldwell is creating an 8-foot-tall glass droplet fixture to accent the two-story lounge, and Emilio Perez has been commissioned to create multi-media art for the walls.
Residents will enjoy a state-of-the-art fitness center, 24-hour concierge, and a roof deck with pool and views over downtown Washington, D.C. Cyclists can glide through the spacious alley to the bike room, with more than 50 bike spots and a Dero repair stand.
Working from 455 Eye Street will be seamless for the telecommuter. A light-filled lounge, quiet study and separate conference room are all outfitted for the work-at-home crowd, with free WiFi available throughout the common areas.
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