New residential building to 15th and V Streets NW. (Luis Gomez Photos)
Construction is expected to begin in July on the 95-unit residential building at the northeast corner of 15th and V Streets NW, next to the Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartments. As part of the development, Jair Lynch has been working with the residents’ association of the Dunbar Apartments to recapitalize and renovate the building, which holds a status as affordable housing for senior citizens.
The new building will not have the affordable housing requirements of the Dunbar Apartments. It will be on property that is now parking for the Dunbar Apartments.
In November 2011, the Historic Preservation Review Board approved the concept design for the building, which includes 95 residential units in nine-stories with two levels of underground parking. The new building will also feature a fitness room, a roof deck and environmentally friendly finishes (the developers are currently seeking Energy Star Certification).
Project Update
Last week there was a community update:
- Construction start is July 2013.
- Permits have been issued for grading, sheeting and shoring to support excavation, foundation to grade.
- JAIR LYNCH will continue to review development progress with ANC 1B, local civic associations and the other community throughout the project.
May 21 Meeting
On May 21 JAIR LYNCH is hosting a meeting with three members of ANC 1B and their constituents: ANC 1B12 Zahra Jilani (1B-12), Ricardo Reinoso (1B-05) and Deborah Thomas (1B-04). The meeting runs from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at the Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartment (2001 15th St, NW).
There is also a tentative date, June 19, for a meeting with the project contractor to explain construction details and how it will affect the neighborhood will look during construction. If you have any questions contact Kaleena Francis at kef[AT]jairlynch.com at JAIR LYNCH Development Partners.
Get an RSS Feed for all Borderstan stories or subscribe to Borderstan’s daily email newsletter.
From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com
The Laurence Dunbar apartments at the northeast corner of 15th and U NW. The new residential building will be to the north at 15th and V NW. (Courtesy Greater Greater Washington)
A meeting to discuss updates for the Jair Lynch Development Partners project at 15th and V Streets NW is scheduled for Wednesday, September 26, from 6:30 until 8:30 pm at the Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartments (2001 15th Street NW).
Over the past year, the development group has been working with the residents’ association of the Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartments to recapitalize and renovate the building, which holds a status as affordable housing for senior citizens.
In November, 2011, the Historic Preservation Review Board approved the concept design for the renovation that includes 95 residential units in nine-stories with two levels of underground parking. The building will also feature a fitness room, a roof deck and environmentally friendly finishes (the developers are currently seeking Energy Star Certification).
Eighty-seven units in the building will be available at market price; eight units will be affordable homes, with prices and income restrictions determined by the DC Department of Housing and Community Development.
Next steps for the project include quarterly meetings with ANC 1B-04 Deborah Thomas and ANC 1B-05 Mary Streett (and their constituents) to provide an update on the status of the project and to continue the discussion of what can be expected once a building permit is issued and construction commences.
For more information on this week’s project meeting, contact Kaleena Francis at [email protected] or (202) 462-1092.
Get an RSS Feed for all Borderstan stories or subscribe to Borderstan’s daily email newsletter.
Borderstan: News from Dupont-Logan-U Street
From Michelle Lancaster. Follow her and tell her your news on Twitter @MichLancaster or email her at [email protected].
With all the construction around Borderstan lately, it’s sometimes easy to forget that every house, parking lot and retail store had a previous life, if not several. DCmud has a great blog post recounting the history of the parking lot of the Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartments at 2001 15th Street NW. The buildings were formerly Campbell Heights Apartments (until recently), before that they were called the Portner Flats (a luxury apartment building) and before that the Dunbar Hotel.
The Dunbar Hotel was the elite black hotel (when Washington was very much segregated) in the heydeys of U Street’s jazz scene and Duke Ellington, Sammy Davis Jr. and other performers were regular guests. The space will begin a new life as the Jair Lynch apartment project at 15th and V Streets NW after much redesign and consternation.
Tom Hay reported back in July about the project. Jair Lynch Development Partners, headquartered at 1508 U Street, worked with the residents association of the Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartments to recapitalize and renovate the 171 unit building. The deal preserves its status as affordable housing for senior citizens under a covenant which will last for 30 years.
Going up just north of the current senior citizen apartments is a 95-unit rental building by Jair Lynch; DCMud has a great rendering of the building.
Another one bites the dust: Borderstan has been unable to get additional details, but it looked like moving day on Monday for Ruff & Ready at 1908 14th Street NW. Taylor Gourmet is slated to go in the spot this fall following renovations. The street was once home to several resale shops. (Luis Gomez Photos)
By Michelle Lancaster. You can follow her and let her know your news on Twitter @MichLancaster.
New Openings: Blackbyrd Warehouse & Boqueria
Urban Daddy brings word of another oyster option in Borderstan, called Blackbyrd Warehouse at the intersection of 14th Street and U Street. It will boast six kind of oysters, crab legs and more when it opens (planned opening is Friday, July 15).Washington City Paper had the story on Boqueria, a Barcelona inspired tapas bar by way of New York. Boqueria Washington, D.C. will be located on the corner of M Street and 19th Street and has an opening date of “Fall 2011”.
Parking Lots Transform Into Condos
Yes, more condos are coming to the neighborhood. No, it’s not a Michael Bay production. The former Dunbar Apartments parking lot is being developed into 96 units, which I’m not so sure is welcome. DC Metrocentric has details (and Tom Hay reported on it last week as well). Do you agree with the blog that incorporating the nearby church design would be a welcome addition to the neighborhood, or do you like the design as is? Do you just hate more condos?
Tortilla Coast plans to open a fifth restaurant at the southeast corner of 15th and P Streets NW. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Tom Hay. Questions for Tom? Send him an email. You can follow him on Twitter @Tomonswann.
A look at recent developments related to business and politics in the Borderstan area…
Senior Housing Preserved; New Residential Tower at 15th & V
Jair Lynch Development Partners, headquartered at 1508 U Street, has been busy working on deals right in their own front yard. The company has been working with the residents association of the Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartments — formerly known as Campbell Heights Apartments — at 2001 15th Street NW to recapitalize and renovate the 171 unit building. The deal preserves its status as affordable housing for senior citizens under a covenant which will last for 30 years.
At a recent meeting of the Meridian Hill Neighborhood Association Jair Lynch presented a proposal for a 95-unit residential building at the southeast corner of 15th and V Streets NW on property that is currently parking for the Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartments. The new building will not have the affordable housing requirements of the Dunbar Apartments. According to the book Best Addresses, the site was once the location of the Portner Flats apartment which opened in 1897. At the time the building was referred to as Portner’s Folly because of its remote location from downtown.
Tortilla Coast Protest
With construction of the planned Tortilla Coast restaurant at 15th and P Streets NW in full swing, neighbors are mobilizing to protest the restaurant’s hours for serving alcohol on their outdoor patio and sidewalk cafe. Borderstan was contacted by a neighbor of Tortilla Coast who says he received a letter from another nearby resident who is trying to rally opposition to Tortilla Coast’s liquor license application.
