Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy was one of the 24 historic sites that received funding from the Partners in Preservation campaign. Their $50,000 grant will go toward repairing the stone work in the Signature Project area that covers the first 2 acres of the park. They've released these architectural renderings of the stone shed and bridge that are among the structures that need repair due to invasive plants and storm water.
· Thank You! [Official Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy Site]
Generally people date each other and then move in together but this Northern Virginia man is looking to kill two birds with one stone. On his Craigslist ad, he promises reduced rent (reduced from what, who can say) for an attractive white female who will move in and also be his girlfriend. Good luck getting any hits on that one, buddy. [Craigslist]
· Last weekend it was the Roosevelt Bridge and yesterday shooting for Captain America: The Winter Soldier shut down traffic near the Mall [NBC4]
· Georgetown: number 9 neighborhood in the country for luxury home sales. [Redfin]
· The "Spring Shop Hop," featuring deals from local businesses and performances from local children is Saturday in Mt. Pleasant. [The 42 Bus]
· City Officials talk to citizens as they ponder the possibility of lifting the Height Act [UrbanTurf]
· City Place Mall to be revamped, possibly as early as late 2013. [GGW]
Between Louis at 14th, the street repairs and this development at 15th and V, the U Street area is turning into construction central. The 15th and V development, which will have 95 apartments over nine stories is slated to start construction in July. It will be in what is currently the parking lot of the Paul Laurence Dunbar apartments but what had previously been the elite Dunbar Hotel and...an apartment building. Odd how things cycle.
· July Construction Start for 15th and V NW Residential Project[Borderstan]
· Looking Back, and Forward: 15th and V [DCMud]
· New Residential Building Proposed for 15th and V NW [Meridian Hill Neighborhood Association]
It's been established that cab drivers in the D.C. metro area have locked customers out of cabs if they're going to an undesirable neighborhood and outright ignored black customers. Now, another reason to hate D.C. cabbies: a sting showed that 48% of the 42 cabs tested stranded, ignored or overcharged disabled passengers. [WUSA9]
Welcome back to Real Estate Death Match. In our previous match, the Mt. Pleasant condo came from behind, barely edging out the Adams Morgan competitor. This week, in honor of the final bout of the DC Rollergirls, we're capping the budget at $1600/month and checking out rentals near the Armory where their bouts take place. This is Real Estate Death Match: Sweet Stadium-Armory Studio Edition.
Built in the 1920s by circus mogul John Ringling, the Florida mansion known as Cà d'Zan was one of the country's most magnificent private residences, but fell on hard times before a six-year restoration returned it to glory. Curbed National has 10 fun facts from the construction, degradation, and rebirth of this American classic. [Curbed National]
Remember when these boutique condos were on the market for about a nanosecond? Well, S2 Development, the folks responsible for converting that home in Kalorama has converted a former family home in Mt. Vernon Square into four condos. This rags to riches story is a little more dramatic as the interior had been ravaged by a fire before the owner sold it two years ago for the purpose of having the place restored and re-imagined. This is a peak at the interior before the four hit the market on Thursday. Maybe these will even remain on the market long enough for interested buyers to justify going to Sunday's open house. Prices range from $449,900 to $599,900.
· 1135 6th Street NW [S2 Development]
· Sunlit Conversion of a Dingy Rowhouse [CDC]
Attention all passengers: construction is underway at Dulles Town Center and it includes a new 11-screen Regal Cinema Theater. Those who want to catch a movie before heading to their flight (especially if it's too short for an in-flight movie) will have that option by mid-2014. [WBJ]
· D.C. is the nation's 6th most bikeable large U.S. city for the second year in a row. [WalkScore]
· Living in an itty-bitty apartment can be a challenge. Here are some tips to make it easier. [Atlantic Cities]
· Some photos of the construction on the expansion of the Friendship Charter School in Ward 8. [Congress Heights on the Rise]
· Must National Police Week really come with a rash of illegally parked cop cars? [DCist]
· Manassas passes huge real estate tax hike. [WBJ]
Oh, the Eisenhower Memorial. It seemed like that design from Frank Gehry to pay homage to the 34th President will be stuck in an infinite loop of arrested development. The design was almost universally panned as everyone from the National Civic Art Society to Ike's own grandchildren find the renderings offensive. Well, on to the next round.
A few new photographs (found here) suggest some aspects of the design that might reveal more about the controversial statues and reliefs. That said, at least one architecture critic, Alexandra Lange, isn't moved by this new information, having said, "New (?) Eisenhower Memorial design reveals FOG doesn't know the difference between a memorial and a diorama." The saga continues.
· A Fluid Design In Bronze and Stone [Architect Magazine]
· Tallying Up the Eisenhower Memorial Debacle: The Biggest, Baddest, Ugliest Anti-Gehry Zingers [Curbed National]
· Leader of Eisenhower Memorial Effort discusses embattled plans in talk at Dole Institute [Lawrence Journal-World]
A good stereo system can be a crucial part of any media lover's abode, whether there's a surround sound system or a good network of streaming audio for the more tech savvy home owner. Still, this porch control room outfitted with what appears to be a car stereo is a new one. Also, is that a car radio dial in the corner? At least the future purchaser can't claim that they don't know how to turn up the volume for their imminent rooftop parties. This four bedroom, 2200 sq foot home is asking $799,900.
· 1518 A Street SE Washington, DC [Estately]
The words "hydroponic greenhouse" might immediately conjure up images of James Franco and Seth Rogen but Mayor Gray's latest development in Anacostia has nothing to do with the pineapple express. On Thursday, Gray announced in a press conference that he'd be partnering with BrightFarms to build the 100,000 square foot greenhouse farm shown in the rendering above. Groundbreaking is slated for this fall on a project that proposes to create twenty-five full-time jobs and provide fresh vegetables for 5,000 locals. This is particularly helpful for the residents of Anacostia since part of BrightFarms' M.O. is to greatly reduce the distance between the food's source and local grocers and these residents aren't affected by the latest boom of grocery store construction. Furthermore, they're not near of the farmers markets we've mapped.
· Mayor Gray Launches District's Largest Hydroponic Greenhouse Farm in Ward 8 [Office of Mayor Gray]
This past Sunday, PBS aired a special entitled 10 Buildings that Changed America, a survey of the sometimes lesser-known structures that altered the course of American architecture and urban planning. Highlights include the swooping, Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Southdale Center, the country's first indoor shopping mall. [Curbed National]
Not only is the rent too damn high, but so is ask on homes in D.C. and Arlington. D.C.'s median sale price leapt by $10K to $470K in the past month and Arlington's skyrocketed to $560K a $45K increase in price in the past month. Both of these prices are record highs for their respective cities. [WaPo]
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