There were plenty of highlights last year for Washington, D.C. real estate. But what were some of the mishaps that may still be under contention? Listed in no particular order, you will be able to find everything from a Downtown Abbey office renovation to a land deal that may have lost the District over $27 million below. At the end of the article, you can also vote for which happening may have been the biggest oops moment of the year. If there were any issues that were left off of this list that you believe should have appeared, be sure to let us know in the comments.
In September 2015, it was reported that the D.C. Council could have earned $27.6 million in one land deal in Shaw. Instead, the Council auctioned off the 1.5-acre site for $400,000. The price chop is due to the land use proposed for the site. Rather than luxury housing and high-end retail, the site will instead be for affordable housing. The funds from the land deal could have gone to run-down public schools and other affordable-housing projects.
After the public criticized Illinois Representative Aaron Shock for spending around $100,000 on a Downtown Abbey-themed office, Shock told ABC, "Haters gonna hate." But he got way more hate then he expected. Reports rose that he used taxpayer money and political donations to fund the crystal chandeliers, pheasant feathers, and gold-colored wall sconces.
3. The Tragicomedy That is the H Street Streetcar
This past year, the H Street streetcar project not only experienced two missed deadlines, there was also a fire and three separate car accidents along with it. While it's worth noting that the accidents were not at the fault of the streetcars, the $160 million project was still threatened to be canceled after years of planning. Regardless, the streetcar is expected to open to the public later this year.
4. Revealing One of D.C.'s Most Controversial Housing Proposals
The only way to stop a developer from razing Mt. Vernon Triangle's Museum Square Apartment building was for the low-income residents to pay a whopping $250 million. Rather than roll over, the residents instead took legal action, resulting in what The Washington Post described as "more legal and legislative controversy than possibly any other housing proposal in recent years." In order to prevent such a massive asking price in the future, former D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray and Council member David Catania altered the Tenants Opportunity to Purchase Act. The developer hoped to construct 825 apartments and condos with a price per units around $312,500. Other plans included 17,000-square-feet of retail and a four-story garage.
5. After Epic Bidding War, Georgetown Home Relists for $3.9K
It took two years for a Northern Virginia couple to find the perfect home and then roughly $4 million to nab this Georgetown listing. Only five months after the purchase, the couple decided to relist the property due to the 3,908-square-foot listing allegedly not being spacious enough for two children and three housekeepers. Buyer's remorse is always a bummer, right?
6. Overeager Landlord's Plan to House Too Many Backfires
Is it possible to house too many people in a group home? Of course, but apparently one Logan Circle landlord was unaware of this. The landlord had intended to house up to 10 tenants despite Zoning regulations stating that one single-family home cannot house more than six unrelated people. The landlord also did not having the proper business license to operate a rooming house.
· See the best posts of the year here [Curbed DC]
Loading comments...