New Whole Foods, apartment building in Shaw expected to break ground on November 30

On November 30, a brand new mixed-use project is scheduled to break ground in Shaw. According to a press release shared on PoPville, a project previously dubbed The Griffith, but now known as The Wren, will feature 428 apartments, retail, and a 45,000-square-foot, two-level Whole Foods grocery store.

Located at 965 Florida Avenue NW, the 10-story, 375,000-square-foot-building will include 343 parking spaces and amenities like a fitness center, storage, club room, and a courtyard. There will also be a rooftop pool.

According to the Washington Business Journal, the developers spent approximately $3.4 million on community benefits, such as the construction of a park and donations to the Shaw Main Streets, the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region, and a business incubator at Howard University. The developers also created a connection of Bryant Street NW between Sherman, Florida, and Georgia avenues NW.

The location is less than half a mile from the U Street Metro station. The developers behind the project are MRP Realty, Ellis Development, and JBG SMITH.

[UPDATE: The delivery is expected by 2020.]

• 965 Florida Ave Groundbreaking Finally Happening “a project delivering affordable housing and retail including a new Whole Foods grocery store” [PoPville]

• The Griffith [Districtre]

• ​Work set to begin on Shaw-U Street Whole Foods at long last [Washington Business Journal]