Finally, after many years of waiting, the development team who will head the redevelopment of U Street’s Grimke School has been chosen. UrbanTurf reported that the team is Community Three Development and CulturalDC.
The project, located at 1925 Vermont Avenue NW, currently houses the African American Civil War Museum. Once the redevelopment is complete, there will be a brand new 10,000-square-foot building for the museum as well as a 5,000-square-foot space administered by CulturalDC.
The project will also house 50 residential units, 30 of which will be designated for affordable housing. Finally, a new international headquarters for Torti Gallas + Partners will be developed along with an additional 4,000 square feet of retail, as reported by UrbanTurf.
The Request for Proposals for the project was first released in 2014 by then Mayor Vincent Gray. The developer that was first chosen was Roadside Development. Two years later, the District called off the deal due to months of inactivity. Other issues that caused the $35 million project to discontinue included financing issues and fatigue.
If the redevelopment had continued, it would have housed the African-American Civil War Museum as well as studios and offices for Step Afrika!, CityDance, Imagination Stage, and Dance USA. Seven townhomes were also planned along with a 30-unit condo building with ground-floor retail.
• DC Picks Team to Redevelop Grimke School Near U Street [UrbanTurf]
• Exclusive: District, Roadside part ways on Grimke School redevelopment [Washington Business Journal]
• Grimke School redevelopment dropped after months of inactivity [Curbed DC]