55-Unit Residential Project Planned For 14th Street

• August 25, 2011
• 5 Comments

by Mark Wellborn

1328 14th Street NW

14th Street can add one more development to the ever-growing list of planned residential projects for the avenue.

Last night at the ANC 2F development committee meeting, plans were discussed for a new six-story, 55-unit apartment building south of Rhode Island Avenue called The Irwin (named for property owner Irwin Edlavitch). The project would occupy the vacant lot at 1328 14th Street NW (map), which sits across the street from places like Churchkey and Fathom Creative.

Sarah Alexander of project architect Torti Gallas said that the apartments would be mainly studios and one-bedrooms, ranging in size from 500 to 600 square feet. There would be 11 units on each floor, and the project would have a large internal courtyard, a common roof terrace, a fitness center, bicycle storage and parking for about a quarter of the units. There would also be 4,100 square feet of retail space on the ground floor.

Grainy shot of Irwin rendering that could soon change.

However, the project’s glass design was met with opposition from members of the committee, some of whom felt that it didn’t fit in with the rest of the buildings on the street. The developer and architect are going to make some revisions to the design as well as talk to neighbors about their concerns before coming back in front of the ANC, so there is no clear timeline when this project will get started.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/55-unit_residential_project_planned_for_14th_street/4044

5 Comments

1. Perpetual Complainer said at 9:18 am on Thursday August 25, 2011:

   I really wish developers would stop making so many tiny units.  I get that it’s profitable, but those units are going to have to turn over constantly as people realize that there is no space to grow in an apartment that size.

1. Nick Barron said at 9:58 am on Friday August 26, 2011:

   As the soon-to-be ANC Commissioner for the single member district in which this development is planned, I welcome anyone’s input before the next ANC 2F development committee meeting in September. You can reach me here - http://nickbarron.co/contact-nick/.

1. Noticed said at 1:37 pm on Friday August 26, 2011:

   I agree with Complainer.  Though I don’t have city-wide statistics it does seem like there are too many small units being built and not enough that are moderate-sized.  Maybe they need to consider building higher?  Otherwise, it’s good to see that this development is happeneing.

1. Stew said at 9:59 pm on Friday August 26, 2011:

   I love the fact that so many small units are coming to 14th Street.  Keep it young, urban, and fresh.  Too many suburban baby-boomers moved in when developers were building larger units.

1. spike said at 9:45 am on Tuesday August 30, 2011:

   Almost all new construction is geared to more “affordable” housing now that mortgage loans are harder to get and down payments have to be higher. Most people can’t afford a lot of space in these new economics.

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