Best City Block of 2009: 5th and K Streets NW

December 18, 2009
5 Comments

by Mark Wellborn

This week UrbanTurf is taking a look back at the best that DC’s residential real estate market had to offer in 2009. From the best deals to the best trends to, of course, the best listings, we believe we have sussed out the cream of the crop.

CityVista

While it may be still in transition, the nascent Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood, and specifically the intersection at 5th and K Streets NW, has seen impressive transformation in 2009.

What once was a desolate stretch populated largely by prostitutes and their clientele, the block has become a destination for both young professionals and long-time DC residents who probably never imagined they would be sitting outside eating brunch at this intersection.

Taylor Gourmet

While it is unfair to attribute the increasing popularity of the block to just one factor, CityVista will always be central to any conversation on this subject. The fast-selling condo project which fills the entire city block has been very successful at bringing energy and density to the street level, making 5th and K something of an anchor for the neighborhood. This fall CityVista added Taylor Gourmet, the popular Philadelphia Italian deli, to its growing cadre of retail and restaurants, while Busboys and Poets opened in late 2008 and really got going earlier this year. A large Japanese restaurant called Kushi is slated to open its doors soon.

But beyond the growing number of restaurant options, there seems to be a steady interest in the future success of this area. Last week, the second meeting of the Mount Vernon Square District Project was held where proposed alternatives to transform 7th and 9th Streets into corridors that focus more on pedestrian and cyclist safety were discussed, according to Paul Sieczkowski of neighborhood blog The Triangle.

“K Street in the Mount Vernon Triangle has a great master plan in terms of ground-floor designs for retail and mandating a mix of 50 percent residential and commercial in new development,” Sieczkowski told UrbanTurf. “The a lack of old building stock and prevalence of surface parking lots limits our ability to grow until the construction cranes return. However, CityVista shows what is possible when they do.”

Previous Best Of 2009 entries:

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/best_city_block_of_2009_5th_and_k_streets_nw/1617

5 Comments

jeff said at 9:01 pm on Saturday December 19, 2009:
Best block my ass. Try 1300 block of H st. NE or the stretch of 11th St. NW that’s getting all bougie. 5th and K is still 3/4ths parking lots and whores.

BenC said at 6:11 pm on Sunday December 20, 2009:
Yes, 5th and K! I bought at CityVista last year and have loved watching the area grow.

karen said at 11:27 am on Monday December 21, 2009:
Close to everything! walk to mall, drive out of town via 395 tunnel one block away. connected neighborhood. Chinatown restaurants just blocks away.

I lived here since 1987, know all my neighbors by name. couldn’t be happier.

Jason said at 11:40 am on Tuesday December 22, 2009:
@jeff - you must be a real joy to be around if you can get that upset over blog superlatives.

Rachel said at 1:23 pm on Wednesday December 23, 2009:
Don’t forget about 5th Street Ace Hardware! We’ve been in the space for about a year and a half and provide basic necessities to homeowners moving in.