Blagden Alley Micro-Units Get Final Approval
The bridge design for SB-Urban’s project.
SB-Urban and Rooney Properties got a warm reception in a final appearance before the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) on Thursday for the team’s Blagden Alley project, which will house millennial clientele in 121 furnished, short-term micro-units.
The HPRB approved a design for the project’s pedestrian bridge and referred the developers and architect, Hickok Cole, to the HPRB staff for final tweaks to the project.
The board initially approved the concept for the project last summer, but hesitated on a key factor in the design: A pedestrian bridge traversing the alley and connecting the project’s two buildings. One of the buildings houses the project’s amenities, which are planned to be substantial given the small size of the units. Residents at the project may even have access to a continental breakfast, developers have said. For that reason, they felt it was important to connect the two buildings.
Board members approved the bridge concept, provided the developers make it open, rather than an indoor walkway. As a compromise, Hickok Cole gave the little bridge a glass roof, which HPRB ultimately approved.
The development team had trouble getting the project approved by the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) due to its lack of parking, but prevailed before the BZA in late February. The company successfully argued that residents would walk, bike and take public transportation rather than use cars to get around.
Given that, one of the board members quizzed the architect on why, exactly, the glass covering over the bridge roof was necessary.
“We think if it’s weather-protected it’ll be much more used,” said Hickok Cole’s Devon Perkins.
“But these are people you’re expecting to walk two blocks to a Metro station!” the board member responded playfully.
See other articles related to: blagden alley, historic preservation review board, hprb, micro units, micro-units, microunits, sb-urban
This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/sb-urbans_blagden_alley_project_gets_approval_from_historic_preservation_re/9694.
Most Popular... This Week • Last 30 Days • Ever
Back in 2022, the DC Zoning Commission gave the green light to a large mixed-use deve... read »
Opening for sales this spring, The Brownstones at Westbard Square will feature 101 ne... read »
Today, UrbanTurf is taking a look at the tax benefits associated with buying a home t... read »
Donohoe presented plans on Thursday evening for a new multi-family residential projec... read »
Even with two large apartment buildings delivering in Northern Virginia's National L... read »
- Raze Application Looks To Pave Way For 700-Unit Development in Brookland
- Coming Soon: New EYA Brownstones at Westbard Square in Bethesda
- A Look At The Tax Benefits of Buying a Home Through a Trust
- Early Plans Unveiled For 130-Unit Development in Friendship Heights
- 3 Down, 7 To Go: A Look At The Thousands of Units Coming to National Landing
DC Real Estate Guides
Short guides to navigating the DC-area real estate market
We've collected all our helpful guides for buying, selling and renting in and around Washington, DC in one place. Start browsing below!
First-Timer Primers
Intro guides for first-time home buyers
Unique Spaces
Awesome and unusual real estate from across the DC Metro