Zoning Commission and OP Weigh in on the Second Phase of The Wharf

• August 18th 2017

by Nena Perry-Brown

In May, UrbanTurf reported on the massive plans on tap for the second phase of The Wharf. Now, as the Zoning Commission (ZC) is scheduled to consider the second phase in November, the Commission and the Office of Planning have provided feedback for the proposed planned-unit development.

The second phase of The Wharf, located between 6th and 11th Streets SW from the pier head line of the Washington Channel on the southwest to Maine Avenue to the northeast (map), will deliver over 300 residential units, more than 100 hotel rooms, office and retail space, two below-grade parking garages with nearly 850 spaces, three waterside buildings, as well as completion of the Marina and open areas including the M Street Landing and the Grove. Perkins Eastman is the master architect of the development and the buildings are designed by SHoP Architects PC (Parcels 6 and 7), ODA (Parcel 8), Rafael Vinoly Architects (Parcel 9) and Morris Adjmi Architects (Parcel 10).

In a pre-hearing request, ZC and OP asked for more information regarding building signage, the interior components of the office buildings on Parcels 6 and 7, the plans for the interior of the penthouse on Water Building 1, the strategy to achieve the LEED certification that is bring sought, details on the facade and wall designs of the buildings, and a breakdown of how the developers are meeting inclusionary zoning (IZ) requirements triggered by penthouse relief.

OP would also like to see more balconies on the Parcel 8 building and more renderings, including some of how the placement of the water buildings will impact views of the water from Maine Avenue and M Street.

While the applicant has agreed to share the plans for the aforementioned as they develop and in advance of November’s hearing, there are a couple of points to which they offered early responses. OP prefers that the parking entrance for the Parcel 9 building be relocated to the rear; however, the applicant believes that the current placement is ideal in order to activate the streetscape and also circumvents site encumbrances like the Metro tunnel for the Green Line and a large storm sewer. As to OP’s request that the applicant share in more detail what the phases of construction will be, the applicant notes that construction will depend on such factors as future market conditions, access to financing and credit, and lender preleasing requirements.

The Zoning Commission hearing is scheduled for November 2.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/zoning_commission_and_op_share_concerns_about_wharf_phase_ii/12932.