100-Foot, 25-Unit Project Proposed for U Street

• March 13, 2015

by Lark Turner

An early rendering of the Goldstar Group’s planned development.

The Goldstar Group, working with Bonstra|Haresign Architects, is proposing a 100-foot, 25-unit building near the intersection of 14th and U Street.

The narrow structure at 1355-1357 U Street NW (map) would be set back 34 feet from the historic rowhomes below it. The site is about a block west of the U Street Metro.

“This is where you want density,” a representative of the project told the U Street Neighborhood Association while presenting the project on Thursday night. “You’re right on top of the Metro.”

Goldstar’s Eric May said they are “leaning” toward going condo with the project. The development team said they will likely seek zoning relief for a lack of the required parking on the site. About eight spots will be required, but only three can fit onsite. The building will likely have a mix of one- and two-bedrooms, May said, at about 600 and 900 square feet respectively. It’s still in the early stages of design, however, and may change.

Bonstra|Haresign’s Rob McClennan said the development will be made of glass and metal to help it feel “light and airy.”

“DC is a predominantly horizontal city, and here we have an opportunity to make some very exciting vertical architecture,” McClennan said.

The developers will likely file an application for approval with the Historic Preservation Review Board at the end of the month.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/100-foot_building_proposed_for_u_street/9641