319-Unit Residential Development Proposed Adjacent to Howard University

• September 16, 2014
• 3 Comments

by Lark Turner

A 319-unit residential development abutting Howard University has been proposed for the intersection of Barry Place and Sherman Avenue NW. The six-story building at 907 Barry Place (map) would be 80 feet tall and include retail on Sherman.

Howard, which owns part of the site, plans to lease the space for the Sherman Avenue apartments to Ambling University Development Group. Ambling is collaborating with Gateway Partners, partial site-owner Pinak Mehta, and architect Niles Bolton Associates on the project, which will include 143 parking spaces on two levels and 12,000 square feet of retail. The development will include market-rate apartments, though Howard plans to push for more affordable housing than is required by the city as well as subsidized faculty housing in the building.

Plans for the apartment building include plenty of amenity space for residents, including a two-story roof deck with scenic views and perks including yoga rooms. The specifics of the building were sketched out at a meeting of the Bloomingdale Civic Association on Monday night

The development will require rezoning and a planned unit development (PUD) approved by the Zoning Commission to move forward. Executing the project would also involve permanently closing a public alley, a measure that needs the approval of Congress and usually takes about 14 months.

Ambling said on Monday that it will likely file a PUD with the Zoning Commission once it has presented the project to all community stakeholders, likely sometime in October or November.

Rendering via LeDroit Park CA

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/319-unit_development_proposed_for_9th_street/8967

3 Comments

1. Just Me said at 11:20 pm on Tuesday September 16, 2014:
   Why were they presenting this project at the Bloomingdale Civic Association meeting? It's not in Bloomingdale, nor is it even adjacent to Bloomingdale.

1. Lark Turner said at 4:21 am on Wednesday September 17, 2014:
   Hey there, Thanks for writing in. Since Bloomingdale (and LeDroit Park) are stakeholders in the Howard University Master Plan, they're parties to the construction even though it doesn't really affect their neighborhoods, according to the presenter on Monday. Hope that helps. Lark

1. Mike_in_SW said at 3:19 pm on Wednesday September 17, 2014:
   If the drawing accompanying this article is a true representation of the proposed building, it will be another uninspired and boring structure-- another blight on another neighborhood. What is it with these nondescript buildings? Are there no creative architects out there? Visit other cities (see, especially, Toronto) for creativity. Even affordable housing can be beautiful and could even raise the spirits of those who live in them. Recent DC construction can only be summed up in one word: BORING.