60-Unit Georgetown West Heating Plant Proposal Looks For Key Approval in November

• August 22, 2017

by Nena Perry-Brown

The latest design for the West Heating Plant development.

In early March, the latest design for the redevelopment of the West Heating Plant in Georgetown was presented to the public after at least three more-ambitious iterations were shot down. In May, the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) granted a key approval for the project.

Now, the design is set to go to the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) in November for yet another needed approval.

The Four Seasons, in partnership with Georgetown Companies and the Levy Group, are looking to transform the heating plant at 1051-1055 29th Street NW (map) into a 60-unit luxury developement. The project will also create an elevated, triangular one-acre public park atop the adjacent coal yard and oil storage area, accessible by elevator, stairs and paths, and connected to the C & O Canal via a pedestrian bridge.

Architect Sir David Adjaye is proposing a design that hews more closely to the appearance of the long-dormant building, considered to be a contributing structure in a historic district. The project has been the subject of a good deal of debate, with the community divided as to whether the existing building should be preserved as much as possible for its uniqueness or historic significance to the neighborhood, or whether a totally new design is preferable. Prior to CFA’s stamp of approval, the Old Georgetown Board recommended that CFA reject the design.

According to an early timeline, the historic preservation review process could take as long as a year, at which point the development team will seek a planned-unit development through the zoning agencies. Construction is anticipated to take roughly two years.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/60_unit_georgetown_heating_plant_proposal_looks_for_key_approval_in_nov/12941