Capitol Hill Schoolhouse-to-Residential Conversion Gets Approval

• July 21st 2015

by Tianna Mañón

The Board of Zoning Adjustment gave the final nod to a proposal to redevelop an old Capitol Hill school into a condo and townhouse project on Tuesday morning.

Insight Property Group and Federal Capital Partners have plans to redevelop the Buchanan School at at 1325 D Street SE (map) into a project with approximately 70 condos and rowhouses. The development team sought variances from lot occupancy and width requirements, and the limitation on the number of principal buildings allowed on the site so that the team could construct 34 of the rowhouses. The remaining residences can be constructed by right.

“I think this is generally a good project,” said Commissioner Robert Miller, who focused on the project’s landscaping and public walkways in Tuesday’s discussion. He seconded Chairperson Lloyd J. Jordan’s motion to approve the project’s variances.

Most of the planned residences will have three or four bedrooms, and developers said in their statement that they’re hoping to assist with the increased demand for family-friendly and larger units in the city. They also said they intend to design the homes with a focus on the existing facades to ensure the new residences blend in with the neighborhood. Maurice Walters Architects, SK&I Architects and Quinn Evans Architects are the architects for the project.

The site will feature parking as well. A drive leads into the “complex” and branches off into alleys that then leads to homes with tuck-under parking. There will also be a walkway dubbed Buchanan Walk that will snake through the complex and connect to nearby streets.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/board_approves_variances_for_school-to-condos_development/10145.