Developer Proposes 40 Units and Retail For Sought-After Florida Avenue Site

• September 9, 2014
• 5 Comments

by Lark Turner

Rendering of proposed project.

In July, DC’s Department of Housing and Community Development put a whopping 27 city-owned properties and lots out for bid. The gem of them all, at least for developers, may well be a seven-lot site at Florida Avenue and Q Streets NW on the edge of Bloomingdale and Truxton Circle, as Housing Complex reported at the time.

One of the first developers to publicly angle for the site — proposals aren’t due for another month — is Maedwell. Maedwell principal, Syga Thomas, told UrbanTurf that his plans for the site include 40 apartments or condos and 7,000 square feet of retail. Thomas met with neighbors in the community on Monday night to present the firm’s plans. Maedwell is teaming up with E&G Group and Bonstra Haresign Architects on the proposal.

The site at 4-14 Q Street and 14-16 Florida Avenue (map) is just off North Capitol Street NW, where Maedwell has had its headquarters for seven years.

“For us, the fact that we’ve been in the community for so long and this is really right on our doorstep, this was something we really couldn’t turn down,” Thomas said. “It’s a great opportunity to put our name on something in our backyard.”

Keep in mind that Maedwell is likely one of many developers bidding on the coveted site, so stay tuned when decisions are made next month.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/developer_maedwell_plans_mixed-use_rfp_bid_at_sought-after_florida_and_q_st/8946

5 Comments

1. JohnDC said at 5:18 pm on Tuesday September 9, 2014:
   This would go a long way to helping out that intersection which has consistent problems. That said, this development site has been dangled in front of neighbors for years & I'm personally losing faith it'll happen anytime soon. It's the new Washington Firehouse

1. Andrea Rosen said at 8:30 pm on Tuesday September 9, 2014:
   Since these are city-owned properties, and they've been put out for bid by DC's Housing and Community Development, are the developers obliged to include any affordable or "affordable" units?

1. Lark Turner said at 9:02 pm on Tuesday September 9, 2014:
   Hi Andrea, Thanks for your question. For this project, DHCD will require that at least 51 percent of the units are sold or rented to people with annual household incomes that do not exceed 80 percent of AMI, according to the RFP. That will hold for 15 years for condo projects or 40 for a rental project. DHCD also said it would give preference to developers offering more than 51 percent affordable units or developers who will rent or sell units to people earning at or below 60 percent AMI.

1. Truxton said at 9:20 pm on Tuesday September 9, 2014:
   I hope the city is serious about this and makes it happen ASAP - we don't need more affordable housing in this block - it is already too densely concentrated in this area. I'd be fine with an all luxury upscale complex to lure some of the development east and close in the hole between NoMa and Shaw

1. JohnDC said at 9:51 pm on Tuesday September 9, 2014:
   I'm confused. I thought this was owned by Joe Mamo who also owns most of the gas stations in DC. How did the city take possession?