Douglas Development Pitches 356-Unit Project at Takoma/Takoma Park Border

• February 4th 2022

by Nena Perry-Brown

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A huge residential development is in the works for DC's Takoma neighborhood.

Douglas Development shared plans Thursday night to replace the buildings at 6830 and 6896 Laurel Street NW (map) with a 356-unit by-right project. The vacant Laurel Street buildings previously housed Strayer University and a continuing education facility; three years ago, there was a proposal to use the latter building as a detention center for unaccompanied migrant children.

The building will be 45 feet tall along Eastern Avenue NW and will gain another 18 feet in height towards Aspen Street due to the grade change. Although the site ends at Aspen Street, the building will terminate where the MU-4 zoning (moderate-density mixed-use) ends, enabling the developer to enlarge the open space at that corner. 

The unit mix will be mostly larger one-bedrooms, along with studios and two-bedrooms; there will also be roughly 28 Inclusionary Zoning units affordable to households earning up to 60% and 80% of area median income. There will be 67 parking spaces hidden along the rear alley parallel to Laurel. 

Eric Colbert & Associates is the architect of the sawtooth-style building, and materials are expected to include two colors of brick and two colors of wood-style concrete panels, along with steel balconies. Amenities will include a fitness center and communal lobby areas.

The developer is currently applying for raze permits and hopes to begin excavation this spring; delivery is expected in early 2024.

Note: All renderings are a month old as design is in-process.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/douglas-development-pitches-356-units-at-takomatakoma-park-border/19234.