From Condos to Gondola Stop to Graduate Housing: The Latest Plans For the Key Bridge Exxon

• September 21st 2022

by UrbanTurf Staff

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There have been a number of development plans for the Exxon gas station site on the western edge of Georgetown over the last decade, and now a new one can be added to that list. 

Altus Realty has submitted plans to DC's Historic Preservation Office (HPO) for construction of a new building that would house 50-60 graduate students at 3601 M Street NW (map). The design of the project, from PGN Architects, is in line with previous concepts for the site. 

The road for the plans at this M Street site has been a long and winding one. 

Way back in 2011, Eastbanc submitted plans for a 35-37 unit, five-story development at the site when the Exxon station was still in operation. Those plans went through several different design iterations and size changes over the next few years.

While the new development was being worked through, UrbanTurf learned in 2016 that the Exxon site was determined to be a frontrunner for the DC stop of the proposed DC-Rosslyn aerial gondola concept. In 2017, Altus Realty Group took over as the developer for the residential project from Eastbanc and pitched a 21-unit development which has been in similar limbo over the last years.

And just last year, DC Councilmember Brooke Pinto included in her budget priorities a request for a total of $14 million to take the proposed gondola a step closer to being a reality. Of the $14 million ask, $2 million would go toward completing an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) for the project, and the other $12 million would go toward purchasing the Exxon site. 

As this latest plan for graduate housing likely won't be the final news for the former gas station site, UrbanTurf will continue to keep you informed.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/from-condos-to-gondola-stop-to-graduate-housing-the-latest-plans-for-the-ke/20112.