Georgetown Hillside Residences May Hinge on Deal with Hillside Residents

• June 23rd 2017

by Nena Perry-Brown

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Last month, Altus Realty Partners presented the Old Georgetown Board (OGB) with Handel Architects’ new design for the condo development that would replace the Exxon Mobil station at 3601-3607 M Street NW (map). However, one of the concerns the Board noted is less related to the concept and design — it is the ongoing disapproval of the residents on Prospect Street whose backyards overlook the site and fear that the new development could trigger a landslide.

As the development team works to get concept approval, the future of the Hillside Residences may hinge on whether the neighbors on the other side of the hill are willing to cut a deal.

As planned, the five-story condo development would include two levels of below-grade parking and a retaining wall along the rear yard — elements that Altus principal Al Troup tells UrbanTurf would actually add stability to the abutting hill. However, he also concedes that the hill is essentially silt and ideally should be shored up further.

Towards that end, geotechnical specialist Schnabel Engineering has created an alternate plan for construction that offers to rebuild and reinforce the hillside in exchange for tiebacks, which are an additional installment of anchors that would be inserted into the soil. Troup told UrbanTurf that their team would actually prefer this approach, although he believes the construction plan already in place could be executed without disrupting the hill.

The plan was proffered to Prospect Street residents last week and the developers are hoping to hear back from the neighbors by next week. OGB is expected to reconsider the concept early next month; minor additional design changes include a more refined penthouse design and amended dimensions for the balconies.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/georgetown_hillside_residences_may_hinge_on_deal_with_hillside_residents/12725.