Massive Project in the Works for Central Armature Site in NoMa

• February 5th 2015

by Lark Turner

Developer Trammell Crow is reportedly planning a massive redevelopment of the Central Armature Works building in NoMa, according to a developer who mentioned the project on Wednesday night. Other sources confirmed the plans to UrbanTurf, which are still in the early stages of development.

Central Armature Works is an electrical apparatus repair, supply and construction company that’s been located in DC since 1915 and owned by the same family for three generations. The building sits next to the train tracks and across the street from the Wilkes Company’s planned 400-unit project at 300 M Street NE (map). Berkeley Shervin, a partner at Wilkes, mentioned Trammell Crow’s development after an ANC 6C committee member asked him what was planned for the Armature site.

“They have plans for three elements: Condos to the south, more residential in the middle and a hotel at the northern end,” Shervin said. A source familiar with the developing project said those uses, along with retail, are being considered for the site.

Central Armature Works and the 2.5-acre lot at 1200 3rd Street NE (map) are owned by the Dorr family, according to a project on the site undertaken by George Mason University students last year.

The students who participated in the project presented their findings directly to the Dorrs, who had decided to partner with a developer and retain their ownership stake in the site in order to maximize profits from the eventual development. The site was assessed at $30.7 million in 2014, according to DC property records.

The students ultimately recommended that a mixed-use, multi-family building be constructed on site. It looks like the Dorrs and Trammell Crow plan to take at least some of the students’ advice.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/massive_project_in_the_works_for_central_armature_site_noma/9495.