DC Micro-Unit Project Proposes Going Carless

• May 23rd 2013

by Shilpi Paul

One of the most interesting things about a new apartment project in Logan Circle may be its stance on cars.

Developer Brook Rose is proposing to build a rental complex with 29 micro-unit studios and six one-bedroom apartments on the 1400 block of Church Street. The design for the eight-story development at 1456-1460 Church Street NW (map) would incorporate the three existing row houses at those addresses, and a modern, glassy addition housing the studios will go up on the back.

Architect Peter Fillat and members of the development team recently presented to the ANC 2F Community Development Committee (CDC) in advance of a hearing with the Board of Zoning Adjustment.

Fillat described the building as “light and airy” and is meeting with an IKEA design consultant to figure out how to make the micro-units as appealing as possible. “We’re not trying to trap people in mouse holes,” assured Fillat.

In addition to explaining the concept, the team was seeking approval for several zoning variances, the most interesting of which deals with parking. Brook Rose is requesting that the project be allowed to have no parking spaces, but that doesn’t mean that its addition to the neighborhood will add to the over-burdened parking situation on Church Street. Tenants will be prohibited from acquiring a residential parking permit (RPP), and the developers are hoping to appeal to renters who don’t own a car. The RPP prohibition will be written into the lease, and the developers will check with the DMV periodically to make sure none of their tenants have a permit.

ANC 2F’s CDC voted to support the project. If all approvals are acquired, delivery is estimated for March 2014.

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This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/micro-units_coming_to_church_street_nw/7106.