65-85 Unit Project Planned For Former Ontario Theater Site

• February 6, 2013
• 2 Comments

by Shilpi Paul

Rendering of 1700 Columbia Road NW.

The Adams Morgan residential boom continues.

UrbanTurf has received updated information on the redevelopment plans for the project at the former Ontario Theater at 1700 Columbia Road NW. Plans for the site of the theater, which stopped operations a couple decades ago, are for a six-story, 65 to 85-unit mixed-use building on the triangular corner.

Developers will be attending the ANC 1C meeting on Wednesday night to seek the committee’s approval in advance of an application to the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA). The developers will be seeking special exemptions regarding the roof design, parking limits and loading specifications.

As it is planned right now, the building will be mainly comprised of one-bedrooms — including lofts and townhouse-like units — along with a handful of studios and two-bedrooms. Several of the top-floor units will have spiral staircases leading up to a private rooftop terrace area.

There will be retail on the ground level, and one story of underground parking with 25 total spaces. Zoning would require 35 spaces, but the developers are applying for an exemption. The roof will vary in height, a design quirk that will also require a special exception from the BZA.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/more_info_on_adams_morgans_ontario_theater_residences/6614

2 Comments

1. kob said at 5:03 pm on Wednesday February 6, 2013:
   I'm glad the ruined Ontario Theater is going. It's been hurting that section of Columbia for too long. I like the idea that this complex will have retail on the first floor, but the design isn't interesting. It already looks oddly 1970-80s or especially crowded or too busy. It may be the brick or the balconies. I'm not sure, but it all looks thrown together, stuffed and not very well imagined. As designed above, this building will quickly blend in and be forgotten and perhaps people will see that as a plus. Personally, I'd rather see something a little fresher, more interesting and bold.

1. NPS said at 6:17 pm on Tuesday February 19, 2013:
   This is a wonderful addition to the Adams Morgan neighborhood. The design is a seamless fusion of Modern Industrial and the time-tested Art Deco that is so prevalent throughout this part of NW. Something must be said for the generous balconies throughout the entire building, providing residents with an authentic urban neighborhood experience which most new developments fail to do.