More Units, More Retail and a More Industrial Aesthetic for Union Market Project

• January 17, 2017

by Nena Perry-Brown

Rendering of 500 Morse Street looking north from 5th Street

Last March, LCOR filed plans with the Zoning Commission to construct a 270-unit residential development with almost 20,000 square feet of commercial space at 500 and 530 Morse Street NE (map). Now, in response to comments from the public, Office of Planning and the Zoning Commission, LCOR will go back before the commission with a slightly revised plan.

Previous iteration of 500-530 Morse Street NE

Rendering of 500 Morse Street looking north from 6th Street

In its new iteration, the development will have more units, more retail, more bike spaces, and a more industrial aesthetic. There will be 280 residential units in the 120 foot-tall building and the retail square footage has been increased to 20,290. The design, courtesy of SK + I Architectural Design Group, has also been modified to create a more articulated facade and break up the massing along the street, especially along Morse Street.

Eight percent of the residential units will be set aside for inclusionary zoning, and the mix has been amended so that 40 percent of those units are for households earning up to 50 percent area median income (AMI) and the remaining units are for households earning up to 80 percent AMI.

Rendering of Morse Street looking west

The tower element of the design has also been further emphasized and delineated from the roof, anchoring the building and drawing attention to key retail. The design has a more industrial look overall, with black metal replacing the grey metal for framed panel projections, mullion-patterned windows and doors, and use of real brick rather than slate and other panel materials. There are also more canopy elements atop the retail spaces to reference the historical industrial character of the neighborhood.

The plan for curb cuts has also changed to decrease the amount along the street and to make an alley leading to the parking garage and loading area shared with the public. It appears that the development will still provide underground parking for 160 to 245 vehicles.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/more_units_more_retail_and_a_more_industrial_aesthetic_for_union_market_pro/12045