Almost 1,800 Units Next to Union Market: New Designs for JBG SMITH's Plans at Gallaudet

• April 15th 2020

by Nena Perry-Brown

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New designs are emerging for JBG SMITH's massive development plans at Gallaudet University nearly four years after the project received zoning approval, and a year following dismissal of an appeal.

The development team shared designs for two of the project's four parcels with the community last night via a Zoom call, and is expected to file a second-stage planned unit development (PUD) application soon. 

The completed PUD will span six acres of university-owned land straddling 6th Street between Morse Street and Neal Place NE (map), delivering 129,000 square feet of retail, 449,000-483,000 square feet of office and administrative space, and up to 1,769 residential units, 10% of which will be affordable. 

The two parcels (2 and 3) included in the upcoming application will deliver mixed-use buildings on either side of 6th Street that provide a gateway to Union Market. Parcel 2, on the Gallaudet side of the street, will include three 5-7-story residential buildings designed by Olson Kundig, two of which are connected by a bridge.

The connected buildings will have retail along 6th Street and school amenities fronting the campus street Creativity Way. The third building sits to the north and has a Union Market-inspired design. 

The Union Market surface parking lot is Parcel 3, which will host an 11-story, Morris Adjmi-designed building bisected by the newly-created Tapscott Street, which will connect to Union Market. This parcel will also replace the lost public parking below-grade, courtesy of the city's controversial use of tax-increment financing.

The PUD will incorporate DeafSpace design principles, including new streetscape such as a covered "arcade" retail spillover space where the Parcel 3 building faces 6th Street. Parallel to Morse Street, a "Green Finger" throughway will create a series of seating and gathering areas between Creativity Way to 6th Street. There will also be a Campus Walk that connects the project to Union Market, and DDOT is planning a protected cycletrack along 6th Street. Future Green Studio is the landscape architect.

Additional renderings are below.

Similar Posts: 

• The Dramatic New Plans at Union Market
• A Few Changes For Union Market's Sister Building

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/new-designs-for-jbg-smiths-plans-at-gallaudet/16720.