New Renderings Revealed for Proposed Anacostia Riverfront Mixed-Use Development

July 2, 2020

by Nena Perry-Brown

Newer rendering of the proposed development, looking southwest from M and Water Streets. Click to enlarge.

A mixed-use residential development along nearly three acres on the banks of the Anacostia River has a slightly different look and a different unit distribution than what was proposed three months ago.

Felice Development Group, along with partners Fields Development Group and Grade Development Company, has amended the filings for a planned unit development (PUD) application for 1333 M Street SE (map) to permit a 900-unit project with 44,090 square feet of retail, less than the previously-proposed 45,419 square feet of retail. The project will also include a pedestrian promenade and amphitheater-style terracing and a traffic circle at Water and M Streets. GTM Architects is the building architect and Parker Rodriguez is the landscape architect.

Newer rendering of the proposed development from the retail plaza, looking northwest from Water Street. Click to enlarge.

Previous rendering of the proposed development from the retail plaza. Click to enlarge.

The first phase will include the East Tower of the 130 foot-tall Building 1, delivering 496 units above 32,217 square feet of retail rather than the previously proposed 529 units and 34,711 square feet of retail. The second phase will include the West Tower of Building 1, connected by a bridge to the East Tower to deliver another 307 units above 9,907 square feet of retail rather than the previously-proposed 294 units and 9,504 square feet of retail.

East Tower main lobby entrance, from M Street. Click to enlarge.

Building 2 will also be constructed in the second phase, delivering 97 units above 1,904 square feet of retail rather than 77 units above 1,200 square feet of retail. The development team has committed to 11% (up from the previously-proposed 10%) of the residential space being set aside as inclusionary zoning (IZ) units affordable to households earning up to 60% of median family income (MFI).

View along Virginia Avenue promenade. Click to enlarge.

Rather than explicit mention of a food hall, the new application describes the retail in more nebulous terms.

"The Applicant envisions the retail space for the PUD as one with an emphasis on brand and centered on the consumers' experience. The retail uses contemplated for the PUD include one or more of the following categories: food and beverage, entertainment, convenience, local and small, wellness, affordable luxury and education."

View from Anacostia Waterfront Park. Click to enlarge.

Per comments from Office of Planning (OP) staff and the Zoning Commission, the building façade no longer has arch-topped windows and more balconies have been added to the East Tower. The application also requests flexibility to convert 25,000 square feet of retail slated for the East Tower into residential use.

View of lower retail plaza and Great Lawn. Click to enlarge.

The development team presented plans to ANC 6B last week. A zoning hearing for this PUD is scheduled for September. The site is currently zoned for PDR (production, distribution and repair) and could thus have even steeper IZ requirements if a rule change proposed by OP succeeds.

Additional renderings are below.