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Penthouse Conversions in the DC Region?

  • December 10th 2021

by Nena Perry-Brown

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Rendering of Harvard Hall, with proposed penthouse expansion. Click to enlarge.

A bit of a penthouse conversion trend is occurring at buildings around the DC region. 

This week, the owner of Harvard Hall, the 156-unit apartment building at 1650 Harvard Street NW (map) in DC's Lanier Heights neighborhood applied for a special exception in order to expand the existing penthouse and make it habitable. This change would add 26 new apartments. 

The application explains that the addition is being pursued as part of an agreement with the tenants' association to provide renovated units for them to relocate. Akelius is the developer and Soto is the architect; a zoning hearing is scheduled for March.

Meanwhile, in Pentagon City, Dweck Properties applied this week for a site plan amendment to convert the amenity penthouse at 801 15th Street S (map) into habitable space. If approved, the 16-story, 299-unit Park at Pentagon Row would get an additional seven units. 

Relatedly, the DC Zoning Commission approved clarifying amendments to the city's penthouse regulations last month at the request of the Office of Planning, pertaining to things like setbacks, stairwell heights, and solar panels.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/penthouse-to-apartment-conversions-two-dc-area-apartment-buildings-may-add-/19043.

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