Possible Condo Conversion: Charter School Property For Sale

• August 30th 2011

by UrbanTurf Staff

The building that housed the Capital City Public Charter School in Columbia Heights has hit the market. While it always interests UrbanTurf to learn the fate of architecturally interesting old buildings, 3047 15th Street NW (map) is particularly intriguing because it is zoned as R-5-B. Such zoning means the building could be used for residential purposes and that a developer could convert the building into a condo project.

There is precedent for such a project; school buildings in the District have been converted to multifamily residences with great effect. Examples include Bryan School Lofts and Pierce School in Capitol Hill and Parker Flats in LeDroit Park. Indeed, because the city is so light on old industrial buildings that are converted to residential lofts in other major cities like New York and Chicago, schools are one of the few conversion opportunities in DC to develop loft-like units (old body shops and churches have also been used).

Situated at the intersection of 15th and Irving Streets one block from the Columbia Heights Metro station, 3047 15th Street’s location is highly desirable, particularly for the condo-buying set. The building underwent a renovation and expansion in 2004, and it has a roof deck with 360-degree views.

It is listed at $8,950,000, and evidently the seller is motivated. “Time is of the essence,” reads the sale brochure. “Call for offers by Friday, September 2, 2011.”

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/possible_condo_conversion_charter_school_property_for_sale/4071.