Exclusive - A ‘World Class’ Park and High-End Residences: The Plans For Site of Wardman Park Hotel

• March 15, 2016
• 4 Comments

by UrbanTurf Staff

Marriott Wardman Park Hotel

Big plans are in the works for sections of the 16-acre site of the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, UrbanTurf has learned.

The JBG Companies is in the nascent stages of a plan that would bring a few hundred residential units and a public park to the hotel site in Woodley Park. The firm has already built 2700 Woodley, a 212-unit apartment building on the site, and there are 32 high-end residences in the works for Wardman Tower.

“We want to create a world-class public park that will serve as a central gathering place for the neighborhood,” JBG’s Robert Vaughan told UrbanTurf. The concept for the site would include an all-residential neighborhood in addition to the park, but the timeline for the project, as well as the residential unit mix, are still very much in flux.

“Given the current future land use designation, we are currently limited to considering only residential uses in our planning exercises,” a JBG representative told UrbanTurf. “The Office of Planning (OP) will be starting a public process to review the current Comprehensive Plan recommendations to see if any revisions would be appropriate. As part of that process, OP will be considering whether areas of Woodley Park along main arterials should allow for retail uses in some capacity.”

The development team met with the Woodley Park Community Association last week to provide a rough outline of the proposal and will continue to meet and collaborate with the community in the coming months.

The Marriott Wardman Park Hotel was built in 1918 at 2660 Woodley Road NW (map), and acquired by JBG in 2005.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/residences_and_a_world_class_public_park_the_early_plans_for_the_site_of_th/10982

4 Comments

1. Logan said at 5:36 pm on Tuesday March 15, 2016:
   I'm not sure I understand this article. The Wardman Tower conversion to residences is well under way. JBG has already built a new building on Woodley on the property. This article makes it seems like this is just in the planning stages. I'm assuming this is about the remaining portions of the hotel (the main tower and the one that faces Calvert)? Considering how much the neighbors have hated that hotel over the years, I'd be shocked they wouldn't support its demise. But just to be clear, the part of the hotel you have pictured above is already converting to luxury apartments and could not be razed because it's a protected historically designated building. I'm guessing JBG is talking about the main tower here. The opening of the Marquis hotel and National Harbor made hotels like Wardman and the Hinckley Hilton endangered species I think.

1. Editor said at 6:02 pm on Tuesday March 15, 2016:
   Logan, Yes, these would be new projects separate from 2700 Woodley and the 32 high-end residences in the works for Wardman Tower. We have clarified that in the article. Thanks, The Editors

1. Toby said at 7:21 pm on Tuesday March 15, 2016:
   It's too bad the developer tore down all of the beautiful mature cherry trees that used to cover this property prior to building 2700 Woodley. That land was the perfect "neighborhood park" and was used by all who lived near by.

1. Logan said at 7:36 pm on Tuesday March 15, 2016:
   A lot of what ended up happening there was dictated by the neighbors. The plans changed numerous times over the years as neighbors opposed pretty much every plan JBG came up with. I'd honestly be more upset at the removal of the landscaping and mature trees around Wardman Tower. I know the plan is to replace it all, but it was really one of the most beautiful well maintained landscapes in the city.