Gray Picks Sorg and Roadside for U Street School Redevelopment

• January 5, 2015

by Lark Turner

Grimke School

In one of his last acts as mayor, Vincent Gray picked Sorg Architects and Roadside Development to lead the redevelopment of U Street’s Grimke School, according to a news release that’s since been removed from the mayoral website.

Given the deletion of the press release, it’s unclear whether Gray’s selection, announced December 31, is final. But in the release Gray was effusive about Sorg/Roadside’s proposal.

“I am delighted that we have selected a team that will preserve the Grimke School as a historic anchor in the U Street/Shaw area while also creating a world-class home for the African-American Civil War Museum and a new arts-and-cultural center for the District,” he said. “This team’s vision for Grimke will further boost U Street’s vibrant cultural amenities.”

In early December, the city narrowed down the bids for the former school property at 1925 Vermont Avenue NW (map) to two teams: Sorg’s proposal and another floated by architect Torti Gallas with Community Three Development. Torti Gallas has been angling for the property for years in hopes of moving its headquarters from Silver Spring to the District. But Sorg was fighting for the property, too; the building neighbors its own headquarters.

The Roadside/Sorg proposal will incorporate a space for the African American Civil War Museum — a condition required of all of the potential developers of the site — along with office space. A gym on the property will be demolished and turned into townhomes facing 9 1/2 Street.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/sorg_and_roadside_selected_for_grimke_school_redevelopment/9361