The Plans to Expand the Anacostia Arts Center

• January 31st 2022

by Nena Perry-Brown

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A month after a nonprofit purchased the historic Anacostia Arts Center building, we are getting a look at their plans to occupy the space.

STUDIOS Architecture has submitted a historic concept application on behalf of  Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF) for a renovation and expansion of the building at 1231 Good Hope Road SE (map). WACIF would add two stories of office space to the building, creating a 46 foot-tall property including a habitable penthouse.

Setbacks on the upper levels will create front and rear terraces and indoor/outdoor penthouse amenity space. Parts of the side walls on the addition may be offered as mural space. The Hive 2.0 coworking and retail space that currently occupies the building is expected to remain.

While the site is zoned MU-7 (medium-density mixed-use; 65-foot height limit), historic district guidelines recommend a building no more than one story taller than others on the street. The development would not add any parking or loading space; the project team also worked with the Historic Anacostia Preservation Society and the DC Preservation League on the design concept.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/the-plans-to-expand-the-anacostia-art-center/19209.