The Bell Tower Stays: 87 Apartments Pitched for Columbia Heights Church Conversion

• 11:15 AM EDT

by UrbanTurf Staff

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Plans have been pitched to convert a Methodist church in Columbia Heights into a multifamily residential building.

Beacon Capital is seeking approval to convert Emory United Methodist Church at 1459 Columbia Road NW (map) into an 87-unit development.

The project, designed by Torti Gallas + Partners, calls for demolishing portions of the existing building while preserving its most architecturally significant features, including the bell tower, original interior floors and ceilings, exterior windows and walls, and existing roof and dormers. A seven-story addition would be constructed to the north and east of the retained church structure, keeping the historic facade along Columbia Road largely intact.

Renderings show the preserved Gothic bell tower, with the new building rising directly behind it in a contrasting but complementary palette of warm brick and lighter paneling. The 87-unit building would include a mix of studio, one-, and two-bedroom units, along with over 2,700 square feet of amenity space on the ground floor and Inclusionary Zoning affordable units.

The development team anticipates presenting to ANC 1A this spring ahead of a public hearing before the Board of Zoning Adjustment. If it comes to fruition, the project will join a growing number of church-to-residential conversions being pitched around the city, including: 

• DC Church Near White House Looks To Build 10-Story Addition
• Renderings Show 34-Unit Condo Project Planned Next To 16th Street Church
• 12-Story Micro-Unit Development Pitched For 15th Street Church

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/the_bell_tower_stays_87_apartments_pitched_at_columbia_heights_church/24495.