Plans in Nascent Stages For 60-100 Unit Residential Project Near Uline Arena

• March 8, 2018

by Nena Perry-Brown

Just across the street from the future site of the multi-million square-foot development Burnham Place, another planned-unit development (PUD) is in its formative stages.

The owners of a cluster of rowhouses on the block of 2nd Street between K and Parker Streets NE (map) have commissioned SGA Companies to conceive a PUD that could deliver 60-100 apartments to the site. SGA principal Sassan Gharai gave an informational presentation on the preliminary proposal at the ANC 6C Planning, Zoning and Economic Development Committee meeting last night.

The existing rowhouse façades within the roughly 9,000 square-foot parcel would be integrated into an 88 foot-tall building with apartments above a 2,200 square foot cultural institution. A paved public plaza would sit at the corner of 2nd and K, flanked on either side by the retaining walls already on the site as well as landscaping and bollards. 

To avoid excavating under the rowhouses, there would be no underground parking; 8 covered parking spaces will be at-grade, accessible via the existing alley. In reference to the wide range in number of units, Gharai stated that nowadays, units can be as small as 300 square feet.

SGA has begun conferring with the Office of Planning, although the plans are still in nascent stages and there is no fleshed-out design yet. While the notion of having a cultural center on-site is also not yet fully formed, the logic is that a small art gallery or museum would be a more successful use of the space than small retail.

While the presentation didn't necessitate a vote, ANC 6C committee members offered feedback on the plan. Committee chairman Mark Eckenweiler recommended installing a lay-by on 2nd Street rather than creating a public plaza that, if flush with the curb, may encourage people to park. He also suggested that the bike parking be at a ratio of at least one space per unit, a thought Gharai agreed with.

Committee member Bill Sisolak requested, as a community amenity, larger apartments that would accommodate those who want to age in place. Bobbi Krengel approached the amenity question from a different angle, however, stating that the best amenity the developers could provide would be a smaller building.

UrbanTurf will continue to monitor developments surrounding this project. 

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/up-to-100-units-proposed-near-uline/13669