WC Smith Pitches Large Residential Development at I-695 and South Capitol Street

• July 13th 2021

by Nena Perry-Brown

DC's South Capitol Street pipeline is expanding.

Developer WC Smith presented plans on Monday night for a 13-story, all-residential project at 850 South Capitol Street SE (map). As presented to ANC 6D, there is not yet a unit count for the development, although it will be all market-rate in light of its D-5 zoning.

STUDIOS Architecture shared preliminary images of the building's design, which is expected to be in two shades of brick and will have columns of balconies and two interior courtyards on the fourth floor. The penthouse level will be occupied by amenities and a pool deck.

There will be three levels of above-grade parking, framed along South Capitol by a double-height lobby and amenity spaces on the ground and second floors and by residential units on the third. The unit mix will likely be one- to three-bedrooms.

This would be at least the fourth D-zoned residential development proposed in DC this year, and the second in ANC 6D over the past year, amid debate about whether Inclusionary Zoning should be applicable in these zones.

Several ANC members said the lack of affordable units was an issue that may result in them voting not to support the project. Other questions were raised about the share of family-sized units, pedestrian and construction access to the site, and whether there could be other public benefits, such as neighborhood-serving retail or a public dog park.

The development team is expected to return to the ANC in September and file a design review application in the interim.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/wc-smith-pitches-residential-development-proposed-at-695-and-south-capitol-/18485.