Boston Properties broke ground last week on the Square 54 project next to the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station with plans to complete the $250 million mixed-use town center by 2011.
The developer plans to build a grocery store, retail, apartments and office space on the 2.6-acre site alongside Washington Circle.
The project is being built in partnership with George Washington University, which owns the land. It follows the university’s development philosophy of “grow up, not out,” to maximize the value of its real estate.
The former George Washington University Hospital site offers the last major open space ripe for development along Pennsylvania Avenue within walking distance of the White House.
The project is planned to include 333 residential units, 84,000 square feet of retail and 440,000 square feet of offices at 2200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.
Getting the project to groundbreaking was not an easy task for the university or Boston Properties. They ran into opposition from residents who said a major project on the site would damage the character of their neighborhood.
Much of the opposition was overcome through a combination of the architectural plan and political support from the administration of Mayor Adrian M. Fenty.
The architectural design was done by Pelli, Clarke, Pelli Architects and Sasaki and Associates.
A main feature of the plan is an open central courtyard designed as a neighborhood gathering place. A nearby pedestrian plaza along I Street would offer retail, including a full-service grocery store.
“It’s a benefit to the community for the people who work and live in the area to have an open space to gather and meet,” said Adela de la Torre, a university spokeswoman.
Thirteen percent of the 333 apartment units would be set aside as affordable housing.
Parking problems would be averted by building more than 1,000 underground parking spaces for apartment residents and visitors.
The project uses an environmental design with 26,000 square feet of green roof space.
The developers won political support when D.C. Council members learned of the revenue Square 54 would generate. D.C. tax revenue alone would be about $11.5 million a year.
George Washington University officials hope to gain income from rents that could add to its more than $1 billion endowment.
In other news …
• Catholic University yesterday announced it completed an agreement with Abdo Development to build a mixed-use project on the university’s nearly 9-acre South Campus next to the Brookland/CUA Metro station.
While Abdo Development awaits the year-long process of getting the necessary approvals from the D.C. Zoning Commission, the developer and university say they will consult with the city and Brookland neighborhood residents to design a plan to address everyone’s concerns.
The original plan calls for housing units, studio space for an arts district and retail.
Three dormitories currently sit on the South Campus. The university plans to tear them down and move them onto the main campus.
• Property Lines runs on Thursdays. Call Tom Ramstack at 202/636-3180 or e-mail tramstack@washington times.com.
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