Salvaging the Engine Company 12 Project

Neighbors will gather in the coming weeks to launch a steering committee for evaluating the terms of the City Council’s deal with those running the Engine Company 12 project — which appears to be once again in trouble.

Since both the building’s construction executive and project proprietor have gotten in bad with the city in the Shaw’s Tavern liquor license debacle and an alleged similar incident at the firehouse itself, onlookers are calling this latest try at converting the space into a restaurant another failure.

The Advisory Neighborhood Commission for 5C03 posponed a meeting set for St. Patrick’s Day to collect demand-data from the community and produce a set of advisory recommendations on the optimal use of the firehouse property, which is located at the intersection of North Capitol Street and Quincy Place. A new meeting date will be chosen once the commission has gotten ahold of the city’s main document for the project.

The relationship between the project’s heads and local neighborhood groups has been rocky from the get-go. Last spring, General Manager Steven May released an “open letter” stating that, “Due to the lack of open support from community leaders and local civic associations, it has become necessary to delay the opening of Engine Company 12 from July 1, 2011 to Sept 1, 2011.”

As we know, the project blew past the delayed completion date and the interior is still largely in shambles. Here’s a photo just taken of the first floor:

Heading Into Spring, NoMa West Construction in Full Swing

Almost exactly one year ago, construction began on the NoMa West luxury apartment complex on Eckington Place. Twelve months in, the project is in full stride, with a predicted completion date of December 2013.

The development company in charge of the 603-unit project — Mill Creek Residential Trust — says construction got slightly off schedule due to inclement weather. But work is back on track.

“Like most projects in the D.C. area, we have unfortunately been impacted by the significant rain this fall,” said managing director Sam Simone. “With that said, we are close to maintaining our original schedule.”

Those following the project have known for a while that the complex will boast an expansive 15,000 square feet of common area amenities, including two fitness centers, two business centers, an Internet lounge, a movie theater and a gaming room. Simone confirmed that the complex’s two pools will be outdoor at ground level and the builders have said the pools will be surrounded by “lush open spaces and fountains.”

The three-building complex, which is located just a few blocks from the NoMa-Gallaudet U metro stop, will be made up of a mix of studios, one bedrooms, one bedrooms with dens and two bedrooms with dens, with an average apartment size of 770 square feet.

The project is still on track to include 570 parking spaces and 1,200 square feet of retail space. Simone said the company is hopeful to attract a neighborhood convenience or service business to fill the retail space.

The complex’s three buildings, which take up a full city block at the intersection of Eckington Place and Harry Thomas Way, are just one of the major construction projects taking shape in the booming NoMa and Eckington neighborhoods. The area is transforming so quickly, passersby have been shocked to see structures sprout up on the once-empty lot where the NoMa West apartment buildings are coming to life.

“The NoMa/Eckington area is one of the most exciting in the district and Mill Creek Residential is excited about being a part of this wonderful community,” Simone said.

Mill Creek Residential Trust is made up of former Trammell Crow Residential partners and employees. The company’s most notable project is the residential component in Reston Town Center known as Market Street at Town Center.

Here’s what the NoMa West project will look like when it’s finished:

The ‘Hood Gets a Satirical Shoutout

SocialStudies.com posted a video this morning on “Sh*t People in DC Say,” poking fun at all the trite remarks often uttered in the nation’s capital. Among the popular phrases, our little neighborhood got some big mention:

“Eckington is basically like the new Bloomingdale. Shaw is like the next Columbia Heights. Navy Yard is like the new Eckington.”

And

“Let’s get some grilled cheese at Big Bear.”

SocialStudies says that “whether you’re a native Washingtonian or a DC transplant, chances are you’ve heard people say all of these . . . sometimes in one night.”

Check it out!

And another: 58 Q Street NE goes under contract

After less than a month on the market, 58 Q Street NE joins the long list of Eckington beauties that have slipped away this summer

List Price: $629,999

This completely remodeled Victorian was built in 1900 and has 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. At just over 2,000-square-feet, the home includes a finished basement, which spans about half the length of the house and includes a wet bar.  

Like many of its neighboring residences in Eckington, the biggest draw during the open house was the spacious and light-filled master suite.   

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Boundary Stone Public House stays packed in opening weeks

A little over two weeks ago, a set of impressively sturdy doors opened to the smell of old wood and strong beer, and the sound of an absolutely free juke box. Since then, there has been nary an empty stool.

The pub, situated in the heart of the neighborhood’s restaurant scene, is located at 116 Rhode Island Ave NW at the southwestern corner of the intersection with First Street. An ode to DC’s roots, Boundary Stone takes its name from the stones laid to shape the city and its aesthetics from the news world’s old world – with incandescent Edison bulbs, copper ceiling tiles and tons of reclaimed wood.

For food, the bar has a consistent menu of soups, salads and sandwiches and features a different entree special each night. Saturday night’s pick was Chicken Confit. For drink, they’ve got a pretty even split between obscure and well-known beers, ranging from $3 to $6.50.

Check back for more photos and info in the coming weeks. In the meantime, visit Boundary Stone’s website and Prince of Petworth’s lovely shots of its interior.

‘Tis the season for ‘street trees’

Empty sidewalk boxes along Eckington’s western border will be filled with trees this week as the District Department of Transportation gets underway with its fall planting project. Plots between North Capitol Street and Lincoln Road will be spruced up from Q Street to T Street NE.

If you have a barren planter outside those bounds or your tree is in need of some TLC, call 311 or use DC’s online service center to request planting, pruning or removal. A tip from ANC commissioner Timothy Clark: To prevent crowding growing trees, avoid planting deep-rooted flowers in sidewalk boxes.

Hot Damn, Another Down: 30 Quincy Place NE is under contract

This gallery contains 11 photos.

After less than two weeks on the market, 30 Quincy Place NE has been snapped up List Price: $699,923 Houses have been flying off the market in Eckington this summer, and this one was no exception. This is your typical, stately Eckington Victorian, built in 1905 and brought back to life with a quality renovation. [...]

Passing the Torch

For the last four years, this blog has been run by a guy named Jay. With a new job awaiting in Florida, he and his family put their house up for sale this Spring, and he posted the following:

“I hope it finds new owners who love the house, but more importantly, the neighborhood, as much as we did. Not suggesting they have to take over this blog, but they at least will have to put my spare Eckington bumper sticker on their car.”

Two days later, we walked into the house that’s now our home, and by that evening the ink was dry on the deal. So Jay’s house is now our house. And for now, we’ve got a sticker-free bumper. But we love our house, we love the neighborhood and we love this blog.

Here’s to Jay— for four years, 105 posts and nearly 20,000 views.

DOM – 0

105 R ST NE

Our house is officially on the market:

105 R ST NE – $429,000

Open House
Sunday, May 1st, 1 – 4 pm

I hope it finds new owners who love the house, but more importantly, the neighborhood, as much as we did.

Not suggesting they have to take over this blog, but they at least will have to put my spare Eckington bumper sticker on their car.

Todd Gray’s Watershed opens – and gives a nod to Eckington

Beating Engine Company 12 (a.k.a. “EC-12″; “Firehouse”) out of the gate, Todd Gray (of the wonderful Equinox restaurant) has opened the neighborhood’s first upscale restaurant.  Watershed bills itself as “a neighborhood gathering place featuring nationally acclaimed Chef Todd Gray’s homage to the regions of the Eastern Seaboard with his signature modern and approachable culinary interpretations of coastal dining.”

Eckington Punch

My wife ate lunch outside on their patio yesterday and could not resist getting the “Eckington Punch”–a cocktail that will have daily alterations.

See the “Restaurants” page for more info, such as food offerings, hours and a note about bringing your dog…