Perseus Realty last week received Board of Zoning Adjustment approval for its plan for the redevelopment of the former Greyhound Bus terminal in NoMA, which will be transformed into a 700,000-square foot mixed use complex.
Now Perseus and partner First Potomac Realty Trust are "going full force on the design," says Perseus president Robert Cohen.
1005 First St NE will provide 350,000 square feet of office space, 300 apartments, and 65,000 square feet of retail spread over two floors. "What was missing in NoMA was two things," Cohen says. "Open space and retail. I think this project will create both."
The space served as the bus terminal for Greyhound for 25 years until it closed in September 2012 and Greyhound moved its operations to nearby Union Station.
The project is being designed to be two buildings separated by an elevated park open to the public. The park hasn't been fully conceptualized yet, Cohen says, but could include a water feature or other centerpiece.
As for the retail, Perseus is hoping to attract a small specialty foods store, a restaurant, and "things people need that live in neighborhoods" like a shoe store, coffee shop, butcher shop, and so forth.
"I think the idea behind our building was we're trying to make it the centerfold of NoMA," Cohen says.
Groundbreaking will occur in approximately a year and the building is scheduled for delivery in late 2015.
Rachel is the managing editor of Elevation D.C. She also covers tech, business and science for publications nationwide. She lives in Brookland.