The District of Columbia’s Historic Preservation Review Board last month recommended changes to the design of Columbia Place, a proposed 12-story hotel and apartment building at 901 L Street NW, in the Shaw Historic District. The HPRB has held two conceptual design reviews, most recently in June, on the project. A third, and final, design review is likely to be held September.
The project entails demolishing two adjacent buildings and altering seven nearby buildings. Among the HPRB’s design recommendations were addressing the compatibility and scale of the project to Shaw, creating separate and distinct designs for the hotel and residences, and enhancing the residential character of the apartment building.
The $230 million project includes two hotels, a 310-room Courtyard by Marriott and a 190-room Residence Inn, with both lobbies on L street NW. The 230-unit apartment building would be located on the western portion of the site.
Besides HPRB approval, the project needs approval from the zoning commission, because of the PUD designation, and from the Mayor’s agent, because of the demolition of two buildings, 911 and 913 L streets NW, which both date from the 19th century. One, 911 L St NW, is one of the oldest buildings left in Shaw.
A DC zoning commission hearing on the project is scheduled for the end of July. The historic preservation office
has recommended that the Mayor's agent
not approve the razing of the two hundred-year-old buildings.
Steve Callcott of HPRB said applications to the zoning commission and Mayor’s Agent can take place simultaneously. Given their meeting schedules, though, it is unlikely that either will make a decision before the fourth quarter of 2014. Upon approval, the developer can proceed to the permit process.
The project reflects the continuing evolution of the 9
th Street corridor from residential, with retail primarily serving the neighborhood residents, to commercial.
The developer is Square 369 Hotel Associates LLC, a partnership between Capstone Development and Quadrangle Development. The architect is Bob Neal, of Cooper Carry.