Page Through from Before to After
The long-vacant apartment building on the northwest corner of Third and L that was resurrected earlier this year as " Casa degli Angeli," a nautical-themed short-term rental operation, lost its bid last week to become a bed and breakfast, when the Board of Zoning Adjustment was forced to deny the operator's request for a variance. As spelled out in the Office of Planning's report on the case, the Casa would not be meeting the standards for an "accessory use" because the building's owner would not be living there, plus the plan to rent out seven bedrooms (making it more of an inn than a B&B), would run counter to the intent of the zoning regulations that allow only limited non-residential uses in residential zones. The four BZA board members were apologetic, clearly feeling that the idea to run the building as a B&B was at heart a good one, but that the city's regulations clearly precluded them from approving the request. (Here's the video of the hearing; I used the nifty "TinyClip" option to link to just this portion of what was otherwise a very long hearing.) Casa's propietor, "Captain Apollo," tells me that he intends to continue to run the building as a short-term 30-day rental building, and will still be attempting to turn it into a B&B at some point down the road.
JDLand.com Home
brt says: (11/20/09 12:17 AM)
a huge area of working industrial dc is destroyed for wealthy residents and baseball lovers and yet they can't let a B&B open?
i agree with SG.
JoeinDC says: (11/20/09 8:34 AM)
I do not disagree with the BZA. Clearly, the board was constrained by zoning regulations. These regulations are in place for a reason lest 5 liquor stores pop up within a 2 block area. How about one of those nifty shops selling their kung-fu videos out front and the other 90% of the store dedicated to "adult films" located just on the corner across the street from an elementary school or your house. You know the one? The one where vagrants hang out all day and night selling drugs, etc. A very charming neighborhood addition.
Certainly, zoning regulations do not always please everyone. However, it is necessary to keep in mind that the intent is more often for the improvement of an area. I for one will live 3 blocks from the "Casa." No offense to the owner, but that place looks a bit sketchy to say the least. I was alittle surprised that it was in anyway a short term rental building. Just a little sprucing up so that the place actually looks like an inviting place to stay as opposed to a gulag would go a long way. There is a certain "ick" factor to the building but it could be spiffed up. That said, if he can renovate the place and make it more visually appealing, then I wish him luck. I would support a zoning variance for the Casa, but only if the owner made the place look nice. I wish him luck.
G St says: (11/20/09 10:27 AM)
Concur with JoeinDC.
If you want to call it a B&B, you need to be a Bob Newhart and live there. Yes, and that block is, well, still stuck in a time-warp looks-wise from the bad old days, pre-JD Land. (With exception of Cornacopia)
Ed says: (11/20/09 11:06 AM)
Lets call it what it really is currently, a flophouse. Why don't they just renovate and sell as condos. in that location, that would have to be a profit maker, wouldn't it?
Michael says: (11/20/09 6:37 PM)
That entire block is full of wonderful old rowhomes. The "hotel" is the only hideous part of the street. It is heinous looking!
IMGoph says: (11/22/09 6:37 PM)
i hate to anger the commenters here, but this isn't an ugly building. you might not like the look, it might not be decorative enough for your tastes, but it's not falling down. it's not sporting an overgrown yard. there are hundreds of properties in this city that are much much much more offensive to the eye, and the well-being of the neighborhood.
i hope that the zoning rewrite will allow more mixed use as a matter-of-right. that's what good cities actually allow.
Capt Apollo says: (11/22/09 9:34 PM)
I thank you for a fair comment and invite anyone who wishes to visit us, to come and see the interior as it is presently. The plan is to make it an affiliate to the Navy Yard & Museum. We presently have Captain's Quarters and 4 Officer's Cabins. The Crew's Quarters would be in the lower level, when we gain a variance. Your comments on the exterior need elaborating. I know it is better than it was prior to my arrival in March of this year, and I would appreciate any proposition towards making this corner as attractive as possible. I have an application in to make some changes on the 3rd street side, between the building next door, and that might take another six months for approval. It will take several more years to be where I would like to be and I welcome as much support as you can offer. So far, I have had very favorable reports from my tenants. Please contact me at www.casadegliangeli.com
CAPT Hill says: (11/23/09 8:46 AM)
Capt Apollo -
Good luck to you sir. I wish all the best for your business and our little corner of DC.
Michael says: (11/23/09 7:01 PM)
If "early medieval stockade" were in vogue, then I would say Casa Degli Angeli looks wonderful. But it's not, and the building is ugly. The landscape isn't overgrown anymore, but the building is a brick wall with a narrow door that seems to be missing its portcullis.
I'm only commenting about the look of the building and not about the idea of a bed and breakfast...
Add a Comment:
Comments are closed for this post.
JDLand Comments RSS Feed
See All Current News Items |
Full Blog Archive
|
|
|
Full Neighborhood Development Map
There's a lot more than just the projects listed here. See the complete map of completed, underway, and proposed projects all across the neighborhood.
What's New This Year A quick look at what's arrived or been announced since the end of the 2018 baseball season.
Food Options, Now and Coming Soon
There's now plenty of food options in the neighborhood. Click to see what's here, and what's coming.
Anacostia Riverwalk
A bridge between Teague and Yards Parks is part of the planned 20-mile Anacostia Riverwalk multi-use trail along the east and west banks of the Anacostia River.
Virginia Ave. Tunnel Expansion
Construction underway in 2015 to expand the 106-year-old tunnel to allow for a second track and double-height cars. Expected completion 2018.
Rail and Bus Times Get real time data for the Navy Yard subway, Circulator, Bikeshare, and bus lines, plus additional transit information.
Rail and Bus Times Get real time data for the Navy Yard subway, Circulator, Bikeshare, and bus lines, plus additional transit information.
Canal Park
Three-block park on the site of the old Washington Canal. Construction begun in spring 2011, opened Nov. 16, 2012.
Nationals Park
21-acre site, 41,000-seat ballpark, construction begun May 2006, Opening Day March 30, 2008.
Washington Navy Yard
Headquarters of the Naval District Washington, established in 1799.
Yards Park
5.5-acre park on the banks of the Anacostia. First phase completed September 2010.
Van Ness Elementary School
DC Public School, closed in 2006, but reopening in stages beginning in 2015.
Agora/Whole Foods
336-unit apartment building at 800 New Jersey Ave., SE. Construction begun June 2014, move-ins underway early 2018. Whole Foods expected to open in late 2018.
New Douglass Bridge
Construction underway in early 2018 on the replacement for the current South Capitol Street Bridge. Completion expected in 2021.
1221 Van
290-unit residential building with 26,000 sf retail. Underway late 2015, completed early 2018.
NAB HQ/Avidian
New headquarters for National Association of Broadcasters, along with a 163-unit condo building. Construction underway early 2017.
Yards/Parcel O Residential Projects
The Bower, a 138-unit condo building by PN Hoffman, and The Guild, a 190-unit rental building by Forest City on the southeast corner of 4th and Tingey. Underway fall 2016, delivery 2018.
New DC Water HQ
A wrap-around six-story addition to the existing O Street Pumping Station. Construction underway in 2016, with completion in 2018.
The Harlow/Square 769N Apts
Mixed-income rental building with 176 units, including 36 public housing units. Underway early 2017, delivery 2019.
West Half Residential
420-unit project with 65,000 sf retail. Construction underway spring 2017.
Novel South Capitol/2 I St.
530ish-unit apartment building in two phases, on old McDonald's site. Construction underway early 2017, completed summer 2019.
1250 Half/Envy
310 rental units at 1250, 123 condos at Envy, 60,000 square feet of retail. Underway spring 2017.
Parc Riverside Phase II
314ish-unit residential building at 1010 Half St., SE, by Toll Bros. Construction underway summer 2017.
99 M Street
A 224,000-square-foot office building by Skanska for the corner of 1st and M. Underway fall 2015, substantially complete summer 2018. Circa and an unnamed sibling restaurant announced tenants.
The Garrett
375-unit rental building at 2nd and I with 13,000 sq ft retail. Construction underway late fall 2017.
Yards/The Estate Apts. and Thompson Hotel
270-unit rental building and 227-room Thompson Hotel, with 20,000 sq ft retail total. Construction underway fall 2017.
Meridian on First
275-unit residential building, by Paradigm. Construction underway early 2018.
The Maren/71 Potomac
264-unit residential building with 12,500 sq ft retail, underway spring 2018. Phase 2 of RiverFront on the Anacostia development.
DC Crossing/Square 696
Block bought in 2016 by Tishman Speyer, with plans for 800 apartment units and 44,000 square feet of retail in two phases. Digging underway April 2018.
One Hill South Phase 2
300ish-unit unnamed sibling building at South Capitol and I. Work underway summer 2018.
New DDOT HQ/250 M
New headquarters for the District Department of Transportation. Underway early 2019.
37 L Street Condos
11-story, 74-unit condo building west of Half St. Underway early 2019.
CSX East Residential/Hotel
225ish-unit AC Marriott and two residential buildings planned. Digging underway late summer 2019.
1000 South Capitol Residential
224-unit apartment building by Lerner. Underway fall 2019.
Capper Seniors 2.0
Reconstruction of the 160-unit building for low-income seniors that was destroyed by fire in 2018.
Chemonics HQ
New 285,000-sq-ft office building with 14,000 sq ft of retail. Expected delivery 2021.
|