The eastern half of Square 701, bounded by First, M, N, and Cushing streets, sits directly north of Nationals Park and has been Nats Parking Lot F since the stadium opened. Although the land had been owned for many years by the Willco Companies and other associates, plans emerged in spring 2012 for a new office/hotel/residential/retail development by Grosvenor and McCaffery Interests. Those plans are currently going through the city's zoning overlay review process. The block was home to a number of light industrial buildings (and Normandie Liquors), but all were demolished by early 2008.

Links:
Blog Post on First Released Renderings (6/4/12)
JD's Ballpark District News Items & Additional Links
 

            Square 701 Development            Square 701 News Items            

(Top) An overhead view of the footprint of Square 701 as seen from the north in December 2008, with Nationals Park just to the rear. (Bottom) A summer 2012 rendering from zoning filings showing a wider view of the same angle, showing Grosvenor's plans for the site. Starting from right (M Street) to left (N Street), the 661,000-square-foot development would have: * a 224,000-square-foot office building at the corner of 1st and M, * a 170- or 180-unit hotel just to the south of the office building, separated by a 30-foot-courtyard, * a 285ish-unit residential project south of the hotel, in a U-shaped building with the opening facing toward Nationals Park, and * 51,000 square feet of retail, most of which will be in the office/hotel/residential buildings, while the remaining 7,000 square feet will be in a separate two-story retail-only building at the corner of 1st and N (on the "South Parcel"), with a design "inspired by the industrial character of the existing neighborhood." (9/12) In the above rendering, there is an empty L-shaped lot around the small two-story retail building on the site's south end. However, in September 2012, the Welch family, longtime owners of that site, under the "Capital Riverfront Hotel LLC" [sic] moniker, submitted plans to the Zoning Commission for a 130-foot 167-room hotel, which would certainly impact the planned south-facing U-shaped residential building planned immediately to its north. Initial designs do not include any retail or on-site parking. (9/12)  Three views of the northwest corner of 1st and N, directly across from the stadium site's northeast corner. The top photo is from June 2006; the middle image shows the same spot on November 11, 2012, long since demolished. At bottom is another rendering from late summer 2012, showing a retail building at 1st and N, with residential buildings just to the north. Not shown is the "Ball Park Hotel" planned for the empty L-shaped lot surrounding the retail building.
The southwest corner of 1st and M, seen in May 2006. (05/06)	And now, with Normandie Liquors long since demolished, the ballpark at rear, and 55 M Street towering at right. (11/11/12)
(Top) N Street buildings facing the ballpark, in August 2007. (Bottom) The same location, in January 2008, just after demolition. Now visible are 55 M Street (left), 80 M (center), and 100 M, all one block to the north.
The Admiral Limousine building (left), along with the southern end of the Plymouth Printing Company, as seen from First Street south of M, in February 2006. (02/06)	The same location, demolished, and with Monument's 55 M Street rising at right. (1/20/08)
The northwest corner of the Willco site is at Cushing and M streets, seen here in May 2006. The Plymouth Printing Company building is at right-center. (Normandie Liquors is just visible at far left.) (05/06)	The same location, with most of the site now cleared, and with the eastern stadium parking garage at rear and 55 M Street looming across Cushing Street at right. (11/11/12)
And a summer 2012 rendering of what the M Street frontage between Cushing and 1st would look like if the project is built as designed. (9/12) The old and the new in the Ballpark District can easily be seen at the corner of First and N, as new sidewalks, a wider First Street, and historic streetlamps (and 100 M Street under construction in the distance) butt up against the abandoned buildings of the old Near Southeast. (1/6/08) Four weeks later, with demolition complete. (2/10/08) And a summer 2012 rendering of what the same location would look like if the project is built as designed. (9/12)
Normandie Liquors seemed to become a symbol of old versus new in Near Southeast. The shuttered liquor store held out while new buildings like 20 M (left) and 80 M were built.... (10/07)	.... But ultimately the need for stadium parking won out, and Normandie was demolished in early February 2008. (55 M Street is the additional new building now rising at right.) (2/10/08)

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