Preliminary plans for redevelopment of Portner Place Apartments

U Street elevationAt the MHNA meeting on January 21, 2014, architect Eric Colbert and his associate JB Lallement presented plans for a new 360-unit apartment building on the site of the Portner Place Apartments at 1450 V Street, NW. The current Portner Place Apartments consist of several four-story garden-style apartment buildings set back from the street and provide Secton 8 housing to 48 households.

The north side of the proposed buiding would face V Street and provide approximately 90 affordable housing units. The south side, fronting U Street, would provide approximately 270 market-rate units. 

The building would be directly to the west of the proposed Reeves Center redevelopment.  

Plans include ground floor retail and underground parking. The vehicle entrance and loading will be through V Street. 

MHNA meeting, January 21, 2014, Moshe Zusman Photography StudioColbert stated that the developer will seek relief from zoning regulations through a Planned Unit Development, which would allow construction to a height of 105 feet and retail businesses on the property which is residentially zoned. 

A representative of Somerset Development Company  stated that the current residents of the Portner Place Apartments contacted her company and requested their assistance. She stated that the Portner Place residents will have the option to lease subsidized housing in the new building after construction is complete.

Proposed dog day care at 2303 14th Street NW

On February 2, 2014, the District of Columbia Board of Zoning Adjustment will review a request by View 14 Investments LLC and Citydog! Club for special exceptions to the zoning regulations to allow animal boarding, a pet grooming business and an animal shelter in the retail space at the View 14 apartment building, 2303 14th Street, NW. Case number 18702.

An attorney for the applicants presented at the MHNA monthly meeting on January 21, 2014. 

Next meeting, Tuesday, January 21, 2014, 2300 14th Street, NW, 7-8:30pm

The next MHNA meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 21, 2014, at Moshe Zusman Photography Studio, 2300 14th Street, NW, in the Solea building, on the northwest corner of 14th Street and Florida Avenue. The meeting starts at 7:00pm. We could use a few volunteers who can come at around 6:30pm and help set up chairs. Agenda:

1. United States Park Police update on Meridian Hill Park -- Lt. Al Griffith
2. Special events - Red Bull Soapbox race - Funk Parade
3. N Street Village - Tim Fretz
4. Historic preservation  - 1324 W Street NW
5. Requests for zoning relief - Citydog! proposed dog day care at View 14 -- Leila Batties, Holland & Knight; Portner Place redevelopment, proposed new construction on U Street between 14th & 15th, with ground floor retail, on residentially-zoned lot, replacing garden apartments -- Eric Colbert, architect
6. Reeves Center task group
7. Capitol View on 14th, crime and security issues 
8. Treasurer's report - Fry Wernick
9. MHNA Board elections. Proposed slate of board members: Chris Young, Ashley Kennedy, Natasha Ghent-Rodriguez