Development Buzz About 608-610 Newton Place, NW
610 Newton Place
Yesterday provided some welcome news regarding the development of 608-610 Newton Place, NW. Located on one of our community’s blocks in most need of improvement, I was excited to see the parcels sell in November 2012 for $1,425,000. That event, more than anything, told me that it would be among the sites where Park View would see development in 2013.
As I indicated, I finally learned some rudimentary details yesterday. Ironically, while I was on the phone with the new owner, Washington Business Journal’s Michael Neibauer tweeted the following: “Looks like New Commandment Baptist [sic] will redevelop 608-610 Newton Place NW (Park View) into 4-story, 12-unit apartment house. No IZ required.” (Note: New Commandment no longer owns this property even though they are still listed as owner in the DC Tax database).
Based on my phone conversation, plans for the property are still being finalized, but the new owner does want to make a presentation at a future ANC 1A meeting when the project is further along. They intend to have a project that is completely by-right and will not be seeking any zoning variances. They also intend to keep the façades of the buildings.
More interesting to me, however, is that we had a long conversation about conditions on the 600 block of Newton Place, including how bleak it is. This led to the discussion of landscaping and including trees to help green up Newton Place, which, the owner was enthusiastic about.
Below is a map of the area with the property in question outlined. Bringing this property back into productive use will be a tremendous boon for this block of Newton Place.
Tags: Development, housing, Park View, Real Estate
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February 6, 2013 at 3:10 pm
That is wonderful news! That block is the view from the back of our house and we truly celebrate any little progress toward cleaning it up. Kent, do you know where we can find out info on 619 Newton? It has been boarded up for years, and after some demo work last year, it sold as a shell in October. We haven’t seen any movement since– how long until a property can go on the blighted list after a sale? I’d love to see it leveled, and something new fill in that lot and the adjacent empty lot (which we see used for alley access to avoid police and trash dump).
February 6, 2013 at 9:39 pm
Let me see if I can find out more about 619 Newton. Right now, I have nothing on that.
February 6, 2013 at 8:55 pm
Fantastic news for the neighborhood! Hopefully since this is matter-of-right it will proceed quickly to construction.
One question: why preserve the facades? There is nothing historically significant about them, and seems like an unnecessary, self-imposed hardship to place on themselves when most of that building will need to be gutted anyway.
Kent, please keep us posted about when this will come before the ANC.
February 6, 2013 at 9:37 pm
Absolutely, I’ll distribute plans and details as they become available. Re: the facades, I don’t think they a keeping them because of any preservation issues. They mentioned that the structures were sound … so this might be a matter of incorporating the facade rather than saving. When I spoke to them I encouraged them to maximize the property to its fullest potential. I think it is in the community’s interest for the most to be made of this property.
February 9, 2013 at 6:34 pm
This is indeed good news! As a 5 year resident of that block, the condition has much improved but there is still work to be done. However, one aspect that contributes to the bleakness is the fact that various construction projects on the block tear up the roads, curbs, and sidewalks and the repairs to them don’t happen, or happen shabbily. I hope that this next construction project picks up after themselves a bit better. I echo Lolly716′s interest in knowing what is going on at 619 and the adjoining lot (or is it all the same property) as it will be one of the last remaining vacant/neglicted properties on the block once this project begins.
March 4, 2013 at 4:19 pm
619 continues to be an eyesore and magnet for issues. The owner is OWNER FATUKASI OMOLOLU & ABIMBOLA
PREM 012614 WILLOW MARSH LN
BOWIE MD 20720-0000 operating under EDGE INVESTMENT LLC .
March 18, 2013 at 2:13 pm
This is very good, news, I have lived near this block for 10 years and it is slowly improving. Is there any thought of trying to widen the street a little if possible? I’m catching up on reading so a little late in commenting!
March 18, 2013 at 2:14 pm
oops typo on my name it should read Alan.
May 17, 2013 at 7:03 am
[…] early February, I was able to report that the long empty apartment house at 610 Newton Place was destined to be developed. Along with […]