In summer of 2007 the property was vacated, fences went up and the new advertisements proclaiming the arrival of the monstrous mixed-use facility were up and running. Throughout 2009, several local news outlets reported on the acquisition of several city owned parcels adjacent to the lot, an old apartment complex was demolished...things were moving along quickly. However, just as fast as the project seemed to be moving forward it suddenly came to a screeching halt. As the economic state of the country became more uncertain, so did the economic future of the Ft. Totten Square project.
Enter today, almost a full year since planned ground breaking and the massive lot sits vacant...ignored. After speaking with Ward 5 Neighborhood Planner Deborah Kemp regarding the construction near the site, it was revealed that "The developers (Lowe Enterprises) have had difficulty getting financing during this challenging economic times. The equipment and activity that you see is related to the reconfiguration of the intersection at Riggs Road and South Dakota Avenue." Further evidence was recently made available online through real estate broker Cassidy Turley's website, where the following is stated:
"Cassidy & Pinkard Colliers is seeking an equity recapitalization for the Fort Totten Square project located at the intersection of Riggs Road and South Dakota Avenue in Northeast Washington. The Fort Totten Square project represents a unique and rare opportunity to develop a successful large scale residential and retail development at a strategic Metro station location in Washington, DC. The 10-acre urban mixed-use development will include 850 residential units and 100,000sf of service retail, including a full-size grocery store. The much needed grocery and other service retail which will accompany the residential project will also serve new and pending developments by Clark, Cafritz, K. Hovnanian, and others in the immediate neighborhood. As the largest mixed-use development in the area, Fort Totten Square is a landmark project in a high-growth market that is quickly attracting large scale residential and retail development due to the significant paths of development progressing along the Red, Yellow, and Green Metro lines as well as North Capitol Street."
So as the investment group seeks to find new sources of capitol, the site sits ignored...decaying...becoming an eyesore. Rather then being the centerpiece of the new community, it is a blight that reflects poorly on the hard working and proud residents of this neighborhood.
9 comments:
This is a shame. Hopefully they can get everything together and push forward beyond this. We were worried about this...
The positive side of the coin is that this won't site idle long. once CCDC is up and running(in only a few months), the intersection redesign is completed (scheduled for next july) and Cafritz gets going with their redevlopment at the Metro station it will bring renewed interest to the site. In theory that should be how it works...in reality no one has much money and the site makes the neighborhood look bad.
As always thanks for the input Steve.
Yeah, it's really too bad - it would be nice if the students coming to CCDC and the neigborhood would finally get some sort of restaurant/grocery store other than 7-Eleven and the fast food chains... but I also think that this property is too valuable to sit empty for a long time. And the public charter school (Yu Ying, I believe) may be a little bit of a boost too...
BTW - are there any updates regarding the Cafritz development? The only thing I have noticed is the fence around one of the Riggs Plaza apartments...
Michael, not a whole lot to report at this moment. They are still scheduling the demolition of the Riggs Plaza Apt's by the fall. The prior residents had to all be moved into new Cafritz Foundation residences before they could start. We will having an update on this project in the coming month! As always thanks for actively supporting us!
Walked through Riggs Plaza the other day, and noticed that a couple of the buildings have been razed already.
I've done work with Cassidy/Turley, and they are a good company, I'm sure they will find an equitable partner for this. Honestly, this is a development that should have a lot of interest with all of the other plans for the area. On top of that, the neighborhood is starved for some good food locations and for a decent grocery (sorry, the Giant in Hyattsville may have very friendly people, but the food seems to be last off the truck compared to the Giant at Rhode Island).
Having now personally invest in this area (Emerson park), my only concern is that this creates a domino effect...
The interesting act yet to play out is how the plan of a full service grocery at Cafritz will impact the planned full service grocery at Totten Square. Could be a race to finish and get that corner stone in to boost their property. The Giant in Hyattsville is scheduled to have its face-lift completed in the next month, but I'm not sure if it will improve their produce issues.
As far as a domino effect, Cafritz has iwned and operated Riggs Plaza for the past 2 decades. I think their comitment to the area and their plan should not be affected by Totten Square.
Ok, I knew I heard it right that both are going to bring a grocery store. I was wondering how that was going to work out. I think one would be fine, haha, and bring in some good restaurants and retail. Sadly, even a starbucks would be nice...
Judging by what I've read previously, it seems that Cafritz is futher along as far as approvals, etc, and appears to show *some* signs of activity. But I walk through Riggs Park daily, and don't see huge changes there either.
About the dueling grocery stores, I'd wager that if Cafritz starts actual building in the fall, they'll win that race, though I'm not sure that the grocery store is one of the first planned.
Ft Totten Square, or whatever it turns into, will likely have to redesign the grocery space, unless they can get a different large retailer. Living nearby, I hope for a more high end retailer, but there may be too much competition with Columbia Heights and efforts to revitalize PG-Plaza.
I think there's enough demand in the area for a wider variety of retail to justify something else at the Ft. Totten Square site. Even a few chain restaurants nearby would make the area better.
Walmart just announced plans to add here. This could be very very big for the area! http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/wal-mart-plans-to-open-six-stores-in-the-district/2011/11/15/gIQAcUjfPN_story.html
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