Google Earth 1999 - part two

The Google Earth tool has a feature that displays historical satellite images from selected points in time. I thought it would be interesting to review images from last decade that pre-date all the new construction development we see today.

Not surprisingly much of what existed in 1999 was surface parking lots. But there are structures visible on many of these sites. Where these vacant buildings or did they host residences or businesses. Feel free to share the 411 in the comments.

The DuMont and 455 Mass:

The Sonata, Madrigal Lofts and Mitchell Mayer Building:

Click on any of the images to enlarge.

Could the DuMont be condos once again?

UrbanTurf recently partnered with McWilliams-Ballard to publish a 5 part series on the state of the new construction DC Condo Market. The series highlighted the performance of various submarkets and top selling buildings in the DC area.

Several of the conclusions presented in the series proved favorable for the Mount Vernon Triangle. Our neighborhood sported 3 of the top 12 fastest selling condo buildings in the DC area with City Vista K earning the top honors. New construction inventory in the Triangle, at the current velocity of sales, was also determined to be the second lowest among submarkets at just 11 months.

Could the rapidly depleting inventory in our neighborhood increase the likelihood that new ownership for the DuMont could once again market the property as condos?

Latest signs of progress in the neighborhood

A quick posting on the latest signs of progress in the neighborhood:

• Taylor Deli buildout continues to zoom along
  
• Brown paper has been put up inside the windows of Kushi Izakaya - this usually means buildout is about to begin.
  
• Ideal Realty Group classifies the DuMont as "under agreement". I've learned this only applies to the 370 unit building at 425 Mass Ave.

Photo of brown paper in windows of Kushi courtesy of John Thompson

Micro updates

A few small updates this morning:

• Several readers have pointed out that DDOT installed much needed physical barriers at 5th and Mass over the paint striped areas. See photos from John and Kim. While the barrels are a bit much this sort of temporary solution was needed to address the safety hazard DDOT created by leaving the intersection modifications they started incomplete.
  
  
• The water being pumped out from the DuMont onto the street is pooling along the yellow curb and producing Algae. The MVTCID has approached DCRA and they will send out an inspector.
  
  
• The prostitutes that previously congregated at 4th & L have relocated to the 5th & Mass triangle park next to the House of Ruth and Circulator bus stop. A few days ago I saw a man with no pants on wiping up after dropping a deuce. Please call MPD if you see any violations of the law.
  

DuMont still a sinking ship? **UPDATE**

The DuMont continues to sit on the market as Ideal Realty Group attempts to attract buyers. While the current lending environment is unquestionably hindering progress on this front as a neighbor it's more puzzling why the building continues to take on water. Flood Control trucks were a common sight in December of 2008. Here we are 9 months later and the building still is pumping water out of the garage after heavy rains.



UPDATE [8/7/2009 12:30PM]: From a reader email it appears that today Pepco is pumping water out of the DuMont's electrical vaults.

PoP visits the Triangle

The uber popular DC blog Prince of Petworth had a trio of Mount Vernon Triangle postings yesterday. PoP surveys his readers for input on the Dumont and Ledos, Louis Rogue, and Buddha Bar.

In the comments I riffed against the urban design of the DuMont's Mass Ave frontage. Two entrances accompanied by semi-circle driveways on Mass Ave was completely unnecessary. Good urbanism would have been to place one entrance on Mass Ave and the other (sans semi circle driveway) on either Fourth or Eye Street. This would have allowed more Mass Ave frontage for retail space. The developer placed greater emphasis on the prestige of Mass Ave addresses over good urban form. That was a very short sighted attitude. Is this a travesty - no? But definitely a large missed opportunity considering.

DuMont for sale: $170 million

The DuMont condominiums have been in limbo for months. A tip from reader PQResident shows that the building Ideal Realty Group, on behalf of the lender, is listing the two 14 story buildings totaling 559 units at the price of $170,000,000. A four page flyer is available on the IRG website.



Reactions to this quote?:

The Esocoff architectural designed community is the most luxurious property constructed in the Mount Vernon Triangle and Gallery Place / Chinatown submarkets.

Security at the DuMont

Last night after the ANC6C meeting I ran into a security guard for The DuMont. He was making rounds around the perimeter of the building to ensure no vagrants camp in the sunken terraces or breach the building. His shift was 3-11pm and he suggested another guard would take over from 11pm to 7am.

Developers generally don't take on these type of expenses proactively. Has anyone heard if the building has had specific issues with vagrants? As I posted in Mid-January, the CAAB building has had homeless prostitutes sleeping in their sunken terrace.

The DuMont's retail space

With the DuMont recently opening up the Mass Ave sidewalks I've been able to get some close up photos of the DuMont's sole retail space.

The first thing you notice is it is not a big space. Probably around 950sf and no bigger than the typical 2BR condo unit. I have a hard time imagining anything over than a small coffee shop filling the space.

Small patio in front of space:


Interior looking East to West:


Interior looking West to East:



Stairs to rear service exit:


Could those stairs possibly also lead to a lower level?

WaPo: A Towering Disappointment

The Washington Post is running an article today about The DuMont called A Towering Disappointment. While not mentioned by name, The District Chatter blog and it's role mobilizing contract holders to seek counsel is alluded to.

Excerpt:

A number of buyers who put down deposits in 2006 have sought refunds, under a contract provision that allows them to withdraw if their units are not ready within two years. Broadway's attorneys, in a letter in May, blamed the delays on weather, the developer's inability to quickly obtain construction permits from the District, and problems with Pepco and a window supplier.

"As you might expect, the Seller does not have in its files any statement from Pepco, the D.C. government or the window supplier acknowledging and taking responsibility for the delays," the lawyers wrote. "Each of them would not wish to provide a paper trail leading to monetary claims which might be made against them."

DuMont's Fourth Street sidewalks

Yesterday's post showcased the reopening of The DuMont's Mass Ave sidewalks. But many may wonder why does Fourth Street look like crap?


The asphalt and elevated curb are temporary fixtures until Fourth Street is restored to two way traffic later this year.


The sidewalks at the corner of Fourth and Mass are quite narrow. I believe the plans to alter Fourth Street also involve redesigning the traffic island - at which point the sidewalk will become wider.

DuMont's Mass Ave sidewalks reopened

Late last week (Saturday?) the Mass Ave sidewalks in front of The DuMont were reopened.


The DuMont's Mass Ave frontage features two small u-shaped driveways in front of the condo entrances. I'm not a big fan of senseless curb cuts. However if they were doing this for symmetry with 400 Mass perhaps one larger consolidated driveway featuring parking for Zipcars, as the Meridian does, would have been more appropriate?


The sidewalk in front of Ledos (433 Mass) is still not open. So pedestrians must walk into traffic for 10 feet to go around the fence. There does not appear to be any suitable reason for the entirety of the sidewalk in front of Ledos to be closed off. No work is currently underway at the property and the on-site dumpster could be barricaded without blocking all the sidewalk. The condo board at 555 Mass has sent correspondence to the MVT CID and Tommy Wells office about this needless obstruction. Hopefully the fencing is adjusted this week.

DuMont Giraffe Annex

As an one-day intermission to the Singles Sales Discussion, I give you what some Madrigal residents are coining the DuMont Giraffe Annex.


These tall gates went up earlier this week. I would imagine they will be painted black shortly.

Flood Control to Major Tom

Another Flood-Tech truck sighting at the DuMont this morning.


Readers on District Chatter noticed these trucks last Tuesday and Wednesday as well.

Dumont Update - Eye Street Facing - part 2

Last week we provided a photo update on the new outdoor stairs and railings at The DuMont.

This update shows the final paint has been applied. Thank goodness it's black.

Dumont Update - Eye Street Facing

In August we discussed the "trenches" along the perimeter of the Dumont. The terraces and steps have now been installed.




Came out better than I envisioned except for the color of the stairs (maybe they still plan to paint them). I still can't imagine the quasi-basement units along the trench being very desirable until nearly all other 1BR inventory is worked off.

The District Chatter tells their DuMont story

Over the last week The District Chatter has told their story to date as contract holders at the DuMont.

Dumont Condos- Our Story Part I
Dumont Condos - Our Story Part II
Dumont Condos - Our Story PT II - The Lost Chapter
Developers must prove Force Majeure
Dumont Condos - Our Story Part III

Stories like these are why I am glad I did not have to buy new construction off renderings or floorplans of a yet to be finished product. My blood pressure went up just reading their posts.

As a first time buyer this spring I didn't have another property to sell in this slow down and the inventory on the market for me to choose from was plentiful. I remember a few years back some of my friends would tell me that after any open house they knew they had to make an offer that night, probably over 10% over list, to even have a chance. Very different today.

DuMont trenches

What's the story with these trenches at the DuMont?

Looking for new voices

Hello, I just wanted to remind our readers that we have a standing open invitation to community members to join our blog. We would love to have a contributor representing each of the buildings in the Triangle. It's also important to us to represent a diversity of perspectives. If you are interested in writing for the Triangle send me an email here.

With a huge influx of new residents in the coming years a neighborhood forum such as this blog and many others can really make a difference in the community!

DCMud interviews Dumont architect Phil Esocoff

DCMud recently interviewed Phil Esocoff, principal architect of Esocoff and Associates. His firm designed The Dumont and 400 Mass buildings in our area. The wavy bumpouts you see on these two buildings are a form of Esocoff signature.