The DuponT CurrenT
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Vol. XVI, No. 1
Serving Dupont Circle, Kalorama, Adams Morgan & Logan Circle
HOVA project to kick off this month
CAPITAL PRIDE
■ Development: Mixed-use
plans secure zoning approval By BRADY HOLT Current Staff Writer
Developers of the former Hall on Virginia Avenue dorm site intend to begin construction this month on a new project to renovate and expand the building across the street from the Water-
gate complex. The mixed-use building, dubbed Boathouse, will include 250 apartment units, along with ground-floor and rooftop commercial space. Urban Investment Partners recently cruised to a pair of zoning approvals — the second coming last Wednesday — that allow the project to move forward. The former dorm at 2601 Virginia Ave. NW, nicknamed HOVA, is the former Howard Johnson’s
hotel where the Watergate burglars stationed lookouts during their disastrous 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters. George Washington University converted the hotel into student housing in 1999, but closed it in 2014 amid complaints of subpar living conditions. The university initially planned to renovate the building, but See Boathouse/Page 3
Bridge hazard still forcing trail closure By MARK LIEBERMAN Current Staff Writer
The trail beneath the Foundry Branch Bridge in Glover Archbold Park near Foxhall has been closed for the past 10 months, as plans have stalled to resolve safety concerns by repairing the deteriorating structure. Meanwhile, the agencies involved in the site appear to differ on its future. The National Park Service — which controls Glover Archbold as part of its Rock Creek Park portfolio — closed a quarter-mile portion of the northsouth trail last August, from the intersection of Foxhall and Canal roads NW north to where a side trail connects to P Street. Since then, signs posted at the trail entrance near Foxhall Road continue to warn that the increasing instability of a long-abandoned trolley bridge that crosses above part of the trail “poses a safety hazard to park visitors.” See Bridge/Page 15
Photo by Chris Thompkins
The annual Capital Pride Parade — celebrating the diversity of the area’s LGBTQ community with floats, walkers and entertainment among 180-plus contingents —- proceeded through the Dupont Circle and Logan Circle areas Saturday.
Mark Lieberman/The Current
Although pedestrians can easily access the closed trail, the National Park Service says it’s dangerous to pass under the deteriorating trolley bridge.
Whole Foods renovations delayed amid lease dispute
Council set to review Ward 4 grocery rules By MARK LIEBERMAN
■ Glover Park: Work would
Current Staff Writer
Supermarkets in Ward 4 would be permitted to sell beer and wine under a proposed D.C. Council bill, but some residents disagree about how broad that exception to existing restrictions should be. Years ago, the council responded to residents’ requests to ban new grocery-store alcohol licenses in Ward 4, given complaints about a proliferation of small outlets selling beer and wine. Now, developers of the expansive Parks at Walter Reed complex have been struggling to secure a full-service grocery store to anchor the site’s “town center” portion on Georgia between Dahlia and Elder streets NW. Though Whole Foods and Wegmans had publicly expressed interest in the site, the project team has said stores are reluctant to come if they can’t offer beer and
take 6 months but can’t begin By BRADY HOLT Current Staff Writer
Rendering courtesy of Hines-Urban Atlantic-Triden
Initial design schemes for the project envisioned a large supermarket near Georgia Avenue NW.
wine. And in fact, Wegmans recently decided instead to settle at the Fannie Mae redevelopment in Ward 3. In response, Ward 4 Council member Brandon Todd and his at-large colleague Anita Bonds cointroduced a bill on June 6 that would allow fullservice grocers to sidestep existing restrictions on See Licenses/Page 12
A recent lawsuit and “stop work” order have raised further questions about Glover Park’s Whole Foods Market, which closed abruptly in March after the D.C. Department of Health found repeated evidence of rodents. Although the 2323 Wisconsin Ave. NW supermarket was cleared to reopen, the company took the opportunity to remain closed and
carry out a complete renovation — much to the chagrin of customers, who blasted the lack of notice and scarcity of details about when the store might reopen. Whole Foods’ effort to move quickly may have backfired in other ways as well. Last month, the store was ordered to cease interior demolition without a permit. Separately, Whole Foods last week sued its landlord, Wical Limited Partnership, alleging that Wical improperly threatened to terminate its lease and continues to obstruct the renovation. The first public sign of discord See Lawsuit/Page 15
SHERWOOD
SHOPPING & DINING
CURRENTNEWSPAPERS.COM
INDEX
Suing the president
Barbecue Battle
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Calendar/18 Classifieds/26 District Digest/4 Dupont Circle Citizen/9 In Your Neighborhood/14 Opinion/6
Attorneys general from District, Maryland plan to fight Trump over foreign payments / Page 6
Specials at local restaurants to precede this year’s annual cooking competition / Page 17
Police Report/8 Real Estate/13 School Dispatches/10 Shopping & Dining/17 Service Directory/24 Week Ahead/3
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