Ronald Cohen's Cherry Blossoms

Ronald Cohen's Cherry Blossoms. Photo by Elise Bernard.

The Frozen Tropics blog is great. Yesterday has an entry, "All Boarded up at 2nd and K" on the buildings on the west side of the 1000 block of Third Street, which we call the "Cohen Block" since it is owned by the Cohen Companies, and they have had plans to develop the block for going on towards 15 years. Clearly in the interim, they aren't too concerned about upkeep and how their property management impacts the neighborhood and perceptions. Does this make the company fit enough to deserve continued considerations from the Zoning Commission?

Mothballing properties. Photo by Elise Bernard.

Here's what I wrote about this project in March:

The project that the Cohen Companies intend to build on this site is discussed in "Developer's patience pays off with Union Place." (Note that in order to proceed, the developer must renew the PUD zoning for this project. The developer has petitioned for a renewal.)

Art in neglect. Brett Busang's "Steep Stair, 3rd Street," left, and "Along 3rd" were painted on the west side of the 1000 block of Third Street in Northeast Washington.

Maintained "S-type" rowhouses in Petworth. Photo from BeyondDC.

From the plans I've seen, the project is nothing special (meaning a low-quality site plan with middling attention to urban design principles), no vertical mixed use to speak of) and the community amenities that were negotiated 13 years ago when this project was first proposed are out-of-date compared to the neighborhood's current circumstances.

In "Complex Brings Work, Shops Close to Home" this article from the Washington Post demonstrates that the Cohen Companies are capable of quality work, even if this article shows that they have to be forced into it. The project in our neighborhood, north of the $125-150 million Senate Square Project from Abdo Development, two blocks from the New York Avenue-Florida Avenue-Gallaudet University Metro station, across the street from a 300 unit condominium project, and kitty corner from a 40 unit condo project, is worth doing right.

Photo from the Historic American Engineering Record, available online from the Library of Congress. (HAER, DC,WASH,559-5. RAIL YARD BEHIND UNION STATION. WASHINGTON, D.C.)

If you look at a large view of this image (click through) you can make out details of the buildings on the backside of the "Cohen Block."
__________
Also, for general Office of Planning thoughts on the "NoMa" "north of Massachusetts Avenue" area, including the area around the New York Avenue Metro Station, check out the Powerpoint presentation from the Office of Planning.

ANC6C asked for a "small area plan" for the New York Avenue station area, and this request was consolidated into OP's ongoing efforts in planning the Mt. Vernon Triangle-NoMa area.

One also needs to be aware of other efforts, such as the New York Avenue Corridor Study, the Mount Vernon Triangle Transportation and Public Realm Design Project (missed that meeting...), and the Downtown Action Agenda which influences the westernmost end of our ANC.