Utopia Project Set to Start in Fall 2011

The Utopia Project at the corner of 14th and U Streets is slated to begin construction in the Fall.

Conceived by Georgetown Strategic Capital (GSC), the Utopia development will serve up 220 rental units and 20,000 square feet of retail. Eric Colbert & Associates have moved forward on the drawings, says Robert Moore of GSC, with plans for completion of the drawings by spring.

"The design is shaping up to be a very attractive solution, combining a sensitivity to the historic buildings and materials with a modern flair as Colbert has demonstrated in some of his other work," says Moore. Colbert & Associates also designed 1406 T Street condos, the renovation of the Room and Board building, Church Place condos, The Hudson on P Street, The Floridian on 9th Street and The Rutherford
on 13th Street.


Community representatives worked with Eric and Moore to make sure that Utopia`s facade is terraced so it blends with the surrounding rowhouses and storefronts. We were trying to avoid a behomoth on the block. since the building is 90 feet high, the most towering building in the neighborhood. Colbert & Associates were sensitive to community concerns, meeting often with the ANC, Dupont Circle Conservancy, and the city`s historic preservation staff.

Demolition Begins at Whitman Walker Site

Today the wall of the laundry at the corner of 14th and Swann Streets fell as demolition continues at the Whitman Walker clinic site...the home of the new DISTRICT CONDOS by The JBG Companies. The 125 units will be completed in June 2012. I am pleased that the revitalization resumes on 14th Street...after all the planning that has been done in the past few years!

A Tale of Two Townhouses

Recently two properties were completed and readied for sale as condominiums. Therein lies a Tale of Two Townhouses. The one pictured on the left is a historic property at the corner of 16th and T that DCRA was prepared to raze until concerned citizens, the Dupont Conservancy, and yours truly as ANC Commissioner stepped in to convince them to shore up the property and try to salvage it. In the end a developer purchased the building and renovated it.

The other one on the right is a new development at the corner of 15th and Swann where a historic residence burned down a few years ago. The Conservancy and I worked with the architect and developer to design a project that blended in to the surrounding historic neighborhood. I think both projects turned out successfully and I wish the new condominium owners much good luck and welcome them to our diverse, vibrant and historic neighborhood.

Inauguration Day

I was very honored and privileged to be sworn in as your ANC Commissioner for another term. I was given the oath of office by Councilmember Jack Evans on Jan. 2 at the Washington Convention Center after Mayor Gray and the Councilmembers and Council Chairman were sworn in earlier in the morning.

I look forward to serving you and my Single Member District. Please contact me with any questions or issues you may have at Ramon.Estrada@DupontCircleANC.net.

See you in the neighborhood!