When will that Harris Teeter open? That’s the question Albert Williams Jr., gets asked at least a dozen times a day. Williams, a public safety ambassador for the NoMa (North of Massachusetts) Business Improvement District, will be one of the first to know. He has a ringside seat for the changes reshaping Washington’s newest and most modern neighborhood.
Until developers and city officials decided to repurpose this area north of Union Station, NoMa was a no-man’s land; a series of abandoned parking lots and deteriorating warehouses. Today NoMa’s ultramodern cityscape includes, hip hotels, sidewalk promenades and new retail spaces.
“I can remember when there was nothing over here,” said Williams, who stands outside the New York Avenue Metro station, providing tours and assisting visitors to the area with directions. “It’s so different now. It has more of a family feel to it.”
When the project is completed, NoMa will have 21 million square feet of new construction, including hotels, apartments and more than 900,000 square feet of retail developed. Many of the newly constructed buildings feature reflective glass facades and rooftop terraces with stunning views of the Capitol and Washington Monument.
“We are a quarter of the way into the development,” said Elizabeth Price, president of the NoMa BID, who likens the NoMa development to the E Street revitalization. “We are not built around an entertainment destination, but both projects have a lot of mixed-use construction.”
The first residential units, available this spring, will be part of Constitution Square, a large mixed-use building adjacent to the New York Avenue Metro station. Along with housing the Harris Teeter, Constitution Square will have 440 luxury apartments, averaging 826 square feet, from studios to two bedrooms and den. The residential area will include a two-story fitness center, club and game rooms, WiFi lounge, landscaped courtyards, rooftop pool and sun decks.
They are similar to the luxury apartments at Senate Square located just two blocks from Union Station at the tip of NoMa at 201 I St. NE. Rents at Senate (www.senatesquaretowers.com) range from $1,850 to $3,900.
Landmark Lofts, just next door, is a condominium converted from the old Children’s Museum on H Street. Prices on these units are expected to ranged from $350,000 to more than $1 million.
Residents in nearby established communities, such as Bloomingdales, Eckington and Truxton Circle are already reaping the benefits of the new construction. Claude Labbe, a Realtor with Flaherty Group Realty, lives on Capitol Hill and has noticed the steady stream of young professionals moving into the area.
“They are buying older homes and completely renovating them or getting homes that have been completely renovated,” said Labbe.
One of the attractions for young professionals is the easy commute to Capitol Hill. The New York Avenue Metro station, which opened in 2004, is one stop from Union Station on the Red Line. Part of an eight-mile bike trail, which will run from NoMa to downtown Silver Spring, is already completed. “You can get to work 20 minutes by bike instead of an hour in a car,” said Labbe.
Small-business owners are also banking on a NoMa boom. Khalil Ghannan opened Pound Coffee House just across from the New York Avenue Metro station in April 2008. “Of course as a startup, you have to go to a new area,” said Ghannan.
Among the first restaurants to open, Pound has seen a slow increase in business. “More and more, everyday, people are coming in,” said Ghannan, who is also excited about the new Harris Teeter, which will be the first grocery in the area. “Anything that will attract people to here is going to help me, establish the neighborhood.”
Establishment takes time and many who live in nearby areas have a “wait and see” attitude toward the new development. Tracey Reavis moved to the Eckington from New York City earlier this year. She said she enjoys how easy it is to get around, but “I can’t believe I have to get on a train to go to the grocery store,” said Reavis. “I can’t wait until that Harris Teeter opens.”
September 2009
Average sold price in the 20815 ZIP code: $368,050
Average list price in the 20815 ZIP code: $457,470
Average days on market for homes sold: 95
September 2008
Average sold price in the 20815 ZIP code: $926,483*
Average list price in the 20815 ZIP code: $285,304
Average days on market for homes sold: 59
*New construction caused major changes to prices in 2008.
