So much for "vibrant" --boring apt. building architecture going up right and left on the Avenues

[Anonymous]

Every time I walk by the squat + boxy City Ridge development going up next to Fannie Mae (not to be confused with the weird, but cool triangle building), I think "City Ridge, the 90s are calling!" They want their "urban loft living" back!!!

I have no doubt it will have nice amenities, but whoever chose the design did a huge disservice to such a beautiful, open avenue. Is this Crystal City in the 90s??

Then there's the absurd Scandi looking (in the not good way) building with boxy green metal trim and a small, unappealing entry way across from Cactus that just got built. It totally ruins the pretty corner view that curves to the Cathedral.

And Mazza sits in ruins. As far as I can tell, they didn't even try to reclaim/reuse the beautiful stone facing. Just smashed it to bits. Such waste. Mazza was weird, but at least architecturally interesting. I shudder to think what will go up. I'm guessing more brick and iron "90s Urban Loft Living"?

God forbid they raise building height. Would we just get taller versions of this dreck?
 

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every time I walk by the squat + boxy City Ridge development going up next to Fannie Mae (not to be confused with the weird, but cool triangle building), I think "City Ridge, the 90s are calling!" They want their "urban loft living" back!!!

I have no doubt it will have nice amenities, but whoever chose the design did a huge disservice to such a beautiful, open avenue. Is this Crystal City in the 90s??

Then there's the absurd Scandi looking (in the not good way) building with boxy green metal trim and a small, unappealing entry way across from Cactus that just got built. It totally ruins the pretty corner view that curves to the Cathedral.

And Mazza sits in ruins. As far as I can tell, they didn't even try to reclaim/reuse the beautiful stone facing. Just smashed it to bits. Such waste. Mazza was weird, but at least architecturally interesting. I shudder to think what will go up. I'm guessing more brick and iron "90s Urban Loft Living"?

God forbid they raise building height. Would we just get taller versions of this dreck?
 

Oh, but just think about all of the "affordable" housing.

DC's (not really) affordable housing requirement, known as Inclusionary Zoning, is a paltry 8 percent. Montgomery County's baseline is about double that. Bowser is too busy catering to her funders in the development industry to be serious about affordable housing requirements.

[Anonymous]

Yes this is due to the height limit, along with higher construction costs and financing, they cannot afford good architecture on the budget to make numbers work, they’d lose units and increase costs.

[Anonymous]

I’m with you except for Mazza Gallerie. I grew up less than a mile away and walked by it almost every day, and that thing looked like a fancy marble prison from the get go which was always part of the problem. And when eventually it was renovated and the windows were added, the tenants were the ones who paid.

[Anonymous]

The same stuff is going up all over. I am beginning to fear that all these cookie cutter apartment buildings will age about as well as the 80's downtown office or colonial revival fads. It really seems like we're at the end of a cycle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m with you except for Mazza Gallerie. I grew up less than a mile away and walked by it almost every day, and that thing looked like a fancy marble prison from the get go which was always part of the problem. And when eventually it was renovated and the windows were added, the tenants were the ones who paid.

I thought it was weird as a kid, but it grew on me over time and the atrium! The atrium was pretty rocking. The whole thing was awesomely 60s. What will go up--little boxes, made of ticky tacky?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The same stuff is going up all over. I am beginning to fear that all these cookie cutter apartment buildings will age about as well as the 80's downtown office or colonial revival fads. It really seems like we're at the end of a cycle.

I am just shocked by how boring City Ridge is. Yes, pool on the top yadda yadda--but the cladding and dark brick. Ew.

I do not buy at all that the height limit is why boring architecture. There is majestic architecture worldwide that is lower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same stuff is going up all over. I am beginning to fear that all these cookie cutter apartment buildings will age about as well as the 80's downtown office or colonial revival fads. It really seems like we're at the end of a cycle.

I am just shocked by how boring City Ridge is. Yes, pool on the top yadda yadda--but the cladding and dark brick. Ew.

I do not buy at all that the height limit is why boring architecture. There is majestic architecture worldwide that is lower.

DP. Okay but it is the height limit. Height limits mean being a box to maximize return. The more restrictions the worst it gets. Look at the four seasons in Georgetown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes this is due to the height limit, along with higher construction costs and financing, they cannot afford good architecture on the budget to make numbers work, they’d lose units and increase costs.

If you "can't afford good architecture" you probably shouldn't bid on major building projects. Ever.

[Anonymous]

It’s all so ugly - most new construction. Looks cheap and flimsy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m with you except for Mazza Gallerie. I grew up less than a mile away and walked by it almost every day, and that thing looked like a fancy marble prison from the get go which was always part of the problem. And when eventually it was renovated and the windows were added, the tenants were the ones who paid.

I thought it was weird as a kid, but it grew on me over time and the atrium! The atrium was pretty rocking. The whole thing was awesomely 60s. What will go up--little boxes, made of ticky tacky?

Off Wisconsin Ave NW, across from Sidwell Friends, in 2023? No. Four apartment buildings with 690 units total, a bunch of office space, a bunch of retail space, and an underground garage with 1,300 parking spaces.

And for what it's worth, those "little boxes, made of ticky tacky" in Daly City, California, now sell for $1.1 million or more, because the Bay Area has a severe housing shortage, because they made it really difficult to build more housing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m with you except for Mazza Gallerie. I grew up less than a mile away and walked by it almost every day, and that thing looked like a fancy marble prison from the get go which was always part of the problem. And when eventually it was renovated and the windows were added, the tenants were the ones who paid.

I thought it was weird as a kid, but it grew on me over time and the atrium! The atrium was pretty rocking. The whole thing was awesomely 60s. What will go up--little boxes, made of ticky tacky?

Off Wisconsin Ave NW, across from Sidwell Friends, in 2023? No. Four apartment buildings with 690 units total, a bunch of office space, a bunch of retail space, and an underground garage with 1,300 parking spaces.

And for what it's worth, those "little boxes, made of ticky tacky" in Daly City, California, now sell for $1.1 million or more, because the Bay Area has a severe housing shortage, because they made it really difficult to build more housing.

I don't love the design of most of the buildings in the development at the old Fannie Mae site, but the construction seems of better quality. Contrast that with the project rising next door which is mostly constructed of lumber. The design is boring and tacky and it's not even a little set back from Wisconsin. If it lasts 50 years, it will be a surprise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m with you except for Mazza Gallerie. I grew up less than a mile away and walked by it almost every day, and that thing looked like a fancy marble prison from the get go which was always part of the problem. And when eventually it was renovated and the windows were added, the tenants were the ones who paid.

I thought it was weird as a kid, but it grew on me over time and the atrium! The atrium was pretty rocking. The whole thing was awesomely 60s. What will go up--little boxes, made of ticky tacky?

Off Wisconsin Ave NW, across from Sidwell Friends, in 2023? No. Four apartment buildings with 690 units total, a bunch of office space, a bunch of retail space, and an underground garage with 1,300 parking spaces.

And for what it's worth, those "little boxes, made of ticky tacky" in Daly City, California, now sell for $1.1 million or more, because the Bay Area has a severe housing shortage, because they made it really difficult to build more housing.

I don't love the design of most of the buildings in the development at the old Fannie Mae site, but the construction seems of better quality. Contrast that with the project rising next door which is mostly constructed of lumber. The design is boring and tacky and it's not even a little set back from Wisconsin. If it lasts 50 years, it will be a surprise.

Why should it be set back from Wisconsin?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I have no doubt it will have nice amenities, but whoever chose the design did a huge disservice to such a beautiful, open avenue.
 

There were at least five or six ANC 3C meetings where design was discussed and supported by then commissioners Angela Bradbery (whose SMD City Ridge was in) and Nancy Macwood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes this is due to the height limit, along with higher construction costs and financing, they cannot afford good architecture on the budget to make numbers work, they’d lose units and increase costs.

If you "can't afford good architecture" you probably shouldn't bid on major building projects. Ever.

The architect for City Ridge is Shalom Baranes Associates.

https://www.sbaranes.com/portfolio/mixed-use/grid/project/city-ridge

I think it's helpful to distinguish between "good/bad architecture" and "buildings I do/don't like the look of."