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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?
 

The building you are complaining about is not City Ridge, but rather Upton Place, which is mostly a reskinning of an existing building.

Pretty sure they tore the whole thing down from what I saw and then replaced it with that stick built monstrosity. To add insult to injury, it will have an Aldi to compete directly with the Wegmans at City Ridge that will probably end up going out of business because no one can see it from Wisconsin. My biggest beef with that building though is that the city let them build all the way to the back of the property instead of requiring right of way to complete the grid and have 40th connect with 39th in McLean Gardens. Huge missed opportunity as far as transportation planning is concerned. The city looks intent to turn Wisconsin into a sh*t show as far as traffic is concerned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?
 

The building you are complaining about is not City Ridge, but rather Upton Place, which is mostly a reskinning of an existing building.

Pretty sure they tore the whole thing down from what I saw and then replaced it with that stick built monstrosity. To add insult to injury, it will have an Aldi to compete directly with the Wegmans at City Ridge that will probably end up going out of business because no one can see it from Wisconsin. My biggest beef with that building though is that the city let them build all the way to the back of the property instead of requiring right of way to complete the grid and have 40th connect with 39th in McLean Gardens. Huge missed opportunity as far as transportation planning is concerned. The city looks intent to turn Wisconsin into a sh*t show as far as traffic is concerned.

That is a huge fail. Especially once Sidwell opens the lower school across the street. The city really loves choked boulevards it seems. I'm not a fan of Upton place - though I think the complex with the Wegmans is fine and will do fine, I worry for Upton which can't even rent it's presumably awkwardly laid out luxury flats. We don't need a nuisance building.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?
 

The building you are complaining about is not City Ridge, but rather Upton Place, which is mostly a reskinning of an existing building.

Pretty sure they tore the whole thing down from what I saw and then replaced it with that stick built monstrosity. To add insult to injury, it will have an Aldi to compete directly with the Wegmans at City Ridge that will probably end up going out of business because no one can see it from Wisconsin. My biggest beef with that building though is that the city let them build all the way to the back of the property instead of requiring right of way to complete the grid and have 40th connect with 39th in McLean Gardens. Huge missed opportunity as far as transportation planning is concerned. The city looks intent to turn Wisconsin into a sh*t show as far as traffic is concerned.

According to the bike lane supporters there are not enough grocery stores in Cleveland Park and they’re all forced to play frogger to get to Streets Market. They’ll be happy to learn there are more grocery store options!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?
 

The building you are complaining about is not City Ridge, but rather Upton Place, which is mostly a reskinning of an existing building.

Pretty sure they tore the whole thing down from what I saw and then replaced it with that stick built monstrosity. To add insult to injury, it will have an Aldi to compete directly with the Wegmans at City Ridge that will probably end up going out of business because no one can see it from Wisconsin. My biggest beef with that building though is that the city let them build all the way to the back of the property instead of requiring right of way to complete the grid and have 40th connect with 39th in McLean Gardens. Huge missed opportunity as far as transportation planning is concerned. The city looks intent to turn Wisconsin into a sh*t show as far as traffic is concerned.

It wouldn’t be a good idea to drive more thru thlraffic through McLean Gardens. But clearly there was a missed opportunity to coordinate and connect City Ridge and Upton Place (dontcha’ think these contrived prétentious development names are silly?). That’s what the DC Office of Planning is supposed to push for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?
 

The building you are complaining about is not City Ridge, but rather Upton Place, which is mostly a reskinning of an existing building.

Pretty sure they tore the whole thing down from what I saw and then replaced it with that stick built monstrosity. To add insult to injury, it will have an Aldi to compete directly with the Wegmans at City Ridge that will probably end up going out of business because no one can see it from Wisconsin. My biggest beef with that building though is that the city let them build all the way to the back of the property instead of requiring right of way to complete the grid and have 40th connect with 39th in McLean Gardens. Huge missed opportunity as far as transportation planning is concerned. The city looks intent to turn Wisconsin into a sh*t show as far as traffic is concerned.

It wouldn’t be a good idea to drive more thru thlraffic through McLean Gardens. But clearly there was a missed opportunity to coordinate and connect City Ridge and Upton Place (dontcha’ think these contrived prétentious development names are silly?). That’s what the DC Office of Planning is supposed to push for.

Contrived and pretentious would be something like "Royal Crescent" or "Codrington Mews". In contrast, "City Ridge" and "Upton Place"? Just basic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?
 

The building you are complaining about is not City Ridge, but rather Upton Place, which is mostly a reskinning of an existing building.

Pretty sure they tore the whole thing down from what I saw and then replaced it with that stick built monstrosity. To add insult to injury, it will have an Aldi to compete directly with the Wegmans at City Ridge that will probably end up going out of business because no one can see it from Wisconsin. My biggest beef with that building though is that the city let them build all the way to the back of the property instead of requiring right of way to complete the grid and have 40th connect with 39th in McLean Gardens. Huge missed opportunity as far as transportation planning is concerned. The city looks intent to turn Wisconsin into a sh*t show as far as traffic is concerned.

It wouldn’t be a good idea to drive more thru thlraffic through McLean Gardens. But clearly there was a missed opportunity to coordinate and connect City Ridge and Upton Place (dontcha’ think these contrived prétentious development names are silly?). That’s what the DC Office of Planning is supposed to push for.

Contrived and pretentious would be something like "Royal Crescent" or "Codrington Mews". In contrast, "City Ridge" and "Upton Place"? Just basic.

"Cathedral Commons" uses a brand logo that looks a lot like Chanel's. Now that's pretentious ... or ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?
 

The building you are complaining about is not City Ridge, but rather Upton Place, which is mostly a reskinning of an existing building.

Pretty sure they tore the whole thing down from what I saw and then replaced it with that stick built monstrosity. To add insult to injury, it will have an Aldi to compete directly with the Wegmans at City Ridge that will probably end up going out of business because no one can see it from Wisconsin. My biggest beef with that building though is that the city let them build all the way to the back of the property instead of requiring right of way to complete the grid and have 40th connect with 39th in McLean Gardens. Huge missed opportunity as far as transportation planning is concerned. The city looks intent to turn Wisconsin into a sh*t show as far as traffic is concerned.

It wouldn’t be a good idea to drive more thru thlraffic through McLean Gardens. But clearly there was a missed opportunity to coordinate and connect City Ridge and Upton Place (dontcha’ think these contrived prétentious development names are silly?). That’s what the DC Office of Planning is supposed to push for.

Contrived and pretentious would be something like "Royal Crescent" or "Codrington Mews". In contrast, "City Ridge" and "Upton Place"? Just basic.

"Cathedral Commons" uses a brand logo that looks a lot like Chanel's. Now that's pretentious ... or ridiculous.

The names are fine. The architecture is iffy. I feel badly for Upton Place. I also think the building across from Cactus Cantina is pretty hideous for a new build. Looks like an Aldi or something. And what's with apartment buildings without significant lobbies? That's the whole fun of an apartment building.

[Anonymous]

That building across from Cactus is ridiculous. $675k for a small ground floor apartment in a hideous building with no amenities, not even a lobby? There's a reason they're still on the market. City Ridge is well-designed; Upton Place is not. Design matters. And as far as pretentious names, what about the Cleveland Park Promenade? The space is fine, but the name is embarrassing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That building across from Cactus is ridiculous. $675k for a small ground floor apartment in a hideous building with no amenities, not even a lobby? There's a reason they're still on the market. City Ridge is well-designed; Upton Place is not. Design matters. And as far as pretentious names, what about the Cleveland Park Promenade? The space is fine, but the name is embarrassing.

Well-paid marketing teams come up with the names after research into local demographics and regional trends. The trendiest move however is no name at all, so just the address. But then the property becomes harder to market. So only in the most “with-it” of cities like San Francisco or Portland do developers sometimes eschew the naming to appeal to those of finer tastes who are not easily swayed by cheesy names. The cutting-edge architecture of the projects would speak for itself as the main selling point.