Movin' on up

Well, I guess the title should have been "Gentrification in the House", but I just couldn't do it. Looking through the construction projects on tap for Columbia Heights, courtesy of Columbia Heights DC, it really looks as if the District is serious about upgrading the neighborhood.

"The Heights of Columbia (Parcel 5) on the corner of 14th & Girard will
contain 56 for-sale housing units, 15,000 sq.ft. of retail space and 70
underground parking spaces.

Kenyon Lofts and Victory Housing (Parcel 15)
at 14th & Kenyon that will sell 147 condominiums, lease 21,000 sq.ft. of
retail space, and 75-unit senior housing facility.

Verona Parc (Parcel
19) at 1328-52 Euclid is 32,000 sq.ft. of 33 condominiums with 20% reserved for
affordable housing with 20 parking spaces.

The Dance Institute of
Washington (Parcel 24) on 14th Street between Newton & Monroe will provide a
16,000 sq. ft. dance facility and a child care center

Columbia Heights
Station (Parcel 26) at Irving & 14th plans 21,865 sq. ft. ground floor
retail, 203 rental apartments, 22 for-sale town homes, garage with 222 spaces.
DC USA (Parcel 27) on 14th between Irving & Park proposes development
of489,000 sq. ft of retail space on three floors, three levels of underground
parking (1,364 spaces), anchored by Target and other big box and smaller
retailers, restaurants, and a health
club.

The Barcelona (Parcel 32)
on 1431 Chapin includes 30 condominiums, 20% of the units will be 'affordable,'
including 11 parking spaces."

All together, these developments are bringing 500 new units online in the next couple of years. While this will certainly impact my own rent, My biggest fear is parking. There is no way that the area around the Columbia Heights Metro Station can support 500-1000 new cars.

Well, maybe it is just a sign for me to sell off the ol' Echo and buy a bike.....