December 30, 2009

Boutique Concept

We came across this proposal for Hartland Commons, a boutique hotel proposed for the site across T Street from the Howard Theater. We certainly think it’s a step up for what we have named the Block of Blight, but we’re not sold on the modern design and the destruction of some of the existing historic buildings.

Given that there’s no development application that we’re aware of, we suspect this is more of a conceptual design with no legs.  The design, by Georgetown-based Group Goetz Architects, certainly contrasts with the neighboring architecture, though.  Have a look.

View of the south façade along T Street

View from Duke Ellington Plaza at T Street and Florida Avenue NW

T Street façade, opposite the Howard Theater

T Street façade during the day.

Florida Avenue façade

While investigating the background of this project, we came across an earlier conceptual design by the same architecture firm, which, coincidentally, is located next to the Swedish Embassy. The façade resembles a fabric we’ve spotted at IKEA— perhaps “boutique hotel” is just a front the Swedish spy agency!  If a motorcade of black Volvos emerges from the garage one day, don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Categories: Development Projects
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2 Replies

  1. I kind of like the first one! I agree that this is purely conceptual at this point (no one even owns all those parcels and I assume some of the buildings are historically protected) but one can dream that something may one day happen on the block of blight… Now if only broadcast center one and howard theater would stop sitting on our taxpayer subsidies and actually begin construction…

    Keep up the good work, it’s great to have a blog about the neighborhood and your posts are always well thought out and interesting!

    ct - December 30, 2009 @ 9:48 am
  2. I think it looks pretty good. As has been said before, anything is better than what is currently on the site now. I hate the Block of Blight! But unfortunately I don’t see this project getting off the ground anytime soon.

    Aaron P. - January 4, 2010 @ 1:24 pm

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