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The block of 14th Street between S and Swann Streets is a lively, colorful stretch of urban dynamism. On the corner is the funky paper store Pulp; beside it is the hip wine bar Cork, the urban-chic Home Rule, Go Mama Go! (which, even empty, brightens the block), and the pinnacle of DC awesome: the Black Cat.

That’s the east side of the street. On the west side… empty buildings, a lonely dry cleaner.

Just wait. Soon begins the demolition – and then construction of a new, mixed-use development, including 125 residential units and 18,000 square feet of retail. The Washington Business Journal says it marks “the return of major, privately funded multifamily development to the city in the aftermath of the financial crisis.” Hear, hear.

James Nozar of developer JBG tells the 14th and You blog that 85% of the units will be efficiencies and small one-bedrooms, at about 675 square feet. They’re planning to sell them as condos, not rent them out, and they’re thinking they’ll go for $300,000-400,000.

Nozar indicated that he expects a restaurant and a café will occupy some of the ground-level retail, and he’s hinted at an arts space. The century-old Whitman-Walker building is incorporated into the design.

There’s no mandate to include local retailers, but Nozar says “our preference is for local shops.” Mike Bernardo, who chairs the Community Development Committee for neighboring ANC2F, says that’s the best they can ask for. “We do always encourage local retail, but we can’t require it,” he says. “There’s no law that does.”

Civic activist Joel Lawson, who lives at 14th and Swann, says he’s glad to see the development go in, not least because it “provided the Clinic with much-needed funds from the property sale.” Indeed, Whitman-Walker had laid off 20 percent of its staff and was still $5 million in debt when it sold the administrative building to JBG for $8 million. It was a chance for the HIV treatment provider to get out of debt and upgrade services.

Lawson goes on to say the development “replaces a laundromat that had become shabby, and a vacant lot.” Still, he said, “We're concerned about fragile foundations of older homes nearby. Older homes here have brick foundations, with mortar that's gone to sand mostly. But neighbors are organized and in close contact with JBG.” He says engineering studies will be conducted to ensure that demolition and construction don’t damage the surrounding buildings.

Demolition may have already begun by the time you read this, and is slated to take a month. JBG says the project should be ready for its grand opening by spring or early summer 2012.

New Home for African American Civil War Museum
The African American Civil War Museum is a landmark of the U Street community. The metro station even incorporates the memorial in its name. So it’s a relief to know that, while the museum is moving, it’s not leaving the neighborhood.

The museum will move just two blocks east to the old Grimke Elementary School on Vermont Avenue and U Street. The Department of Corrections and the Fire and EMS Department have been making their homes there, irritating neighbors with problems with trash management, parking, and alley access.

The African American Civil War Museum will be rebuilt there, complete with a Community Welcoming Center, according to development plans. It will now be right across the street from the memorial, and strategic streetscaping is planned to “strengthen that connection.”

You may have noticed that the museum has already vacated its old location at 1200 U Street. Until the Grimke renovation is complete, the museum will be temporarily located at the Thurgood Marshall Center at 1816 12th Street NW.

The museum says the memorial is part of a “string of pearls” designed to “use cultural tourism to enhance the community and attract tourists to the historic U Street community.”

A Quick Note About Parking
In its continuing effort to make parking more expensive and more complicated, DDOT is testing out some fancy new systems to charge for parking in the U Street neighborhood. After all, if they’re going to charge two bucks an hour, they’re going to need to find a payment method that doesn’t involve people driving around with barrels full of quarters in their trunks.