Washington, D.C., like many urban hubs, has been hit hard with COVID-19-related business closures and families fleeing for less populated areas (a trend we wrote about recently). As the city comes back to life, fresh, new places to live will be in demand among post-pandemic city-dwellers.
CIP Finishes is working on multiple projects that are transforming parts of Washington, D.C., into lively, walkable, family-friendly neighborhoods. The pandemic has also caused city-dwellers to reevaluate their needs. They are opting for units close to amenities, with high-end finishes to make daily life luxurious. Apartment communities near green spaces will be in high demand. Post-pandemic, people will once again be looking for restaurants and shopping in close proximity to their home base.
CIP Finishes has a role in several projects that will answer this demand, and which are turning the residential neighborhoods of Eckington, NoMa and Rosslyn into spaces where residents can enjoy a commitment to sustainability, walkability and in-house amenities. CIP’s team has been installing hardware and other furnishings in these projects throughout 2020 and the beginning of this year. Keeping a crew healthy and laboring during a pandemic has been no small feat, but CIP Finishes is working to keep these projects on schedule despite nation-wide delays and material shortages due to the virus—especially because these communities are in high demand for those returning to city life and looking to return to the activities they’ve missed out on in the past year.
“It’s exciting to see these projects bring new life to entire neighborhoods of the city,” said CIP Finishes President Paul Milde. “There is still strong demand for the vibrance and convenience of city life at its best.”
- Eckington Park will bring 328 residential units and retail space to Eckington, one of Washington D.C.’s oldest neighborhoods. It’s a charming, family-friendly residential area that attracts those seeking a small-town atmosphere while still having all the conveniences of big-city life. Eckington Park is wrapped by the area’s largest park, NoMa Parks Foundation’s Alethia Tanner Park, and the green space and development go hand-in-hand. Along with the traditional family units, there are four artist-maker live/work units and for renters looking for a green lifestyle, 174 secure bicycle parking spaces. We are installing interior items here for general contractor Foulger Pratt, which will complete work this year.
- That’s not the only Foulger Pratt project CIP Finishes is working on. Press House, close by at 301-331 N St., is adjacent to the amenity-rich neighborhood of NoMa and its Union Market, a restored grocery and food hall that is acclaimed in D.C.’s restaurant scene. The mixed-use Press House redevelops an existing industrial building at the site as creative and retail space and offers new residential and hotel use. Its 356 residential units offer an entirely walkable and sustainable way to live in the city. And it’s slated for completion this summer.
- Another Eckington neighborhood property in which we are installing interior finishing hardware is Eckington Yards, soon to be completed by general contractor CBG Building Company. It’s a mixed-use community of four buildings with underground parking. The project features 457 apartments and 45 two-level condos across three buildings plus 179 luxury condos in its 11-story high-rise. Between the buildings is roughly 70,000 square feet of retail in addition to pet salons, pools, outdoor kitchens, and rooftop amenity areas. The project thoughtfully tackles traffic congestion. Located on an entire city block, Eckington Yards is bisected by a one-way pedestrian thoroughfare that serves as an extension of Quincy Avenue. The project also seeks to reduce its environmental footprint with solar panels and a cistern for collecting and reusing rainwater for its HVAC system.
- Across the Potomac River in Arlington, The Highlands is bringing 884 units across multiple buildings to Rosslyn. General contractor Whiting Turner is building the three-tower, 27-story Highlands development, which will also include retail space, a renovated park and a firehouse. CIP Finishes is furnishing and installing a variety of interior hardware in this community, which offers its own convenient recreation opportunities and retail and boasts stunning river views.