Howard University to Expand Housing Facilities; LEED Gold Offices for TMG
By Veronica Grecu, Associate Editor Howard University may be forced to upgrade its housing to stay competitive in the D.C. marketplace. The university’s residence halls are currently able to accommodate less than 50 percent of its enrolled students, while competing schools [...]
By Veronica Grecu, Associate Editor
Howard University may be forced to upgrade its housing to stay competitive in the D.C. marketplace. The university’s residence halls are currently able to accommodate less than 50 percent of its enrolled students, while competing schools can house as much as 70 percent of their students, according to The Washington Post. And most of its students who live on campus are housed in buildings that are more than 50 years old.
The university is striving to overcome this frustrating situation, but delays with another project suggest there may be challenges. The university plans to begin construction on two dorms in the spring of 2012, with the intention of welcoming their first residents in 2014. Meanwhile, the Howard Town Center, a mixed-use project, has been awaiting a green light since 2002. The development at the intersection of Georgia Avenue and V Street would feature a grocery store and various retailers.
Two years ago, Howard University set up a team of Castlerock Partners and the Cohen Cos. for Howard Town Center. Although no financing plans or retail tenants have been announced officially, The Washington Post revealed that the university did sign a lease contract with Potbelly Sandwich Shop.
In other real estate news, Citybizlist reported that TMG Custom Media moved its Washington, D.C., headquarters to 1129 20th St., N.W., a recently LEED Gold-certified office building that was designed by Michael Boyer and other architects from DBI Architects. The new TMG office space features floor-to-ceiling windows, modern work spaces, eight conference rooms, various collaboration areas and a state-of-the-art video studio.
