Fine Arts Commission Approves Heating Plant Design

The Commission of Fine Arts overrode a prior decision by the Old Georgetown Board, part of CFA, and unanimously approved the design concept for the West Heating Plant project at its May 18 meeting.

The good news stunned some of those on the development team for the conversion of the old heating building at 1051-55 29th St. NW into 60 to 70 luxury condominiums — to be called the Four Seasons Residences. It was the intent of the development team of the Levy Group, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and the Georgetown Company of New York to appeal the OGB rejection at the CFA meeting.

“The commission was thoughtful in its responses and questions,” said Richard Levy, the project’s lead developer, of the May 18 meeting. “It was a breath of fresh air.” The vote was 7 to 0.

Levy noted how commissioners spoke of not letting buildings “get trapped or coated in amber.” The commissioners found architect David Adjaye’s designs and interpretation “brilliant,” Levy said. There is a clear division between the old and new. “The board asked Adjaye to be bolder” in his designs, Levy added.

Next up on the approval track for the project will be the D.C. Office of Planning’s Historic Preservation Review Board.

Redevelopment designs for the property have wide support from 29th Street neighbors and from the Citizens Association of Georgetown. The designs also received approval a 7-to-1 approval from the Georgetown-Burleith Advisory Neighborhood Commission.

British architect David Adjaye — lead designer of the Smithsonian’s new National Museum of African American History and Culture — presented his renovation plans for the West Heating Plant to Georgetown leaders and neighbors March 9 to general applause.