flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

D.C. developer sees apartment project as catalyst for modeling neighborhood after N.Y.'s popular High Line district

Multifamily Housing

D.C. developer sees apartment project as catalyst for modeling neighborhood after N.Y.'s popular High Line district

If all goes as planned, The Highline at Union Market could begin construction within 18 months.  


By John Caulfield, Senior Editor | February 2, 2015
D.C. developer sees apartment project as catalyst for modeling neighborhood after NY's popular  High Line district

The apartment building is located a block from D.C.’s NoMa/Gallaudet Red Line Metro Station, which since opening in 2004 has been the impetus for development. Rendering: courtesy Level 2

Last week, Washington, D.C.-based Level 2 Development filed a Planned Unit Development (PUD) proposal with that city’s Zoning Commission for The Highline at Union Market, a 227,089-sf mixed-use building that will include 315 apartments and 8,472 sf of street-level retail.

It’s no accident that the word “Highline” is in this project’s name. The goal of this developer, according to its principal David Franco, is for the building to be a kind of gateway into the larger redevelopment of the surrounding neighborhood to resemble New York’s City’s trendy downtown Meatpacking District, through which runs a portion the High Line elevated park.

Level 2’s apartment building is located a block from D.C.’s NoMa/Gallaudet Red Line Metro Station, which since opening in 2004 has been the impetus for development.

Franco told The Washington Post that he sees The Highline at Union Market as “the front door” of the Union Market District, which he speculates could become a mecca for “specialty retail, artisanal food, dining, and entertainment.”

Getting people interested in living in or near this neighborhood appears to be a significant part of the redevelopment plan. Edens Realty, which is transforming the upscale shopping center Union Market, has submitted a PUD for a nearby 520-unit apartment building that Level 2 would be responsible for developing and completing.

The Highline at Union Market, designed by the architectural firm Eric Colbert & Associates, attempts to create a stylish yet industrial look with the appearance of rail car-looking boxes stacked on top of which other, albeit with different, seemingly random setbacks.

The apartments within range from 400 to 1,000 sf, with some premium units available. Franco tells BD+C that a zoning change is required in order to get the density that Level 2 wants from this building.

A hearing by the Zoning Commission is likely to occur next month, with public hearings to follow this summer. If all goes well, Franco says construction could begin in the third quarter of 2016.

Related Stories

Mass Timber | Oct 27, 2023

Five winners selected for $2 million Mass Timber Competition

Five winners were selected to share a $2 million prize in the 2023 Mass Timber Competition: Building to Net-Zero Carbon. The competition was co-sponsored by the Softwood Lumber Board and USDA Forest Service (USDA) with the intent “to demonstrate mass timber’s applications in architectural design and highlight its significant role in reducing the carbon footprint of the built environment.”

Sponsored | MFPRO+ Blog | Oct 26, 2023

Unlock New Potential—Can Multifamily Pop-Up Hotel Concepts Transform Lease-Ups?

Dive into the new trend of multifamily pop-up hotels! Learn how they're changing the game in lease-ups, creating vibrant communities, and offering property managers a lucrative new revenue stream. Join the conversation on the future of multifamily living spaces.

Giants 400 | Oct 23, 2023

Top 115 Multifamily Construction Firms for 2023

Clark Group, Suffolk Construction, Summit Contracting Group, Whiting-Turner Contracting, and McShane Companies top the ranking of the nation's largest multifamily housing sector contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report. Note: This ranking factors revenue for all multifamily buildings work, including apartments, condominiums, student housing facilities, and senior living facilities.

Giants 400 | Oct 23, 2023

Top 75 Multifamily Engineering Firms for 2023

Kimley-Horn, WSP, Tetra Tech, Olsson, and Langan head the ranking of the nation's largest multifamily housing sector engineering and engineering/architecture (EA) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report. Note: This ranking factors revenue for all multifamily buildings work, including apartments, condominiums, student housing facilities, and senior living facilities. 

Giants 400 | Oct 23, 2023

Top 190 Multifamily Architecture Firms for 2023

Humphreys and Partners, Gensler, Solomon Cordwell Buenz, Niles Bolton Associates, and AO top the ranking of the nation's largest multifamily housing sector architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report. Note: This ranking factors revenue for all multifamily buildings work, including apartments, condominiums, student housing facilities, and senior living facilities. 

Senior Living Design | Oct 19, 2023

Senior living construction poised for steady recovery

Senior housing demand, as measured by the change in occupied units, continued to outpace new supply in the third quarter, according to NIC MAP Vision. It was the ninth consecutive quarter of growth with a net absorption gain. On the supply side, construction starts continued to be limited compared with pre-pandemic levels. 

MFPRO+ News | Oct 6, 2023

Announcing MultifamilyPro+

BD+C has served the multifamily design and construction sector for more than 60 years, and now we're introducing a central hub within BDCnetwork.com for all things multifamily.

Sponsored | Multifamily Housing | Sep 29, 2023

Win-Win Scenarios for Residents and Property Managers

Discover how proptech is opening open new paths to revenue for owners and property managers, while bringing desirable amenities and conveniences for renters. Check out my thoughts on profitable, resident-centric proptech.

Products and Materials | Sep 29, 2023

Top building products for September 2023

BD+C Editors break down 15 of the top building products this month, from smart light switches to glass wall systems.

Multifamily Housing | Sep 26, 2023

Midwest metros see greatest rent increase in September 2023

While the median monthly price of rent has increased by 0.71% in August, the year-over-year estimates show a national change of -0.06 percent.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category




halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021