Neighborhood in the News: Owl’s Nest sale; Burger King redevelopment; Malabar opens

The Owl’s Nest

The Owl’s Nest has been sold. Listed for sale a little more than a year ago at $10.5 million dollars, the historic home at 3031 Gates Road has been sold for substantially less: $6.86 million. The TTR Sotheby’s listing agent had said the Owl’s Nest would be the perfect home for a diplomat, an ambassador, or global CEO. The Washington Business Journal reports the buyer is a DC attorney.

There’s more: “The sale comes as [now-former owner] Chris Donatelli, whose firm has developed high-profile mixed-use projects from U Street, Columbia Heights and Petworth to Minnesota Avenue and Hill East, faces legal, professional and personal crises….” including “a foreclosure threat and a separate lawsuit alleging the high-profile developer forged his wife’s signature to secure a $5 million loan with the house as collateral.”

A followup to our reporting: This is UrbanTurf’s take on our November article about plans to redevelop the former Van Ness Burger King.

A large new apartment project could be in the works for one of the most recognizable properties in DC's Van Ness neighborhood. https://t.co/KaQFFMPlya pic.twitter.com/3JF53vjP77

— UrbanTurf (@UrbanTurf_DC) November 20, 2025

Malabar is now open at 4465 Connecticut Avenue. The Ashok Bajaj restaurant opened this month after a rapid change of concept from Rosedale’s farm-to-table fare. (Rosedale closed on December 13th.) Prior to the switch, Bajaj spoke to What Now DC about finding “the perfect spot” for an southwestern India seafood concept that’s been “brewing in our heads for a few years.”

Speaking of openings:

Is Van Ness ready for an indoor/outdoor bar? @DogHausDogs opening soon at 4340 Connecticut Ave NW. pic.twitter.com/rKFOniZ9QB

— Eat DC (@eat_dc) December 21, 2025

All signs point to yes.