Ward 3 Council member Matt Frumin has had his eye on the expansive Intelsat campus for some time.
The 660,000 square foot complex sits on 13 acres. Its most visible entrance is at 4200 Connecticut Avenue. And it has been largely vacant since Whittle School & Studios closed in 2022.
In 2023, Frumin wrote in the DC Line that “it would be a travesty not to seize upon this unique opportunity.”
Whittle had been subleasing the campus. Frumin wanted the District to buy out the leaseholders, 601W Cos. and Berkley Properties. He pitched “numerous exciting potential civic uses,” including an early childhood center, a senior wellness center, expanded UDC programs, performing arts spaces and more.
He wasn’t successful then, but he’s trying again now.
The leasehold on the State Department-owned property is scheduled to be sold at an April 8 foreclosure auction. And Frumin is renewing his pitch to the mayor and fellow council members, telling the Washington Business Journal: “There’s lots of possibilities, and if it could be gotten for a very attractive price, I hope the city will think about it.”
What new studies say about Van Ness’s “southern anchor”
The former Intelsat campus as viewed from Van Ness Street.
In February, Van Ness Main Street released the results of two studies conducted last year. One looked at retail needs and opportunities on Connecticut Avenue between Van Ness Street and Nebraska Avenue. The other studied the commercial area between Van Ness and Albemarle Streets.
The Intelsat campus is featured prominently in both reports as the Van Ness corridor’s southern “gateway” and “anchor.” Their recommendations include redeveloping the site into a mixed-use destination.
The AndAccess retail study:
The report from AndAccess said the largely empty campus creates a perception of commercial real estate weakness in the area.
In Van Ness, the office vacancy rate is 9% when Intelsat is excluded. Including the campus, vacancies jump to more than 36%, “underscoring the outsized influence of a single property on overall market perception and performance.”
“The 600,000 sq. ft. Intelsat campus and dated, auto-oriented retail frontages weaken corridor appeal,” and is one of the places in the neighborhood that would benefit from “mixed-use infill and modern retail stock,” AndAccess said.
The Urban Land Institute study:
ULI panelists who visited and studied the corridor last year “strongly recommended” demolishing the existing Intelsat campus and building a mixed-use, medium-to-high density community.
“Proposed uses have fallen short for the site, especially as they do not incorporate residential uses onto the property,” their report said. “The site may be an ideal location to incorporate housing that supports the needs of UDC, the DC government, and the Van Ness neighborhood.”
“Redevelopment would also help activate the corridor by establishing a strong anchor at the southern gateway to the corridor. This redevelopment could foster more commercial opportunities and support recreational and cultural uses,” they said.
It could take a great deal of time, money and political capital to navigate such a project, given the private, local and federal stakeholders involved. In addition, the former Intelsat headquarters was designated a historic landmark in 2019.
However, the panelists said, “low-impact artistic and memorial interventions” could draw people in “and establish the site as a place worth spending time in, even before a large-scale redevelopment.”
Forest Hills Connection is an editorially independent program of Van Ness Main Street.
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Liliane weinrob says
We could use the estate of the Intelsalt .. why not ? It could be an HMO.. so sad that we do not consider all and empty building ..
Charlie says
I am in favor of demolishing the Intelsat building and developing a mixed use community with housing, retail, and civic facilities. The building itself has to go. It is not historic (only 40 years old), and it is utterly impractical.
John F says
Whatever is done, do not expand the scourge of the “DC housing voucher program” into this space. That program is already doing – and has done – enough damage to this once-fine neighborhood.
Perhaps look to Hudson Yards in New York City for inspiration:
– The High Line
– The Shed
– Vessel
– Etc.
https://www.hudsonyardsnewyork.com/about
I found the comments by the panelists in the article above to be useless, with ridiculous and meaningless rhetoric like “activate the corridor” and “establishing a strong anchor” and “southern gateway”.
Give us “more matter, with less [rhetorical] art” I would tell these panelists.
Travis L Price III says
I know we could readily save this great modern building and actually build a great new residential building inside that isn’t the same as the current same old modern apartments. .
Luke says
That the underlying property is owned by the State Department makes any additional longterm investment very difficult. The plan to modify and use for civic activities makes more economic sense than a raze and rebuild.
Jane Thery says
One of the principles of environmental sustainability is to use existing structures, not rip them down. This building was refitted and modernized as a school. Hopefully a buyer will use it as a school.
JA says
I’d like to see a development like the current version of Union Market (or Virginia’s Mosaic District by the same developer), the Wharf, City Ridge, or City Center in order to make Van Ness a destination neighborhood of restaurants, retail, entertainment, housing, hotels, services, and offices. When else will there be such a large parcel so close to an in-town metro stop?
Travis L Price III says
Yes, make it not only modern housing but top-dog modern,,,, which it already is on form and skin. Put the interior upscale homes on top and a great upscale shopping and dining area on the first level. A must-visit place is what we need more of for our neighborhood
Paujl says
The ULI study concluded that repurposing the existing building is impractical. The Intelsat building was designed as a specialized office campus with large atriums and unusual floor plates (visible in the report’s interior images). Buildings like this are typically difficult to convert to housing. It’s likely to cost more to make the building into housing, than to remove the building and build new housing and other community features. The building has been largely unused (except for the Whittle fiasco) for over a decade. It’s time to just get rid of it and start over and make something useful of that beautiful site.
Travis L Price III says
Also, the outside dark glass is a transparent shade device for saving loads of air conditioning while giving true light inside. This is one of the best and earliest passive solar buildings in DC. Save it.
Priscilla says
This is a great point. I’m with you on every comment. Also who will protect all the green space and trees?
Travis L Price III says
Don’t get rid of it!
A creative architect who doesn’t copy the same old sort of modern, or sort of traditional, is not the answer. A great modern architect can make it sing and bring a great new aesthetic joy into our hood~ !
Peggy K says
Renovate and retrofit Please do not tear down. Very wasteful and environmentally unsound practice
Would make a great site for a university that wants a DC presence
Environmental impact of demolition extends beyond the immediate debris created. It involves a range of issues, including air quality degradation due to dust and pollutants, soil contamination, noise pollution, and disruption of local ecosystems. Perhaps one of the most pressing concerns is the disposal of waste materials.
Lets be smart, environmentally aware.
Travis Price FAIA says
Spot on.
As to cleaning up and not polluting, it is well designated by the City codes for all projects to do as you listed.
Laura says
I live in one of the buildings directly across from this site. Would love any development that includes some housing. It would be nice to have a bit of green space, housing, and businesses– similar to City Ridge. If we get more people in the Van Ness area, we can sustain more businesses and amenities.
Travis Price FAIA says
Yes! Spot on, Laura. Its a beautiful garden area and the more people, the better living there.