More townhomes planned near Fort Totten

DC Urbanturf has the story on Totten Mews, new townhomes proposed for North Michigan Park near Fort Totten metro station. Comstock Homes filed a planned unit development (PUD) application earlier this week for 40 new townhomes, each with three bedrooms and one garage. An additional 17 surface parking spaces and a playground area are planned for the development, which will sit next to the Emerson Park development and the Capital Area Food Bank. Part of the site is zoned for industrial use and was previously used for long-term outdoor storage. Comstock is seeking approval for the PUD as well as a zoning map amendment to R-4 for residential use.

We took a look at the PUD application (case # 15-04) for a few more details. The land was purchased from the previous owner who had received PUD approval to build in 2007. That approval lapsed in 2009. Comstock’s plans are similar, but the developer says this proposed development has a better layout and better treatments.

Comstock plans to set aside four homes as inclusionary homes, two for low-income households (up to 50% of the AMI) and two for moderate-income households (up to 80% of the AMI). They are proffering an additional home for eligible moderate income household.

All PUDs must contain a community benefits component. According to the PUD application, the major benefit of this development is turning historically unused land into attractive residential use near a major metro station. The developer plans to use masonry and cementitious siding treatment for the homes, sustainable features, and carriage style garage doors. Extensive landscaping is planned for the site as well as certain improvements to aid walkability. The PUD application states the developer is  also working with ANC 5A and property owners on a package of “in-kind and financial contributions to benefit the immediate neighborhood and surrounding residents of ward 5.”

Comstock is not new to building near Fort Totten. The company developed The Hampshires, an attractive subdivision of detached single family homes and townhomes, located near 3rd Street and New Hampshire Avenue NE.