Ground Breaks on Latin Project in Union Market

Ceremonial shovels from the groundbreaking. Photo by A Creative DC.

WASHINGTON, DC-A ceremonial groundbreaking was held this week for a Union Market project located at 1270 4th St., NE . Edens, Level 2 Development and Trammell Crow Residential are the developers and equity partner, respectively, of the 30,000-square foot retail and 432-unit residential community that has been long planned for this particular parcel. Construction is slated to begin shortly. Edens is an active developer in Union Station — one might say driving force in this submarket — having secured entitlement rights to many of the developable parcels here over the past few years. It is also, for example,  an investor in The Edison at Gateway Market currently under development . Now, though, the vision for this area is becoming more community-owned and as groundbreakings become more frequent here, an initiative called FROM THE GROUND UP has launched in which local artists, sculptors and painters decorate ceremonial shovels. There were 18 shovels decorated for the 1270 4th St., NE groundbreaking, which will be on display for the rest of the month. “The Latin Way of Life” The project at 1270 4th St., NE, is distinguished by a concept created by Chef Jose Garces — a 20,000-square foot Latin marketplace that will have food stalls, shops and his own restaurant concepts. Garces is a James Beard Award-winning chef who owns and operates more than a dozen restaurants nationwide. “We are creating a place to celebrate our unique culture,” Garces said in a prepared statement. “We’ll be looking for other partners who really believe in the Latin way of life.” Level 2 Buys Residential Rights For its suburban projects Edens’ MO is to own the entire retail building. For urban projects, however, it usually opts own the first floor and sell the residential development rights over the retail component. Level 2 went under contract with Edens to buy the residential development rights for 1270 4th St., SE some two years ago and closed on them last year when the entitlement rights came through. Level 2 then brought in an equity partner , Trammell Crow Residential, via MAC Realty Advisors , which arranged the joint venture between the two companies.