• Ben’s Chili Bowl has acquired the property adjacent to its U Street diner and plans to open Ben’s Next Door, an upscale version of the legendary DC eatery. Early plans have Ben’s Next Door opening sometime in August. [Bisnow via PoP]

• Plans to develop the First Church of Christ Scientist in Adams Morgan as a boutique hotel have been submitted to the Historic Preservation Review Board. [DCmud]

• The O Street Market in Shaw, long stuck in development limbo, is finally getting some attention: DC Mayor Adrian Fenty announced a $35-million finance package for the project. [DCmetrocentric]

• There’s talk of developing a nine-story, mixed-use project in Annandale (our hometown!). The building would be a nice commercial boost to the area, which, unlike other parts of Northern Virginia, has not seen much development recently. [WBJ]

• DCmud has an interview with architect Phil Esocoff, the man behind Capitol Hill’s Senate Square and the historic Greyhound Station. Esocoff talks about his favorite buildings and the city and discusses some upcoming projects. [DCmud]. Want more on the area’s best (and worst) buildings? Check out our interview with premier architecture critic Ben Forgey.

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