Here's a first look at the controversial luxury condo-church development going up in Gallery Place. The Post reported last week that developer PN Hoffman is partnering with the 140-year-old First Congressional Church of Christ to redevelop its outdated property at 945 G St., NW, and add 140 luxury condominium units above it.
First Church is most well-known for its free meals for the homeless, so the million-dollar condo building-soup kitchen partnership has raised eyebrows among residents and sparked debate on the Internet.
One anonymous poster on neighborhood blog Gallery Place Living wrote, “I am strongly in favor of mixed-use projects in Penn Quarter that combine living and community service space—whether social service, arts, theater, libraries.” Another countered that, “it seems kind of gross to sit in your luxury condo or lounge by the pool while you watch the huddled masses line up below for something to eat.”
The church will occupy the ground-level space. In the architectural rendering above, the church entrance will be on G Street, next to the Martin Luther King library (shown at right); the condo entrance will be on 10th Street (pictured at left); and the meal program entrance will be behind the building on G Place.
Many are wondering if Washingtonians will spend $1 million to live above a church that feeds the homeless, particularly in today's saturated condo market. Considering the great location and the edgy, modern design, I bet they will.
