• Converting the Grimke School into an art space is one of the options for the decommissioned school, which is located on Vermont Avenue directly across from the metro station at 10th and U streets. [Arts&Real Estate]
• Washington City Paper’s Housing Complex points to the launching of the “No Drilling at McMillan” blog, which opposes plans to develop the 25-acre parcel of land into a mixed-use community. [Housing Complex]
• Only a very small percentage of inauguration rentals are being snatched up. Color us unsurprised. [Politico]
• The Columbia Heights Streetscape plan has a Web site, with maps and updates on construction. [Columbia Heights Streetscape via New Columbia Heights]
• A $50 million request to construct a streetcar in Columbia Pike has been included in the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority’s request list that will be forwarded to the Obama administration. The streetcar proposal would help boost development in the Columbia Pike corridor. [Sun Gazette via Whats Up Arlington]
• First the Bead Museum, now the Zenith Gallery. The art gallery on Seventh Street will close its doors at the end of February. Sad news for the neighborhood. [Penn Quarter Living]
• It’s back to square one for the proposed redevelopment plan of the Whitman-Walker Clinic on 14th Street. The Historic Preservation Review Board voted against the proposed design, asking the developer to “incorporate on-site interpretative information on the historic role of the Whitman-Walker clinic,” among other things. [DCmud]
• Could it be true? Will Reston get an Apple store before the District? According to Restonian, an Apple store could be opening in Reston Town Center very soon. Not surprisingly, Restonian ain’t so happy about it. [Restonian]
• To quote 90s band Semisonic: Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end. So what better way to start 2009 than by looking back at some of the local real estate highlights of 2008? Here’s a roundup of some of the more newsworthy items. [DCMetrocentic]
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