With the Wharf racing toward its October 12th grand opening, Washingtonian got the first look inside the new neighborhood’s two very different apartment buildings.
First: The Channel.
The building is unlike any other in Washington because its 501 units wrap around the Anthem, a 6,000-person music venue from the owners of the 9:30 club. That means about $3 million was spent on sound-proofing alone. “We want to be able to have an AC/DC concert in there and not disturb the residents right above,” says the Wharf’s developer Monty Hoffman.
In keeping with the apartments’ location atop a rock venue, they were designed with a younger renter who likes to socialize in mind. In other words, a lot of attention was paid to the communal amenity spaces. The building’s 40-foot-long infinity pool overlooks the river and sits on the Anthem’s rooftop. Its glass bottom lets swimmers look down into the concert hall’s lobby. A poolside cabana will boast a full-service bar. The Channel also has several rentable party spaces, a rooftop dog park, and a two-story gym with a studio that will host daily fitness classes. The perks come at a cost: the annual amenity fee is $750. Rents range from $1,970 to $5,025 a month.
Next: The Incanto
The Wharf’s second apartment building is much smaller than the Channel, with 148 apartments ranging from studios to two-bedrooms. It’s set back from the waterfront, meaning it doesn’t have the same spectacular views as the Channel, but it does feel quieter and more secluded. Rents at the Incanto range from $1,965 to $4,295, with studios averaging 445 square feet, one-bedrooms averaging 613 square feet, and two-bedrooms averaging 883 square feet.
The amenities are far fewer at the Incanto, meaning the fee is much lower, at $450 a year. Once it’s finished, the Incanto will have a gym with cardio and weight equipment, and an outdoor courtyard with fire pits and grills. In contrast to the super-social, party vibe of the Channel’s communal spaces, this building was designed to cater to a lower-key renter who plans to enjoy the restaurants and entertainment available outside of the building. However, Incanto renters will have the option to buy memberships on a first-come, first-served basis to the Channel’s pool and fitness center for $75 a month.
Though parts of both apartment buildings will still be under construction, move-ins on some floors of the Channel and the Incanto will begin in September. The buildings are slated to be completed in time for the Wharf’s October 12th public debut.
Marisa M. Kashino joined Washingtonian in 2009 and was a senior editor until 2022.
