Jennifer Sergent

Freelance design writer + blogger | Marketing copywriter

Summer Love at the City Market at O

September’s sweltering start makes me appreciate our New England summer all the more. And part of my fond memories was a private tour—followed the next week with a rooftop reception—at the City Market at O.

o-facade

My interest was piqued when I wrote this story in DC Magazine about Roadside Development‘s conversion of the crumbling 1881 market into the five-building campus it is now. A gleaming new Giant food store (I’m really not exaggerating — it has a bar, and you can eat in there!) occupies the old market, using its original bricks. But on the other side, especially at night, it looks utterly modern:

giant-night

Richard Lake, one of Roadside’s partners, gave me a tour of the property. It includes the Cambria Suites Hotel, The Hodge on 7th for people 55 and over, and 645 apartments, ranging from studios at $1,900 per month to a three-bedroom for $7,000 per month.

Lake tells me that he was purposeful in developing high-end rental apartments as opposed to condos, because all the amenities here “would cost a fortune for any condo association to maintain.”

So yeah — amenities.

…Like the rooftop pool and clubhouse, with huge grills outside and a chef’s kitchen inside. This is where they held a lovely reception to celebrate Vastu, the modern furnishings and design shop on 14th Street that provided all the interior furnishings throughout the complex.

roofdeck-sun

 

roof-capital
Note the Capitol building framed by the architecture.

 

pool-sunset

o-poolroom
There’s a drop-down movie screen inside for rooftop viewings (not bad). Plus, the complex will offer cooking classes here for its residents.

 

… Like the complex’s multiple outside seating/lounging areas: 

aptbuildingside

 

middeck

 

Don't forget the dogs!
Don’t forget the dogs! “We’re equal opportunity for both dogs and kids,” Lake said.

 

Indoors feel like outdoors here, just inside from the dog park.
Indoors feel like outdoors here, just inside from the dog park.

 

THis courtyard is expecting a waterfall to be installed soon, along with a new location for Mintwood Place restaurant.
This courtyard is expecting a 16-foot waterfall to be installed soon when it arrives from Germany, along with a new location for Mintwood Place restaurant. This open space connects the Cambria Suites Hotel with the restaurant.

 

A rendering of what the courtyard and restaurant will look like when everything blooms.
A rendering of what the courtyard and restaurant will look like when everything blooms.

 

… Like gatherings areas outside one’s apartment: 

"We wanted this to be another moment," Lake said, whether for reading, working, or watching TV. The day we peeked into this lounge, a guy was there with books stacked on a table, studying for the LSAT.
“We wanted this to be another moment,” Lake said, whether for reading, working, or watching TV. The day we peeked into this lounge, a guy was there with books stacked on a table, studying for his bar exam.

 

… Like top-of-the-line gyms: 

Nice view, eh?
Nice view, eh?

 

"There are college football teams that would be happy to have our weight room," Lake said.
“There are college football teams that would be happy to have our weight room,” Lake said.

 

… Like the neighborhood. 

City Market is smack in the middle of Shaw, so you don’t really need your car to go anywhere fun. Jim and I sauntered around the block after the Vastu reception to eat at Table, one of our new favorite restaurants:

table

 

If you rent an apartment there, you can tour one of its models, which the designers at Vastu furnished:

o-condomodel

And if you want to go downstairs to do your grocery shopping, the portion of 8th street that runs through the City Market complex is almost like a private driveway:

o-middlestreet

Lake told me that a high-end real estate agent who recently rented a big corner unit there said to him: “I hate you! I’m supposed to be buying, not renting!” Nice testimonial for this place, for sure.