I heard through the grapvine that the DC Design Center is being sold, and that a Bible Museum is coming to take its place. Then I saw this in the Chronicle of Philanthropy today... "Oklahoma retail magnates the Green family** have chosen Washington, D.C., over New York and Dallas as the site for a planned museum on the history, contents, and influence of the Bible".
Anyone heard anything else?
Update: From Flo the Fab!
PARAMUS, N.J., Jul 05, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- VORNADO REALTY TRUST announced today that it has agreed to sell Mart segment assets, the Washington Design Center, the Boston Design Center, the L.A. Mart and the Canadian Trade Shows.
Vornado also has entered into an agreement to sell 409 Third Street S.W. for $200 million which will result in net proceeds of $186 million and a net gain of $120 million.
This office building, which is part of the Washington, DC segment is contiguous to the Washington Design Center and is being sold to the same purchaser. Both of these assets were acquired as part of the original Mart acquisition. This sale is also subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the third quarter.
**This is the family that owns Hobby Lobby, so the irony is there...
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That is news to me. Big changes. I hope the showrooms and vendors will not leave the DC area.
ReplyDeleteL
My understanding is that they're looking at a number of different places in the area.
DeleteIf the showrooms are closed and not relocated it will a great loss to the DC design community. The regional design centers have been shrinking in the past several years. Let us all hope that we don't go back to the 50's with only NY, SF, and Chicago.
ReplyDeleteIt will be a huge loss.
DeleteAll I can say is, thank God for the internet! When it comes to fabrics and trims, it's sometimes easier to shop for clients online and have a ton of memo samples show up in my mailbox even if there's a showroom a few miles away from my office. As far as custom furnishings lines that are To The Trade, that's a whole different ball of wax. I don't know what the solution is, though. A lot of those regional design centers that are closing would need to start selling to the public in order to keep the doors open, undercutting and hurting local designers. No easy answers in these tough times.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, no easy answers.
DeleteMeg, That would be so sad if the showrooms don't regroup in another building. When they reference the Design Centers as an asset do you think that means someone else will own it?
ReplyDeleteMy understanding, small as it may be, is that the Design Center, and the adjacent office building were both sold to the family which owns Hobby Lobby (and a ton of other things) and that they're possibly building a Bible Museum in that space.
DeleteIs the Design Center still open for a while? I looked at the website and it seems that I can browse in some of the showrooms but without being in the trade I can't buy...still it sounds like it's worth seeing the next time I'm down there, yes?
ReplyDeleteI don't think it will be closed immediately but yes, the building has been sold. It was such a strange and awful location that honestly, i'm happy about it. The design center could be located off the 14th street corridor now or perhaps in Georgetown where designers actually shop and have their offices located?
ReplyDeleteI used to live a few blocks away and loved the neighborhood, quirky as it was. What the area lacks in amenities it makes up for in proximity to the delights of the National Mall. My evening walk took me by the Capitol, National Arboretum, Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian, Museum of the American Indian, etc. Though I often drove to Georgetown for dinner, I enjoyed the uniqueness of SW DC. I loved being able to stroll a few blocks and enjoy the art at the National Galleries!
DeleteLA design center has 3 buildings + they are probably selling 1 or 2 of them + fingers crossed for the other design centers in other cities. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
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