Frager’s Owner and Roadside Development Tell ANC Plan to Redevelop Frager’s

Lionel Lynch and Rich Lake from Roadside Development, join Frager’s Owner John Weintraub (far right) at Presentation on Frager’s Redevelopment Plan. Photo: Kathleen Frydl

Frager’s Owner and Roadside Development Tell ANC Plan to Redevelop Frager’s

by Larry Janezich

Frager’s owner John Weintraub told ANC6B last Tuesday night that redeveloping Frager’s was “out of his comfort zone” and he had entered into partnership with Roadside Development to rebuild the site.  Weintraub had reported earlier, that the fire damaged the site so severely that, “even with insurance proceeds, we could not afford to rebuild the site alone.”

Roadside Development’s team of Rich Lake, Lionel Lynch, and Bryan Corcoran were on hand to tell the ANC that they were continuing the investigations on preserving the façade of the building.  Roadside has not yet purchased the property at 1101-1117 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, but does have the property under contract.  Lake has said that construction could start as soon as next spring.  Weintraub will return its hardware, paint, garden center, and equipment rental operations to the site under a long term lease.

The new building will provide additional office, retail and/or residential space, but will be built as a matter of right (with a 50 foot height limit).  It will not be a mixed use building subject to the public unit development (PUD) process wherein public amenities are exchanged for increased height and/or density.  The new structure will need HPRB approval, which will bring it before ANC6B.

Lake said that Roadside hopes to schedule public meetings soon with the community to solicit feedback.   In the meantime, Roadside is accepting public comments through a voice mailbox at (202) 375-7942, and at fragers@roadsidellc.com.