Concerned Citizens Divert Fresh Fields To P Street
by ELENI CHAMIS, Staff Reporter

It was a group of citizens who first brought Fresh Fields to Jon Gerstenfeld's attention. Gerstenfeld, the president of D.C.-based SJG Properties, had been sitting on a piece of property since 1997. He knew that someday someone would want the tract, situated nicely between Dupont and Logan circles.

The neighbors had heard that the supermarket chain was searching for a site in the District. And they knew that Fresh Fields had been considering building a store at the former Children's Hospital site in D.C. So they whipped into action. Fresh Fields left behind talks it had been having with Donatelli & Klein for the Children's Hospital site, and city incentives to sign on P Street.

It took nearly two years for the deal to come together with Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods, which owns Fresh Fields. Fresh Fields signed a 30-year ground lease for the space where it will build a 40,000-sqqare-foot store.

The supermarket will replace a parking structure and two parking lots now at the property, which is on the south side of P Street.

"I think it's an ideal location," Gerstenfeld said. "There's really no grocery shopping in that immediate area."

Construction started at the first of the year and is expected to be complete by October. So, has that announcement sparked a renaissance for the P Street corridor? Definitely, said D.C. developer Jim Abdo. He believes it's only the beginning, CVS has said it will build an 8,000-square-foot store next door to Fresh Fields.

Abdo also has a two-story building next door at 1414 P St. and is talking to a variety of retailers - including Starbucks, Blockbuster Video, Hollywood Video and several banks and restaurants- about leasing space there. He said that he is also talking to Internet start-up companies that may want to locate in that building.

"It has the potential to really be a business hub for the Dupont and Logan communities, because of their strategic location," Abdo said. "Whenever you've got an anchor like Fresh Fields it's just a matter of time before lots of other retail and service businesses start to sprout. We want to make sure the community gets the services it needs and also remains an eclectic mix," Abdo said.

"The last thing I want to see happen is have it turn into Pentagon City mall. If that happens, we've lost a great opportunity."

Fresh Fields at P Street

Address: 1440 Pst. NW

Description: 40,000-square-foot supermarket on a 48,000-square-foot site, one-level of parking below ground and one level on the roof. Total of 151 parking spaces.

Dollar value: Construction cost of the building is in excess of $5 million. Cost of the store construction was not released.

Date lease signed: Jan. 29, 1999

Developer: Fresh Fields.

Architect: MR+A Architects, Bethesda

Financier: Whole Foods Market, Austin, Texas-based parent of Fresh Fields

Law firm: Grossberg Yochelson Fox & Beyda

Owner of the site: D.C-based SJG Properties

General contractor: L.F. Jennings, Falls Church